[Question #1064] Still Concerned

99 months ago

Hello doctors, I last interacted with you all about 4 months ago with question #658. Im still concerned about the feelings I have in and on my penis; as well as the intense itch in the pubic area. My problem has been going on for 4 years now. After the unprotected sexual encounter, I thought that I possibly contacted trich. Since my last post I have taken 2g of metronidazole and 2g of tinidazole. My wife and i have taken the 2g of metronidazole at the same time. She is unaware of my concerns. You guys informed me that I can continue Sex with my wife. I know for a fact that if I have unprotected Sex with someone outside of my wife, in about 2 weeks she will have some type of itch or uti symptoms. I'm scared that I may have missed something or why is this feeling lasting so long. What do you think?

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

99 months ago

Welcome back to the forum. I'm sorry to learn you remain concerned about the possibility you hae an STD.

As we discussed last time, trichomonas is not a plausible explanation for your symptoms; and if somehow it were, the treatments you have had would have eradicated it. Further, there are no other STDs that would cause ongoing genital itching or other symptoms for for years. I'm convinced that your mental association of your wife's symptoms with your extramarital events is not real, just your enhanced sensitivity and anxieties (despite your statement that you "know for a fact" that this is happening). Further, that concern -- association of wife's symptoms with your non-marital exposures -- is inconsistent with the idea that you have an STD to which you are repeatedly exposing your wife.

So my advice is unchanged from your previous thread. You have no STD and something else explains your symptoms. I think its all psychological, with anxiety and worry raising your awareness of trivial symptoms or normal body sensations.

I hope this has helped. Best wishes and stay safe-- HHH, MD

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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

99 months ago

I would also add that in over 40 years in the STD business, I have never had a patient with symptoms like yours who turned out to have an STD that could have caused them.

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99 months ago

Thanks again. I will continue and try to put this behind me. Honestly you told me this 4 years ago on Medhelp. I appreciate your professional opinion and answers over the years. Just wish I knew what direction to look in now. Knowing that it's not an STD is very conforting.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

99 months ago

At some time in their lives, most people experience symptoms that cannot be explained: headaches, back aches, periods of abdominal discomfort or nausea, the previously sprained ankle -- long since healed -- that still aches from time to time. Not all symptoms mean disease, and we typically move on with our lives, tolerating the symptom without problem, if it isn't severe and we have been assured it's nothing dangerous. Some persons' genitals have a special place in their psyche, but the principle is the same. Further, I would point out that nothing bad has come of this in 4 years! If it were an aching knee instead of a genital, you probably wouldn't be giving it a second thought, at least not for the past 3+ years.

So my advice is to just live with it, and not further seek "what direction to look in now". Once you come to understand that it's not a sign of anything serious or harmful to either you or your wife -- at an emotional, psychological level, in addition to intellectually -- probably it will fade entirely or at least you will stop obsessing about it. For now, just go on with your life -- and for sure, vow to yourself that you're never again going to explore your symptoms or STDs online. All you're doing is increasing your anxiety. It isn't worth it.

The short version of that lecture is suck it up and move on. That may sound harsh -- call it tough love, if you like -- but it's the best approach. If that doesn't work, professional counseling may be in order. It isn't normal to remain so obsessed over something so minor for so long, after all the repeated, reasoned, science based reassurance you have had.

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99 months ago

Thanks Doc. Really appreciate it.

99 months ago

Doc the pinching feeling in the head of the penis can be contributed to what? Can HPV be ruled out as well? My prostate has been checked and everything. When this first came about in 2012 I tested for everything that was negative. But when my wife and I had Sex she started to itch and have white discharge. Turned out to be yeast. My wife has been out of town for a month. Do you think that when we have sex, she may itch and get the white discharge again.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

99 months ago

I already told you what I think the cause of your symptoms is: psychological, anxiety, etc. Re-read my replies both in your other thread and above; I see no need to repeat myself. HPV does not cause symptoms like this. (You could have HPV, since almost everybody gets at least one infection, and at any point in time 10-50% of people (depending on their age and other factors) have genital HPV infecitons. But it's for sure not the cause of your symptoms.)

Your wife's symptoms have nothing to do with yours.

DO YOUR BEST TO LET THIS GO AND FORGET ABOUT YOUR SYMPTOMS! If you cannot, seek counseling. It is not normal to remain so fearful after all the repeated, professional, science-based reassurance you have had. I suggest it from compassion, not criticism.

That ends this thread. Please do not be tempted to post any more questions about this. Repeated anxiety driven question are not permitted on the forum, and any new question along these liines will be deleted without reply, and without refund of the posting fee.

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