[Question #12759] Bump

5 months ago

So 5 days ago I asked about the likelihood of getting any infections, was protected. I have a general itchiness around my testicles and kinda my butt too that hasn't really gone away but I don't see any lesions where anything itches, no discharge of any kind but at the very base of my penis like right before it looking at my pubic hair follicles I see a general redness, from what I can see every red area is followed by where a hair is and that's happened before so no big issue but I do see one smooth bump in-between the hair, I don't see any pus and it doesn't hurt or itch really. Is this a herpes lesion, it feels very smooth? It's only 1 that I can see and I do have to kind of uplift the skin to see it but that's because I'm overweight. I read lesions appear most commonly within a week and this area would have been an area potentially exposed because it's right outside the area of protection. Thoughts?

Edward W. Hook M.D.

5 months ago

Welcome back to the Forum although I'm not sure why you returned. I have little to add to the responses I provided 5 days ago. Persons who focus on looking for symptoms tend to notice normal sensations in the areas they are focused on as "itching" or "tingling". I suspect that this is what is going on with you.

I have already told you that I think the encounter you have described is low risk- that assessment is not going to change. The bump you describe may well be folliculitis- the location and description you describe are typical. If your paranoia requires yo to test the lesion, you should seek a PCR swab of the lesion for HSV. EWH

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5 months ago

I'm at urgent care, I started pulling the hairs out because I wanted a closer look at the area of redness. The doctor looked at it and even tho it doesn't actually look like herpes to me he isn't sure and wants a blood test so I'm doing that.

He is saying that condoms don't really protect very well from the skin to skin with condoms so I'm very nervously waiting. While I wait regardless of the outcome could you just tell me how unlikely it is again if you don't mind for peace of mind

5 months ago

He's doing a urine test and then he wants a blood test too in a couple days

Edward W. Hook M.D.

5 months ago

As I indicated earlier- this will be the final response to this thread. I will leave the thread open so you can post your test results but will NOT comment further. In addition, should you post further with additional anxiety-driven questions you may not receive a response and your posting fee will not be returned.

Doing a blood test for herpes is a waste of time and money. Herpes blood tests do not provide reliable results until several months after an exposure and are not fully conclusive until 9 months following exposure. Further misleading falsely positive and falsely negative blood test results are relatively common. In my earlier response I said to you "If your paranoia requires yo to test the lesion, you should seek a PCR swab of the lesion for HSV."

Your risk of having herpes from this encounter is a small fraction of 1%.

EWH

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5 months ago

I thought they were gonna do the swab but I don't have any active lession or anything open even today I woke up and redness went down but there are still small flesh colored bumps that don't appear to belong to a hair folicle but they don't hurt or seem to be getting worse but idk if they can swab that

so then I won't get the blood test and does this mean the urine test also will mean nothing whether positive or negative?

I apologize for posting anxiety driven questions, you said you'd leave the thread open for my results but you were talking about a swab test not my results for any urine test I assume. Best wishes Dr. Hook they are exactly anxiety driven it's so intense but I'll post the results irregardless even tho I got the wrong test

Edward W. Hook M.D.

5 months ago

Final response. There should be no need for further questions and should you return, your question may be deleted without a response.

A PCR swab from a "bump", even if it is not open, would tell you if the lesion was herpes of not.

The urine test would, I presume be for other STIs such as gonorrhea, chlamydia and trich.

No further responses of any sort. Please don't try to post your results. This thread is over. EWH

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