[Question #12805] clarification on STD

5 months ago

Dear Doctors, I have a clarification to ask you before possibly undergoing any tests.

For about a week I have noticed the glans inflamed along with the skin that covers it. The gland skin also becomes white and comes off like a film. I feel sometimes burning at the level of the glans. No pain when urinating and no abnormal discharge at all.

Having immediately thought of candida, I bought an ointment and used it for 4-5 days without noticing any improvement.

My questions are as follows:

1) what could it be?

2) Which doctor could I see?

3) Could this be an untreated Gonorrhea infection from 1.5 years ago?

I ask the last question because 1 and half year ago I had felt a series of pains and some discharge and my doctor had prescribed me cefixime and azithromycin and a series of STD tests (all negative) where however gonorrhea was not present.

Thank you so much

Edward W. Hook M.D.

5 months ago

Welcome back to the Forum. I'll do my best to comment but I would suggest that you see a dermatologist for further evaluation. It sounds is though skin skin on the glans of your penis gets irritated and then peels off or goes away for some other reason. This sounds a bit reminiscent of the non-STI rash you experienced which came and the resolved from time to time when we last interacted 6 months ago. This certainly does not sound like an STI- no STI would cause this sort of inflammation- and it may be one of the many dermatological processes that can involve the penis. Like you, I would have wondered about a fungal infection. Given the non-response, It would be best evaluated by a dermatologist.

1) what could it be?

See above

2) Which doctor could I see?

A dermatologist

3) Could this be an untreated Gonorrhea infection from 1.5 years ago?

Absolutely not

Hope this helps. EWH

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5 months ago

Dear Dr Hook, first of all thank you for the prompt response, very professional and appreciated.

in fact I have been suffering from this kind of problems for some time now, as I have learned from your response, of dermatological nature.

Unfortunately I am abroad. As soon as I return I will visit a dermatologist.

I understand that this is not the nature of the forum, I contacted you just because rereading the results of the STD tests done at the time I noticed that gonorrhea was not present and I thought it could be the cause.

At this point can I still overlook the fact that I didn't test for gonorrhea or would it be better to repeat the test? 18 months have passed since that episode and I have never had any more problems unless this but of other nature.

(In the meantime I have not had any risky intercourse)

Thank you very much

Edward W. Hook M.D.

5 months ago

You can certainly overlook any possibility of Gonorrhea.

Again, for emphasis, in Dr. Handsfield’s 300 page book on genital dermatology, only 25 pages refer to STIs. A dermatologist is the way to go. EWH

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5 months ago

Thank you Dr Hook.

Fortunately I managed to book a dermatological visit when I’ll be back next Tuesday.

I take advantage of your availability to ask you if at this point it is worth doing the gonorrhea test that was not prescribed to me at the time or if it is okay as it is. In these 18 months I have not had any problems other than those described but I read on the Internet that it can remain asymptomatic but still be present for a long time.

Thank you and best regards

Edward W. Hook M.D.

5 months ago

In your situation I would not bother to order a test for gonorrhea in relationship to a possible exposure 18 months ago. Even if you had asymptomatic gonorrhea which is most unlikely, it would have resolved by now.

As you know, this completes this thread. Take care. EWH

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