Exactly 5 weeks ago I had a sensual massage ending in the male therapist giving me a hand job to completion. He was in his underwear the entire time and as far as I know did not touch his genital area. I know from your expert advice this is a virtually no risk event. However, about 2 weeks ago a small red spot appeared on the side of my penis head. It was small and almost “raw” looking. It has continued to grow over the last 2 weeks. It doesn’t look like the majority of chancre pictures I have seen online. Maybe it resembles 1 or 2 but i know online info is not reliable. I have taken 4 OTC syphilis tests and they have all been negative. The most recent today (exactly 5 weeks since exposure). This “sore” is not painful and still there after 2 weeks. That is the only reason I have concerns and need reassurance. I have had sex with my spouse once since the spot appeared. Do you have any thoughts? Thank you!

Welcome back to the Forum.  Thanks for your questions.  I'll be glad to comment.  I'm pleased that you remember your prior interactions here on the Forum.  The activities you describe were virtually no risk unless your masseuse had a chancre on his hands or fingers which would have been obvious.  Your syphilis tests serve to confirm that the lesion you describe was not syphilis as if the lesion were syphilis, after the lesion had been present a few days the tests would have been positive.  So, to summarize, the exposure was virtually no risk, the lesion does not sound like a syphilis chancre, and you have multiple negative tests.  This is not syphilis.  OTOH, I cannot comment as to what it might be.  I doubt that it is an STI of any sort but the fact that it has been present now for 2 weeks and may be growing suggests that a trip to the dermatologist is your logical next step.  I would not worry about syphilis however.   I hope that this perspective is helpful.  EWH---

Thank you for the reassurance. Just one follow up question. Have you found over the counter syphilis tests to be accurate? Thank you.

The OTC syphilis tests are carefully evaluated and perform as well as laboratory based tests.  Please don’t worry. EWH---