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STDs (Expert Forum)
Penis Pain
Answered by
University of Washington
Seattle - WA
This forum is for questions and support regarding STD issues such as: Chlamydia, Crabs (pubic lice scabies), Gonorrhea, Hepatitis (viral), Herpes, HPV, Molluscum Contagiosum, PID, Rectal Infections, Syphilis, Trichomoniasis, Warts, Yeast Infection.All questions will be answered by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D. or Edward W Hook, MD.
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Penis Pain
by PC4447, Sep 11, 2006 12:00AM
Last October, I had unprotected oral and vaginal sex and wasn't able to shower until 12 hours later. A couple of days after the incident, I had what felt like the flu (for about four days). Two weeks after the incident, my partner informed me that she had genital herpes. Four days after that (during which time I was virtually convinced I had caught something), I began feeling sharp pains in my penis. About a week after that, my hair follicle glands (if that's the correct term) began protruding throughout my penis, particularly at the bottom of the shaft. While I know that it's easy to "find" stuff when you're stressed about having caught an STD, I know with absolute certainty that my hair follicles didn't protrude that noticeably before my sexual encounter (it's unpleasant-looking and I would have gotten it checked out beforehand). I have gone to two dermatologists who confirmed that the bumps are not genital warts.
I assumed that I had herpes and was given Valtrex, which I took for a few months. Five months after the sexual encounter, I took a HerpesSelect IgG-based test, which came out completely negative for types 1 and 2. I've since tested negative for Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis B. The pain, though, hasn't gone away.
I don't experience pain when urinating or ejaculating; it's more of a constant ache in my shaft and testicles that occasionally runs down my left leg. It's worse at night, and worse still when I dwell on it (which is true of all pain, I know).
I started seeing a urologist last May; he preformed a prostate massage on me at that time. He said that the fluid showed signs of irritation. He's prescribed a couple of different antibiotics, but they haven't worked. I'm currently taking Carbenicillin; I'm only a couple of days into it. I saw him again a few days ago, and he preformed another prostate massage; he said that the fluid had gotten darker (as it's supposed to be clear, I assume this means the condition is getting worse). Here are my questions:
1. Is it possible that I picked up a viral infection that can't be cured (the flu-like symptoms following the incident would seem to indicate that)?
2. Is it possible that my extreme anxiety caused the hair follicles to come out and the irritation to my prostate (or the prostate fluid)?
3. Could I have a case of herpetic folliculitis on my penis? If so, does that mean that I can give herpes to sexual partners, even if I don't have the disease? Would having herpetic folliculitis affect the results of the Herpes Select test?
4. Would it be worth it to get a second herpes blood test done, or can I trust the first one?
5. Would a prostate infection cause the pain in my shaft? If not, what would?
Thank you for your time and the service you provide.
I assumed that I had herpes and was given Valtrex, which I took for a few months. Five months after the sexual encounter, I took a HerpesSelect IgG-based test, which came out completely negative for types 1 and 2. I've since tested negative for Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis B. The pain, though, hasn't gone away.
I don't experience pain when urinating or ejaculating; it's more of a constant ache in my shaft and testicles that occasionally runs down my left leg. It's worse at night, and worse still when I dwell on it (which is true of all pain, I know).
I started seeing a urologist last May; he preformed a prostate massage on me at that time. He said that the fluid showed signs of irritation. He's prescribed a couple of different antibiotics, but they haven't worked. I'm currently taking Carbenicillin; I'm only a couple of days into it. I saw him again a few days ago, and he preformed another prostate massage; he said that the fluid had gotten darker (as it's supposed to be clear, I assume this means the condition is getting worse). Here are my questions:
1. Is it possible that I picked up a viral infection that can't be cured (the flu-like symptoms following the incident would seem to indicate that)?
2. Is it possible that my extreme anxiety caused the hair follicles to come out and the irritation to my prostate (or the prostate fluid)?
3. Could I have a case of herpetic folliculitis on my penis? If so, does that mean that I can give herpes to sexual partners, even if I don't have the disease? Would having herpetic folliculitis affect the results of the Herpes Select test?
4. Would it be worth it to get a second herpes blood test done, or can I trust the first one?
5. Would a prostate infection cause the pain in my shaft? If not, what would?
Thank you for your time and the service you provide.
Doctor's Answer
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Sep 12, 2006 12:00AM
, Sep 12, 2006 12:00AM
Your symptoms really don't sound like herpes. Given the timing of the flu-like symptoms, your partner's herpes history, and otherwise unexplained genital pain, before the blood test result, I might have agreed herpes was a slim risk, despite the atypical symptoms. But the negative blood test 5 months later rules it out with 100% confidence.
1) The nature and timing of your earliest symptoms suggests you caught a respiratory virus from your partner, not an STD. Of course anybody close enough to have sex with someone is plenty close to catch a cold, influenza, etc.
2) Despite your conviction, I doubt your hair follicles are any more prominent than before. Or perhaps your normal follicles and sebaceous glands are just getting more prominent with time for natural reasons. It is a normal consequence of aging. In any case, anxiety cannot cause either hair follicle abnormalities or prostate problems, beyond causing physical symptoms that can mimic almost anything.
3) There is no such thing as herpetic folliculitis, to my knowledge. And certainly no skin condition of any kind that would affect the HSV blood test results.
4) No. Your 5 month HSV test is sufficient to rule out herpes as the cause of any of your symtpoms.
5) Yes, prostate infections can cause referred pain throughout the genital area. Whether it explains your penile pain, however, I cannot say.
Whatever else, you can be confident you have no STD, and no health problem that will ever harm you or a future sex partner.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
1) The nature and timing of your earliest symptoms suggests you caught a respiratory virus from your partner, not an STD. Of course anybody close enough to have sex with someone is plenty close to catch a cold, influenza, etc.
2) Despite your conviction, I doubt your hair follicles are any more prominent than before. Or perhaps your normal follicles and sebaceous glands are just getting more prominent with time for natural reasons. It is a normal consequence of aging. In any case, anxiety cannot cause either hair follicle abnormalities or prostate problems, beyond causing physical symptoms that can mimic almost anything.
3) There is no such thing as herpetic folliculitis, to my knowledge. And certainly no skin condition of any kind that would affect the HSV blood test results.
4) No. Your 5 month HSV test is sufficient to rule out herpes as the cause of any of your symtpoms.
5) Yes, prostate infections can cause referred pain throughout the genital area. Whether it explains your penile pain, however, I cannot say.
Whatever else, you can be confident you have no STD, and no health problem that will ever harm you or a future sex partner.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
Any comment?
HHH, MD
My question(s) is:
(1) I am not sure if the reason why I have a sharp pain around the shaft of my penis is due to an STD or just particular sex act performed (Missionary)?
(2) Could it be due to a symptom of prostate