Peace of Mind

[Peace of Mind]

Terri,
I am a 26 year old male. 20 months ago I had a one night stand and didn’t wear a condom (stupid I know). I noticed a week later I had pain when urinating and a white discharge when I peed. It looked like semen leaked out before I peed and then I was able to pee after that with a burning sensation. Saw the Dr. Almost immediately after that and told him my story. Took a urine test and had elevated white blood cells. They also checked for syphillis and ghonorea and both were negative. He told me I had a prostate infection. Treated me for that and thankfully haven’t had that problem since. A week after that I noticed about five bumbs that were around my genital area. Only one was on my penis but it was close to my pelvic bone. The others were spread out on my pelvic bone and they all looked like pimples with white heads. They didn’t hurt at all but itched some. I did shave a few hours before the one night stand and had rough sex. Saw another doctor later that week for a second opinion. At this time the painful urination stopped and I just had the pimples, but some of them were already starting to go away. She swabbed me and checked again for syphillis and ghonorea. I told her about the pimples and she looked at them. She also looked at my anus and said I had no bumps there. She didn’t think they were herpes but saw how freaked out I was, so for peace of mind she gave me herpes medication. It’s been twenty months and I still haven’t had those bumps come back. I also had a blood test done at the health clinic that checked for syphillis, Gonoreah, and HIV/AIDS. I did this for more peace of mind. I do this now after every sexual encounter (I have only been with 5 women). That came back negative. Told the nurse that was drawing my blood for the test about my herpes scare and she said if I had them then it would be extremely painful. Once again they didn’t hurt. I’m reaching out to you for peace of mind and more advice. I’m obviously a worrier.

[Terri Warren]

You’ve had some very interesting advice here. First, your initial infection sounds far more like urethritis than prostatitis. The timing is perfect for non-gonoccocal urethritis – any infection of the urethra not caused by gonorrhea. Many things can cause this, not only chlamydia and most things cannot be tested for easily yet but this is easily treated and it sounds like the treatment you had worked for you. Period.

The bumps sound very much like molluscum contagiosum. This is a minor viral infection caused by the pox virus and is sexually transmitted and usually resolved on it’s own. It is characterized by skin colored bumps with white heads with some kind of hardish white stuff inside if squeezed. They resolve on their own or with expression of the white bumps. They normally occur in the pubic hair area or at the base of the penis. Shaving the pubic hair allows skin viruses in more easily – clipping is far better.

Taking herpes medicine all this time may not have been at all necessary. Have you actually been tested for herpes to know if you have it or not?

Terri

[Peace of Mind]

I have not been tested for it yet. Do you think this is something I should get done? I only took a weeks worth of what I thought was herpes medication. I don’t take anything now, nor have I after that twenty month period when I went back for a second opinion.

As for the shaving, I only shaved my penis area. I clipped the hairs in my pelvis area down pretty low. The white heads popped and healed on their own. Thankfully, I haven’t seen them come back since. What did you mean by expression of the white bumps?

[Terri Warren]

If you want a full STD screen, it should, in my opinion, include IgG testing for herpes. Good you only took the medicine for a week – that will not impact herpes antibody test results.
By expression, I mean popping those white heads.

Terri

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