Reply To: Condoms and preventing transmission

[Lazarus]

Thanks Terri.

If I could ask one more question: What other STDs or other conditions might cause the tingling sensation at the same time as outbreaks on the penis glans? This is what made me think I have HSV.

The nerve tingles were very obvious and very distinct. I have only had them twice – and on both occasions I had an outbreak. This can’t really be coincidence, especially as the first one occurred a few days after I’d had unprotected sex.

Although no blisters were present, I understand symptoms can manifest as a painful cut instead. This was like a very sharp paper cut (so painful it was difficult to retract the foreskin).

The second outbreak, I had very obvious red (but painless) sores on the tip of the penis (again, at the same time as the tingles). Every outbreak since has been a milder version of this – a few red rashes appear on the penis glans without any apparent obvious cause such as friction etc. I don’t get the tingles any more.

I may have been a bit misleading in terms of how long the red rahses last. I have known them to disappear after just a few hours but more typically it’s probably between 12-48 hours and they slowly fade (although sometimes vanish completely when I bathe).

I was surprised when you said that you had virtually never seen anyone with an outbreak just on the head of their penis and not on the shaft. I understand most outbreaks in men do occur on the glans. Perhaps with me it is quite mild. From what I’ve read there seem to be a range of different symptoms, so I can’t think that the absence of lesions on the shaft would automatically rule our herpes.

Thanks for your suggestion for the Western Blot test but I don’t think it’s practical as I live abroad.

• This reply was modified 8 years, 3 months ago by Lazarus.