Genital herpes or jock itch/ yeast infection?

The viral culture was taken about 3 days after they appeared and the nurse said they looked like they were healing. The PCR was taken 3 days after that test. Can jock itch or a yeast infection cause red bumps like that to appear?

The pcr swab should have picked it up still, even if the lesions were healing. Pity they didn't do it instead of the viral culture 3 days before for greater reassurance. Negative IgG at 6 weeks is not conclusive, but a good sign, plus your partner is negative, too. I would just wait and retest for IgG only at 3 months. Try not to worry in the meantime.

Thank you for your reassurance. This is bothering me significantly unfortunately. Just the psychological aspect. Eversense the ER doctor told me that he's been a doctor for 24 years and he's positive that I have herpes just by the fact that I had swollen lymph nodes in my groin and red bumps on my penis I went to the ER at that time because I had a large red itchy growth (really don't know how to explain it) that I believe was either a big hive or cyst but whatever it was it just went away it didn't pop or burst or anything it just went away in a matter of hours. The doctor did not give me any explanation as to what that was and I have no idea if that is even related to herpes at all. The night before I went to the ER I drank heavily for the first time since the incident. I wasn't eating well at the time either and my heart was beating very fast I couldn't sleep and I generally felt like something was really wrong. The only answer I got was herpes but no further reasoning as to how. I only had two sex partners my entire life. I know the girl that I potentially got something from so I can narrow it down to her. She knows all of the test results and everything that's going on and I don't know if she's being 100% honest with me but the only thing I got out of her was that she had a yeast infection one or two weeks before we had sex and it was supposed to clear up with the medication she took for it.

The hive-like symptom is not herpes, as herpes does not fade in a matter of hours. Your other symptoms do sound suspect, however, but no test has detected anything to date, which seems unlikely if you did have it. Diagnoses unbacked by tests can be wrong, so there's a chance that that's the case here.

The only other thing I can think of is are yeast or jock itch. Since I took that pill I have noticed considerable Improvement in my general area. And the reason I mentioned the hive like growth was because I believe it was related to my drinking the night before which may indicate a yeast infection as alcohol can cause the yeast to grow. However I know my chances of getting a yeast infection are quite low since I am a male.

I have already been to like 5 different doctors and at this point I really don't have any of my original symptoms. I don't know if herpes is also supposed to be painful always but I haven't felt any pain at all this whole time. My mistake was that I told every single doctor that I've seen that I was diagnosed with it or that I thought that I had it.

You sometime is very painful and in other case is not. I have had a a patient that I was treated at the hospital which she had herpes and it hurt her so much she was in a lot of pain like you've been to all different doctors I think you should pick one more dr. And don't tell them your story just tell them that you think you have it so they can reevaluate you

I should go see a urologist like I've been planning on. That is probably my best bet. The most distinctive part of my symptoms are the red extremely saggy and seemingly swollen testicles and penis. The rash gradually got worse throughout the day as it started in the morning as being normal and then progressively got to the point where my scrotum was bright red and I have very thick skin on my scrotum. The rash also has spots on it that I can't really identify.

All i cant. Tell see ur primary doctor and let him send you to the right specialist but I was saying to see a different doctor is because this doctor won't know or one assume anything like the other doctors you can start from scratch which it will benefit you well good luck

I have basically put my life on "pause" until i get an answer. I really dread having to wait another month until i get a test but i know thats the only option. I don't know if my provider has a western blot available. As far as i know they aren't widely available. What about any home test kits? I've read about finger prick test but i'm not sure how accurate they are.

The IgM test for herpes is specific to HSV, but does not distinguish type. It is also unreliable, prone to false positives, and does not necessarily indicate new (or any) infection, so it is not advised for diagnosing herpes. Negative IgG at 6.5 weeks is a good indicator, but you should nevertheless retest at 3 months to be sure.

They only thing that really applies to my case hear is the fact that it can be simply a false-positive. I don't know how common that is but i'm pretty sure this is a new infection if my IGG is negative coupled with the new symptoms i have.

It takes up to 6 months (in rare cases, longer) to develop antibodies to herpes, HIV. I have been going with 4 months from last possible exposure; some people go with 3.

Negative at 6.5 weeks is hopeful but certainly not definite. Anything other than western blot, if you have a low positive it is potentially false. The ELISA IgG performs worse on type 1 than type 2, specifically it misses around 10% of type 1 because it is more sensitive to type 2. But, it has issues with false low positive to type 2 as well. I just had my doctor order western blot; call University of Washington Virology lab. They will send you an easy ready kit to take your doctor; all the dr has to do if full out the order form and draw your blood. You might have to overnight it yourself to WA but it's not hard and they send easy instructions, the box including ice pack for mailing, and are extremely available, kind, and expert via 1-800 for any Qs. The ELISA is thought to cross-react with varicella, antinuclear antibodies (eg autoimmune antibodies) and has all the other issues. It has gotten much better than it used to be, but since most of us need a final trustworthy diagnosis more than anything, I would spend the $200 ($50 shipping) for western blot. That is why it remains the gold standard for research purposes. Google U-Washington. They have faqs and other herpes resources.

Whatever your outcome, herpes is ancient, it has evolved with us from primates and successfully evades immune response. That is why. It is extremely common, is a skin condition, and should not rule anyone's life. Type 1 transfers from mouth to genitals and vice versa, despite preferential strength evolved for each location. Herpes can also be other places on your body. We live in a world full of microbes competing with us. It is an inconvenience, but the main reason the medical community cares about it is in childbirth or perhaps if your partnerhas HIV. The rest is stigma and hysteria. Perspective and facts

How long does it take after exposure for a western blot to be accurate? Is it still 3 months?

I'm at 8 and a half weeks now. Was considering getting an igg again at 9 and a half weeks

if I recall, western blot takes a bit longer than ELISA to detect seroconversion, like median 60 days or something? Where ELISA on average picks up sooner around 21 days. But seroconversion can take up to 6 months, in rare cases longer, so if you get a negative result on any kind of test up until then, there is a chance it could be a false negative.

I don't believe the ELISA cross-reacts with fungal infections so your positive test isn't likely picking up yeast. You might have a yeast infection but yeast os detectable by swab/slide.

I believe western blot and ELISA are both looking for IgG; the difference is in false negative and false positive pickup.

Thank for your feedback, im getting the igg again this Friday. It will be at 9 and a half weeks post exposure. Do you know the seroconversion rate at this time?

It will be the elisa. I believe seroconversion rate at 6 weeks is 70%. So im guessing it will be around 80-90%?

Standard test window is 3 months for IgG and 4 months for western blot. Nearly everyone would have sufficiently seroconverted by 3 months for IgG, but if you want to wait an additional month, you can. I would not bother with the western blot unless there is good reason to order it. The IgG test will pick up HSV-2, which is the "bad" one to have, and detects 3/4 of HSV-1 cases as well. The only concern is getting a low false positive for HSV-2, if you already carry HSV-1.