Could this be herpes?

[whattyatby]

Hey everyone, I'm very anxious about something and it might be silly but I could use any insight possible!

About 2 months ago I had a sexual encounter with a new partner. I used a condom but there was a bit of non-penetrative contact during foreplay. Shortly after our encounter, the partner informed me that she had chlamydia so I began to obsess and freak out thinking that I contracted something as well. I went and got tested (physically and through blood work) and everything came back negative.

However, I have been unable to shake the anxiety that I contracted herpes, as that was something that I wasn't tested for. My partner seems like a high-risk person. I have been constantly checking my genital area for sores and symptoms, and as a result I've been pretty high strung over the past month.

Over the past few weeks I've been noticing muscle aches around the genital region (abdomen, legs, hips, lower back). My doctor told me that this is most likely due to hypersensitivity because of how focused I've been on the area lately and also because of a localized stress response. Muscle aching is a common symptom of anxiety. But at this point I've convinced myself that this is due to the herpes virus affecting my nerves.

Also, I've noticed a single red bump on the inside of my thigh (left side of photo), about half way to my knee. It is slightly raised and closer to pink than red. It does not look like a blister or sack, more like a pimple without the whitehead but I'm pretty sure it isn't a pimple. It didn't hurt in general or itch, but it hurt when I touched it or applied pressure. It didn't change over the course of 4 days so I picked at it (right side of photo) and broke it open with some difficulty. No fluid or blood leaked out at all and honestly it hurts less to touch now that I've broken it than it did before. However, it is now an open red sore, but it is fairly painless and not itchy. This is the only noticeable sore or lesion I've experienced since the encounter besides a couple other red bumps over the course of the few months of checking that I'm almost positive were pimples.

1. Do you think these muscle aches could be due to nerve related herpes symptoms?

2. Does my sore look herpes related?

Sorry if this sounds ridiculous. I've always suffered from very bad healthy anxiety and OCD, so any sort of reassurance or information would be greatly appreciated.

[Hidden]

Your pimple does not in any way resemble a herpes sore. I expect that your doc is right about the pains and that you are experiencing what you think you should be experiencing!

[benjy1]

I am very similar to you and can obsessively worry about stuff like this. From that photo and what you’re saying , It is very unlikely you have herpes. It looks like a normal spot, which is something I get regularly on the thighs and all sorts of places. It sounds like you’ve been spooked by reading stuff off google about nerve pains from herpes- I’ve been there myself. Googling for people like us is probably the worst thing you can do , although admittedly it has probably led you here! The pains could be down to anxiety , take some time to chill out , hot baths, and excercise /stretching. You have made that sore open by obsessively picking at it - put some sudocrem on it and leave it alone. Don’t obsess over this anymore , it’s been 2 months, and if you really had herpes you would know about it! I was told that by a sex health clinician once when I was obsessing about the same thing. Advice for the future - you’re probably going to worry after most sexual encounters, I did after every single one. In the end monogamy really sorted me out. But the old advice is the best , get to know the person a bit first maybe, and/or use protection in any one night stands.