Sexual Health Network - credentialed experts providing sexuality education from pleasure and orgasm to sexually transmitted diseases, sexual dysfunction, and sex and disability




The Sexual Health Network is dedicated to providing easy access to sexuality information, education, support, and other resources.

	contact us \| privacy policy \| Sat Sep 06 2008

print this page

Question:
Hi. 2 weeks ago, I had went to a 'massage parlor'. After a 45 minute rigorous massage, I got the happy ending as they call it (handjob). During this, the outside of my anus was slightly massaged with a finger and my mouth was on her breast. My hand caressed between her legs on the outside of her pants. It's been a stressful time as every time I see a blemish on my body, I panic. After a week, I got a round, scaly dry sore on inside of bicep...Yesterday I came down with symptoms of the flu (could rightfully be the flu, have been working very long and stressful hrs). 3 days ago, I noticed the very tip of my penis is slightly red, no spots, just red and the top of my testicles have developed a red blotch. My blood tests come back this week and my question is this: how much at risk am i for herpes AND, if the blood tests come back negative, should I be happy or plan to get another taken in time?

Answer:
by Konstance McCaffree: (05/19/2004)
Thanks for your question. In your profile you write that you want to make sure that you don't pass any disease on to your partner, so I applaud you for getting checked and making sure that you are not carrying an infection that can be passed on.

You mentioned blood tests and urine tests, but you need to know that some tests, including herpes, can't be tested by those fluids alone. Many diseases are not passed through the blood stream. Herpes, for example, is a virus that enters the body and travels along the nervous system. The only way for you to test for other diseases is to be examined by a doctor, taking fluid samples from the urethra which runs through the penis, and watching your body for some painful sores (herpes lets you know it is there!) Other diseases like HPV may leave bumps that itch and are not painful.

Since there are other diseases that you may have (though just because you went to a 'massage parlor' doesn't mean that there are diseases passed on. Many places go to great lengths to make sure they don't pass on diseases. A business doesn't stay open very long if the rumor is that they spread diseases.

I would just get a good check up by a doctor who knows about diseases, and watch your body. I would also not have intercourse without using a condom, so that if you do have something on your genitals you will not spread it to your partner.

I hope this is helpful. Thanks for writing, and feel free to write again.

Reviewed by Sexual Health Editorial Team

This question appears in the following topics:

Sexually Transmitted Infections: Genital Herpes