Hey I have an important question. Its about the std herpes. I'm a virgin and I think I could have herpes. I have little (very small) bumps on/around the base of my penis. What the hell is it? It doesn't itch or burn. My e-mail address is [email protected] Please answer my question.

When To See A Doctor

Symptoms of herpes, should you experience them, include a burning or tingling feeling in the genital area followed by the eruption of painful small red blisters that rupture and form shallow ulcers. Particularly with the initial infection, other symptoms may include:

* Fever

* Headache

* Swollen lymph glands

* Abnormal vaginal discharge

If you exhibit these symptoms, see your family doctor, gynecologist or a specialist working in a sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic. Planned Parenthood also offers specialized services for some STDs.

Herpes is caused by herpes simplex virus type II (HSV-2). (Another strain, HSV-1, is the type responsible for cold sores, but it also sometimes causes genital infections.) Once you've contracted the virus, it's with you for a lifetime, living in nerve cells at the bottom of your spine. If you do have symptoms, they usually consist of a tingly or burning sensation in your genital area, followed by the appearance of small red blisters. These grow into larger pimplelike blisters and are often itchy and painful, with a watery yellow center that eventually ruptures and grows a crusty skin.

EXIT PAIN AND SUFFERING

Medical treatment is aimed at relieving symptoms. Your doctor will probably treat your initial outbreak and perhaps recurrent outbreaks as well with the antiviral drug acyclovir. Gradually, outbreaks often weaken and may disappear altogether. Meanwhile, here are some ways to make yourself more comfortable.

Keep blisters clean and dry. "You don't want blisters to become superinfected from bacteria on surrounding skin," says Judith O'Donnell, M.D. assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Allegheny University of the Health Sciences in Philadelphia and a medical specialist for the Sexually Transmitted Disease Control Program at the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. "Bathe or shower daily with a gentle soap and water, or just water alone."

Take an oatmeal bath. A warm bath helps relieve genital irritation, says Dr. Workowski. And if you have sores, it can also help relieve itching. Best of all is a soak in an oatmeal bath, she says. She recommends Aveeno bath treatment, available on your drugstore shelf. The product contains a finely powdered oatmeal called colloidal oatmeal that's very soothing to itching skin.

Wear loose-fitting clothes. Squeezing into panty hose, tight underwear or other form-fitting clothes will further irritate sensitive herpes sores, says Dr. Workowski. "You'll get chafing, which can be extremely painful." Opt for loose-fitting clothing until your sores heal.

Take a nonprescription painkiller. Acetaminophen, ibuprofen or aspirin might help relieve blister pain, says Dr. Workowski. Follow the directions on the label.

Make love later. Having sex during a herpes outbreak is a bad idea for a variety of reasons, says Dr. O'Donnell. "The herpes outbreak is always associated with some level of pain and discomfort, and this will be made much worse during intercourse. As part of the herpes outbreak, patients may experience swelling of the lymph nodes in the groin. This swelling may cause some discomfort, or it may be painless," she says. Having sex during an active outbreak will put your partner at risk of developing a herpes infection and may place you at higher risk for contracting other sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, she adds.

Use a condom. If you don't have herpes, but your sexual partner does, or if you have a new sexual partner and aren't sure, using a condom offers some protection against contracting the virus, says Dr. Workowski. Use a condom even if no blisters are apparent. "The virus is still there," she says. Experts recommend latex over animal-membrane condoms.

Best of all may be the female condom, according to Dr. Workowski. This device consists of two plastic rings connected by a polyurethane sheath. "The female condom covers the whole vulva," she says, protecting nearby areas that would otherwise expose the virus or be exposed to it.