Hi

It’s difficult to diagnose conditions over the internet as we need to ask questions about your past medical history, do testing and a physical exam. What I can do is give you some general information about what you have written.

With what you have written it doesn’t sound like herpes. You were practicing safer sex by mutually masturbating. Have a look at our “Know your chances” web page, it provides information on your chances of getting or passing an STI depending on how you are having sex.

STI like Herpes and syphilis can be passed with the skin to skin rubbing when having oral, vaginal or rectal sex. They can also be passed with genital to genital rubbing. Given this if there was penis to penis rubbing it could happen but if they were just touching not the best way for herpes to pass.

Most people who have herpes don’t get symptoms and are unaware that they have it. So it is possible the other man could have herpes and not know. But it is never 100% that if someone has an STI that it will pass to you the first time you have sex.

When people do get symptoms from herpes it happens 2-21 days (average 6 days) after getting it passed to them. With what you have written it sounds like you are just getting a sensation but no physical symptoms.   

It’s difficult to know what the sensations in your groin are. It’s possible it could be something physical e.g. maybe something from the friction of the masturbation. It is also possible that it can be caused mentally.

It is normal for the body to get different sensations from time to time. We usually don’t pay any attention to them but if we are worried about something we can start noticing sensations that have always been there. It is also possible to cause sensations by thinking about something, for example start thinking about head lice and your head can start itching.

It may be worth while coming into one of our clinics to speak with a nurse. All your information is confidential. They will be able to discuss your individual situation and see if it could be an STI that is causing the problem.

The Bute street clinic in Vancouver is a good place to go.

Health initiative for men also has sexual health centers in Vancouver, New Westminster and Surrey

Given that this is your first sexual experience I am not sure how comfortable you are feeling over what happened.  If this is concerning you it can also be helpful to come in and talk with a nurse.

Also have a look at our herpes page for more information.

Please leave a comment to let us know if this answers your question or if you need more information.

Health Nurse

For other readers, please feel free to leave a comment, or let us know if this was helpful.