Herpes or Penile Papules

Hearing about the rise in sexually transmitted disease cases every year can be frightening and also have psychological effects on our minds. Sometimes even the slightest change in the appearance of the genitals due to harmless conditions can cause an alarm. On the other hand, many are still unaware of the prevalence of STDs and how deteriorating they are.

You might be reading this article because you’ve spotted something unusual on your genitals and are unsure whether it is a symptom of herpes or penile papules. Many STDs cause symptoms similar to a harmless condition, and “herpes or penile papules” may be an example of that.

Caused by HSV-1 and HSV-2, herpes is an infection and one of the most common STDs in the US. While HSV-1 causes herpes in the mouth, HSV-2 is associated with genital herpes. If you have genital blisters or sores and are wondering whether it is herpes or penile papules, you might want to look out for more things.

Herpes sores are painful in the beginning and heal over time and with medication. It is a highly contagious STD and has no known cure. The only way you can prevent herpes is by abstaining from unsafe sex and maintaining a healthy sex life.

On the other hand, penile papules are tiny growths that occur on the penis head or around it. They are harmless, non-infectious, and do not accompany any other symptoms. 

If you think whether the bumps you have on your penis are herpes or penile papules, check whether they itch, change in size and appearance, and spread to surrounding areas. Penile papules will not show any of these signs, whereas a herpes infection will. 

 If you want to be sure whether you have herpes or penile papules, the only reliable way is to get an STD test or see a doctor. Going for an STD test will be beneficial in other ways, too, as you can quickly check if you have any infections.