#1 ·
Hi there. This all started about five months ago—specifically, back at the end of August last year. Basically, I had unprotected sex. Within a week, maybe a little longer, I started experiencing symptoms I’ve never dealt with before. It was the first time. I had this intense pain in my anus, right at the opening. Going to the bathroom became a massive struggle because the pain was just excruciating. There was irritation, itching, and everything started feeling quite moist, which isn't normal for me, and it caused the skin around the area to get pretty red. At first, it was just the pain, but then about three days later, I noticed some bleeding on the toilet paper. The first time it was just a little bit, but the second and third times were much heavier. Almost the entire wipe would be covered in blood after I went. The blood looked very bright and fresh. It didn't happen often, though; it literally only happened three times and never again, even though those last two instances were more significant. I have to say, this is the first time I've ever seen blood there. Honestly, it terrified me. I didn't know what to do, but part of me kept thinking maybe it wasn't as serious as it felt and that if I just waited, 🤦 might pass. Between the fear and the sheer embarrassment, I still haven't found the courage to go for a proper, formal medical exam. Instead, I just endure it and hope it goes away. Because of my job and where I live, getting to a doctor is a hassle; I often have to travel to a different area to see someone or find a private specialist. Plus, my work address and my permanent residence are in two completely different cities far apart, so seeing my primary care physician is also a logistical nightmare. I tried to check myself, and I realized the area right at the entrance of the anus feels thickened and is quite painful to the touch. That intense pain lasted for about four weeks, then it subsided, and the whole ordeal spanned about two months. After that, the main pain stopped, but I still feel something. It doesn't hurt when I'm actually using the bathroom anymore, but I still feel this... burning sensation? A mild pain that's still present, just not as sharp as before. Especially if I try to touch the area; I can still feel that thickening right at the entrance, and it hurts to touch, even though the pain isn't there during bowel movements. There's no blood anymore—that stopped during those first few symptoms—but now I'm worried about the mucus and the lingering discomfort. Literally every single day when I go, there's this white mucus. It's not a lot, and it's only at the beginning, but it's there. In the water, the mucus looks totally white, but outside of the water, it looks somewhat translucent and yellowish. I already went to get tested for HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C. Those results came back negative. I'm planning to get tested for syphilis and chlamydia as soon as I can. As for HPV, they told me they don't really do testing for men anymore. My question is, could all these symptoms be caused by an STI I picked up, or could it just be hemorrhoids? Since everything showed up so quickly after the unprotected sex, I'm leaning toward it being an infection. Also, can anyone point me in the right direction regarding where to go and which kind of specialist to see? I'd strongly prefer a private clinic; money isn't an issue, and I just want to get this over with as fast as possible because the lingering pain and this daily mucus are really starting to freak me out. 🕺