Dear Ann Landers, ur son is 12 and of normal weight and height. But I am concerned about his genitals. They are still the size of a tod-dler's. His 6-year-old brother is larger than he is. "Ed's" gym instructor says that he takes a lot of kidding. I have taken this boy to a pediatrician and an endocrinologist. They both laughed the matter off and said, "Don't worry, Mom, he'll have plenty of girlfriends." I don't appreciate that kind of response. It seems to me that a joke is being made of something that is very serious. I am deeply concerned, Ann. This boy's self-esteem is low enough without being ridiculed about his manhood. Furthermore, I know how important it is to be able to have a satisfying sexual relationship. Ed is a sensitive child, and I really do worry that this problem may ruin his life. I don't know who to talk to about this now that two doc-tors have laughed about it and made me feel foolish. Can you help? -No Name in Illinois
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Our Reader to Reader Question of the Week:
Dear Readers, , I became ill with high fever, chills and severe genital pain. The diagnosis was genital herpes. At the time, my husband and I had been married 15 years. He was the only sex partner I’d ever had in my entire life. He showed no symptoms. Life in our household was hell. Thanks to the help of several doctors, we learned a lot about genital herpes. Since my husband had other sex partners before our marriage, he could have contracted it then. Some people have such a mild case that they don’t even know they have herpes. Nevertheless, they become carriers. Years later, they may have another mild (unnoticed) outbreak and pass on the virus. Condoms do not protect against herpes because the virus is in the entire genital area. If a sex partner with a cold sore performs oral sex, he or she can infect a partner. 4.1 am a nurse, so I could have picked it up while tending a patient. I am meticulous about hand washing, but that is no guarantee. We still don’t know how I got genital herpes. I have had two flare- ups since the initial outbreak. My husband has never had a symptom. I have never had a sex partner other than my husband. Please tell “Trouble in Toledo” that I believe her husband com-pletely. I know he could have contracted herpes without having an ex-tramarital affair because that is what happened to me. -New Orleans, La.
