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STDs (Expert Forum)
Affair in Asia
Answered by
University of Washington
Seattle - WA
This forum does not cover AIDS/HIV issues. This forum is for questions and support regarding STD issues such as: Chlamydia, Crabs (pubic lice scabies), Gonorrhea, Hepatitis (viral), Herpes, HPV, Molluscum Contagiosum, PID, Rectal Infections, Syphilis, Trichomonas, Warts, Yeast Infection.
IMPORTANT
This forum is limited to questions about STDs other than HIV/AIDS. For questions about HIV prevention, or if you have general questions about safe sex (e.g., condoms, how to protect yourself from HIV and STDs), please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum
Some of the most common types of questions concern the risk of HIV or STD after a particular sexual exposure, and about symptoms that might or might not be due to HIV. If your question is along these lines, please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum.
This forum is limited to questions about STDs other than HIV/AIDS. For questions about HIV prevention, or if you have general questions about safe sex (e.g., condoms, how to protect yourself from HIV and STDs), please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum
Some of the most common types of questions concern the risk of HIV or STD after a particular sexual exposure, and about symptoms that might or might not be due to HIV. If your question is along these lines, please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum.
Affair in Asia
by Kingsing, Feb 03, 2006 12:00AM
I Returned from Hong Kong on January 24th and while there had protected vaginal sex and unprotected oral (giving & receiving) with two sex workers. I'm worried I could have picked up an std.
1. What do you think my chances were? If one had gonorrhea what are the odds? Or if one had syphilis?
2. I had some medication left over for an infection and travelers diarrhea. I took 1 gram of azithromycin then 500 mg of cipro twice daily for three days. Would this cure any std I might have picked up.
3. Do you have any idea how prevalent std's are in Hong Kong?
4. If a person can pick up an std from oral sex, then why is kissing so safe? Could you please explain the difference?
5. I have read that the best way to cure syphilis is by injection of pencillin. Would large doses of ampicillin and/or amoxicillin produce the same results?
Thank you so much for this forum and answering my questions.
1. What do you think my chances were? If one had gonorrhea what are the odds? Or if one had syphilis?
2. I had some medication left over for an infection and travelers diarrhea. I took 1 gram of azithromycin then 500 mg of cipro twice daily for three days. Would this cure any std I might have picked up.
3. Do you have any idea how prevalent std's are in Hong Kong?
4. If a person can pick up an std from oral sex, then why is kissing so safe? Could you please explain the difference?
5. I have read that the best way to cure syphilis is by injection of pencillin. Would large doses of ampicillin and/or amoxicillin produce the same results?
Thank you so much for this forum and answering my questions.
Doctor's Answer
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Feb 03, 2006 12:00AM
, Feb 03, 2006 12:00AM
See many other threads on this forum with similar questions. Search the threads for "STD transmission risk", "HIV transmission risk", "oral sex", and "fellatio". Because I have responded so many times before, my responses here will be brief:
1) Very low risk for any STD from condom-protected vaginal sex. Very small risk of gonorrhea or other infections from oral sex--but if you had acquired one of them, you would have developed symptoms by now.
2) With those drugs you would have protected yourself reliably against chlamyda, syphilis, and NGU; and reasonably reliably (but not perfectly) against gonorrhea.
3) I have no particular information about STD prevalence in Hong Kong.
4) STD transmission by fellatio is very uncommon. STDs that inhabit the genitals usually are not in the mouth; particular bacteria simply survive better in some tissues or anatomic areas than others.
5) Syphilis is not a concern given your exposures. But if it were, the azithromycin would have prevented it. Large doses of amp or amox orally would be pretty good at preventing syphilis, but are not reliable in treating active syphilis infections.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
1) Very low risk for any STD from condom-protected vaginal sex. Very small risk of gonorrhea or other infections from oral sex--but if you had acquired one of them, you would have developed symptoms by now.
2) With those drugs you would have protected yourself reliably against chlamyda, syphilis, and NGU; and reasonably reliably (but not perfectly) against gonorrhea.
3) I have no particular information about STD prevalence in Hong Kong.
4) STD transmission by fellatio is very uncommon. STDs that inhabit the genitals usually are not in the mouth; particular bacteria simply survive better in some tissues or anatomic areas than others.
5) Syphilis is not a concern given your exposures. But if it were, the azithromycin would have prevented it. Large doses of amp or amox orally would be pretty good at preventing syphilis, but are not reliable in treating active syphilis infections.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
Very small risk of getting gonnerrea from receiving oral because that bateria can live in a persons throat. But if it has been more than a week or so and you do not have a painful discharge, then the chances you have gonnerrea are very very low.
You had safe sex and I would bet the odds you are STD free are very close to 100%. I would not test.
i notice that you respond to quite a few of these posts. are you involved with the site in some respect? what credentials or background do you have? believe me, i'm not being critical, but just want to make sure the advice and opinion I'm reading is from a credible source. thanks for your contribution to the site. if nothing else, some of your responses have been comforting to my own situation.
thanks
That said, I took it upon myslef to get educated on HIV and other STD's. I have read many medical journals and the respones by Dr. HHH here. He is one of the world's foremost experts and I would never pretend to be affiliated with him. He has my utmost respect and admiation. I just hope that if I happen to be on this site and can calm someones fears, when appropriate, that it will help someone get through a hard day. I would never say anything in a judgemental way or in a way I hope the Dr. would not agree with. If a post is out of my league, I will not respond. If I can add value, I will give it a shot.
I hope I have helped. I do feel for people who get in a bad situation. We are all just good folks looking for answers. Some of us have made mistakes we regret, but we are still good folks. As an added bonus, Dr. HHH works with the Univeristy of Washington in Seattle. My Alma Mater and home town. GO DAWGS!!
HHH, MD
HHH, MD