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STDs (Expert Forum)
Worried about STDs/Crabs/Scabies on boxers/briefs
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.
Worried about STDs/Crabs/Scabies on boxers/briefs
by mks06, Feb 26, 2007 12:00AM
Hi Doctor--hope you can help me out and put my mind at ease. I did something stupid the other night. The short story is that I was in an adult boutique store where I was dared to try on some briefs and jockstrap by some other customers. I had been drinking and wasn't thinking and did try a pair of briefs and two jockstraps (stupid, I know). The clothes were hanging on a rack and were adult in nature (kinky stuff). My questions are:
1)could I have caught an STD if there was fluid at the bottom of the jockstrap? I know that HIV can't live long outside the body, but I'm less clear on other STDs and it freaks me out to think there could of been any amount of fluid in the jockstrap that would of come in contact with my penis. If I tried on these clothes, probably someone else has. Should I be worried?
2) I've read alot about crabs and scabies and know they can't live long outside a human host. I've started thinking my butt itches, and then I go and look in the mirror and I see nothing as far as marks/bites. I keep thinking the tight boxer briefs could of had crabs that would of crawled up my butt....ahhhh! Is this realistic? Also, would I see bite marks of some kind and would symptoms appear pretty quickly?
3) Should I be obsessing over this and go see a doctor over anything? Lastly (and most importantly), am I putting my wife at risk for anything by sleeping in the same bed? (I keep thinking of crabs crawling on the bed)
1)could I have caught an STD if there was fluid at the bottom of the jockstrap? I know that HIV can't live long outside the body, but I'm less clear on other STDs and it freaks me out to think there could of been any amount of fluid in the jockstrap that would of come in contact with my penis. If I tried on these clothes, probably someone else has. Should I be worried?
2) I've read alot about crabs and scabies and know they can't live long outside a human host. I've started thinking my butt itches, and then I go and look in the mirror and I see nothing as far as marks/bites. I keep thinking the tight boxer briefs could of had crabs that would of crawled up my butt....ahhhh! Is this realistic? Also, would I see bite marks of some kind and would symptoms appear pretty quickly?
3) Should I be obsessing over this and go see a doctor over anything? Lastly (and most importantly), am I putting my wife at risk for anything by sleeping in the same bed? (I keep thinking of crabs crawling on the bed)
Doctor's Answer
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Feb 26, 2007 12:00AM
, Feb 26, 2007 12:00AM
Allowing shared intimate clothing is at least unesthetic (a big yuck factor to me!) and might be illegal, depending on local laws or regulations. You could call your local or state health department.
Having said that, the actual risk of disease transmissionn is very low. I cannot imagine any standard STD being transmitted that way--certainly no measurable risk of gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, herpes, or HIV. But crab lice (crabs) and scabies are at least theoretical possibilities; or if someone had a weeping skin infection due to staph, strep or other bacteria, someone could get infected.
But this is all theoretical. Just shower and keep an eye out for obvious abnormalities, like the itchy red spots of scabies or the nits (eggs) that usually are the first sign of crabs. If you develop those, or are uncertain about the +/- symptoms you now are experiencing, see a health care provider, perhaps a dermatologist. But you definitely should not be obsessing about this.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
Having said that, the actual risk of disease transmissionn is very low. I cannot imagine any standard STD being transmitted that way--certainly no measurable risk of gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, herpes, or HIV. But crab lice (crabs) and scabies are at least theoretical possibilities; or if someone had a weeping skin infection due to staph, strep or other bacteria, someone could get infected.
But this is all theoretical. Just shower and keep an eye out for obvious abnormalities, like the itchy red spots of scabies or the nits (eggs) that usually are the first sign of crabs. If you develop those, or are uncertain about the +/- symptoms you now are experiencing, see a health care provider, perhaps a dermatologist. But you definitely should not be obsessing about this.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
But still, until I read Dr. Handsfield's response, I would have thought the only thing you could get from trying on underwear might be a lame excuse for bringing home a STD, lol. I have to say the thought of a staph/bacterial infection or even pubic lice was surprising. I guess I assumed any bacteria left on the underwear would have been long dead, or at least in small enough numbers to be essentially risk-free.
Anyway, in the future you could always wear a tiny thong. That's what I do when I try on bikini bottoms, etc. :-)
And, I take it you don't think I need testing right for the other scary STD stuff? Right?
Thanks for this forum...and, I've learned my lesson from my own stupidity on this one.