Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum.  ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
STDs  (Expert Forum)
 | 
239123?1193201844
Combination of her symtoms, dates of testing, new symptoms for her, etc
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.

Combination of her symtoms, dates of testing, new symptoms for her, etc

by whatisitnow, Apr 22, 2007 12:00AM
About 7 weeks before testing, I had unprotected vaginal sex until I climaxed with a woman who I used to date about a year ago (and had sex with maybe 10x during that prior time period).  A week later, I kissed and received oral for about 10 seconds from a girl that spent time in Africa as a missionary.  She used her hand for the rest of the time.  I met her on vacation.

After coming back into town, I resumed sexual activity with my now monogmous partner.  We had just had sex for the first few times right before I left town and had those two other exposures.  I am her first vaginal sex partner.  A few weeks later she started experiencing vaginal discharge, pain in that area, etc.  She got tested and found out that she had a vaginal infection and gonorrhea.  She got treated for both and and I got treated for gonorrhea.

Everything was fine until the other night when, after protected sex (usually unprotected, but we used a condom since we don't know if we're free of gonorrhea yet. Since being diagnosed with GC, we've done oral mult times but she has used a hand to finish at the end). One area of her vagina started to swell up.  Took her to the ER and they decided that it was 'irritation' and not an allergic reaction to latex.  Then today, she started having itching, a white discharge, and lower back pain.  What now?  Is it PID?  Should I be worried about having something else myself?  We got tested for HIV after I got back in town: 5 and 6 weeks after those other two encounters with other girls for her, 6 and 7 weeks for me (I got tested a week after her).  Both came back negative.  Should we get restested for HIV?

Your thoughts?

Thanks!

by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Apr 22, 2007 12:00AM
You don't say how you were treated or whether you both completed treatment.  The first thing is to stop having sex NOW, oral or vaginal, regardless of condom use.  Vaginal irritation swelling could be any of several things, with yeast infection (perhaps triggered by the antibiotics used for gonorrhea treatment) and herpes highest on the list.  Back pain and discharge could be PID.

HIV is not the cause any of these symptoms, but all people with gonorrhea are at increased risk of acquring HIV and it would be reasonable to be retested.

In other words, I don't know what's going on here.  You need to stop guessing and not look for answers online.  You both need see a health care provider right away, preferably the same provider.

If not yet done, don't forget to tell your other partner about the gonorrhea.  She needs testing and treatment as well.

Good luck--  HHH, MD
Member Comments (5)

by whatisitnow, Apr 22, 2007 12:00AM
To: Dr HHH
We both received treatment via oral anti-biotics.

She tested neg for herpes when she tested positive for gonorrhea.

So HIV test after 6-7 weeks from encounters not to be considered conclusive?  

She is seing a doctor ASAP.

Thanks!

by whatisitnow, Apr 22, 2007 12:00AM
One last sidenote:  The woman who had been in Africa as a missionary is African American.

Responses would be much apprecciated, thanks!!!!

by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Apr 22, 2007 12:00AM
Be clear:  YOU need to see a provider as well, not just her.  Go together, even if you have no symptoms.

Your partner's race is not relevant.  Only her behavioral risks count for anything.

If your current partner has herpes, it probably is a new infection.  Therefore, her negative HSV test from a few weeks ago doesn't mean much.  This is one of the reasons you need to be checked; if you caught gonorrhea recently, you could just as easily have gotten herpes.  This is one of the reasons you need to see a provider with your partner:  if herpes is suspecte, you will need to be tested.

A 6-7 week negative HIV test is highly reliable.  But you're describing a pretty high risk situation, with a combination of sex with someone recently in Africa, gonorrhea, and herpes possibly involved as well.  In that circumstance, a later HIV test is a good idea.  It probably will be negative, but why take chances?

I won't have any further replies until you come back to report the results of BOTH of your medical evaluations.

HHH, MD

by sauadia, Aug 04, 2007 09:35PM
To: dr
after one year i test negative 5 times for hiv is it true i am very scared but i have all the symtoms how can you help me or talk to a dr my email is ***@****
Continue discussion
Related Expert Forums