STD Help

[RandyJ2010]

I recently had a risky sexual encounter in las vegas, unprotected sex.  I am a male in my mid-20's.  

After the encounter I became paranoid and immediately (2 days after the encounter) tested myself for all major STDs.  My results were negative for Chlamidia, Ghonnoreah, Syphilis, HSV2, and HIV.  I tested positive for HSV1 (cold sores).  I think I have had HSV1 for awhile and I'm not overly concerned about it.

Temporarily I felt safe with my test results, but I continued to research STDs (still feeling a little paranoid I guess).  I found out that for the urinalysis and blood test that I had received I should wait AT LEAST 1 week from the encounter to test for Chlamidia, Ghonnoreah, and Syphilis, and at least 6 weeks after the sexual contact to retest for HSV2 (genital herpes).

I was checking myself (i.e. opening my urethra, checking my testicles) at least 20 times per day, probably more.  I noticed what I was sure were unusual instances.  For example, my urethra opening looked larger than normal and a little red from irritation.  I noticed what I can describe as a slight cut next to my urethra opening, and it also seemed like the veins in my testicles were more apparent than usual.  Ocassionally I thought I would notice some sort of clear liquid which didn't appear to be seemen 5 or 10 minutes after urination.

This contant checking lasted for a week while I waited and worried until 10 days after the sexual encounter to be retested for everything except herpes and HIV.  

This time I did the full blood count and urinalysis.  Everything came back negative results, which helped to relieve my paranoia a little.  The specialist who answered my STD questions with the results assured me that I definitely do not have Ghonnoreah, Syphilis, or Chlamidia.  He explained that I had been tested twice (2 days after encounter and 10 days after encounter), and that I can be very very sure that I do not have these STDs.  He explained that because my full blood count results came back as "normal" that I probably don't have any other STDs either (since it doesn't appear that I am fighting an infection).  He reitterated that I still can not know about HSV2 until I am re-tested 6 weeks after the encounter.

It's now been about 5 weeks after the encounter.  My paranoia had gone down quite a bit, but it still is definitely on my mind.  The cut near the opening of my urethra (not inside the hole, but outside, on the side of it) still has not fully healed.  I cannot tell if this is because I have continued to check my penis (especially the area near my urethra), or if it is some sypmtom of an STD.  

The fact that I still do not know about HSV2 worries me, and yesterday I noticed that clear liquid (which I don't think is seemen) about 5 minutes after urination.  I called the people who ran my urinalysis and full blood count.  The operator there told me that my "symptoms" don't seem to be symptoms of herpes, but I still need to wait until the 6 week date to be tested for herpes.  He said that because I tested negative for other STDs that the clear liquid discharge is probably due to a urinary-tract infection.  (Apparently Chlamidia and Ghonnorea can cause clear liquid discharge but he seemed confident in my prior results which said that I don't have those).  

what do you think?  Next week I will get tested for HSV2.  I was told that the results are about 98% accurate (I think it's called the IgG test), and next week will be exactly the 6 week mark.

If my results are negative for HSV2 then what would your advice be?  I will post my results next week for the IgG test.  I really hope it comes back negative.  But I feel that maybe it would make me even more confused.

I want to know why the area around my urethra still appears abnormal (and I can't figure out if it's in my head and from constant-touching) and why I am ocassionally noticing this clear liquid discharge after (usually after urination).  Do you think these are STD related given that I've tested negative so far?  Also, do I need to be concerned about other (more minor) STDs...and how long should I wait to be tested for HIV/Aids?  

[CJC2011]

There's no absolute 100% on anything.  I believe that your HSV-2 IgG antibody test would be around 90-95% positive by 12 weeks.  If you add up the lack of symptoms, small chance of transmission from a one time encounter and it adds up to damn near 100%.  

Your HIV test at 12 weeks should be at least as accurate as the herpes test, probably more.

All of your other tests 10 days post exposure are as accurate as they're going to be.

Repeat the HSV & HIV tests.  Looks like you've been checked for everything else.  

[RandyJ2010]

Please someone comment.  Also, do you have a complete list of everything I can check for?

[RandyJ2010]

So this is what I have concluded:

NOW-

Get tested for Ghonnorea, Syphilis, Chlamidia, and any other bacterial infections/STDs.
*If anything tests positive, get cured (should be simple; pill or shot, no complications, quick recovery, no permanent issues, and no possibility of transfering to others after treatment).
*If everything tests negative, have 100% faith in these results and move on (testing now would mean 6 weeks post exposure)

JANUARY-

Get tested for HSV2 (IgG test) and HIV. (12 weeks post exposure)
*If HSV2 tests positive, then I'm infected.  I need to tell my girlfriend, and hopefully we can get through it.
*If HSV2 tests negative, then I can be 99% positive I am not infected.

APRIL- (6 months post exposure)

Get tested for HSV2 and HIV.  If the results are still negative then I can now be 100% sure I do not have these two diseases.  If I did, by this point it would DEFINITELY show in my blood/urine.  I should feel completely comfortable that I do not have any diseases (including minor and major STDs or other infections)


Does this sound like what I should do in my position?  Grace???  This is my game-plan.  Please advise

[Still_Worried_]

The "big" ones are HIV & HSV II.  STDs caused by bacteria include syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia (and are curable).  Yes, HSV II results would be virtually 100% at 6 months.

[RandyJ2010]

So the only diseases/infections which I need to worry about are the "big" ones (Chlamidia, Ghonorea, Syphilis, HSV2, and HIV) ?  I don't really need to worry about the other ones, because if I did in fact catch one, I could be treated for it easily, and eliminate the risk of passing it on to others?  Is that correct?  If I do have some bacterial infection of some kind, the problem will kind of take care of itself?

If it takes more than 3 months, by what time would my HSV2 results be 100%?  6 months?

[Still_Worried_]

Well, you obviously shouldn't be cheating, but I commend you for caring enough about her to get tested prior to having sex with her.  Some guys wouldn't even do that!   You made ONE mistake.  It was wrong, yes, but learn from it.  Obviously you have a good heart if you're this distraught about this incident and you care deeply about not infecting her.  You can take this opportunity to be the best boyfriend you can be from this point on.  Take a deep breath.  It's going to be okay.

If you test negative at the 3 month mark, everything will be virtually 100% accurate except for HSV.  HSV may take longer than 3 months, but most people do seroconvert within that time frame.  It's somewhat rare to take longer than 3 months, but I just wanted to give you the heads up that you wouldn't be 100% in that regard.  I'm not trying to freak you out; I thought it would be best to let you know because someone else is involved in this now.

[RandyJ2010]

I'm worried about infecting my girlfriend.  I don't want to give her anything at all.  Of course, it would be most devastating to give her HIV or HSV2, so I'm REALLY hoping I don't have those.  But I don't want her to get ANY infections because of me.  Is it possible to check for EVERYTHING?

Luckily, she is out of the country and will be returning in late January (almost exactly the three month mark).  If I test negative a few days before she returns (89 days post exposure), then I can be certain she won't contract anything?

As I mentioned, HSV2 and HIV would be the worst thing to pass to her (and if i test positive then I will have to tell her).  But even if I passed another disease (even if it's less serious)  on to her, then there will be big problems.

I'm so ashamed of what I did.  I am praying to God that he will forgive me.

[CJC2011]

Well I don't think that they're responsible at all, but playing devil's advocate here, if I was running one of those places, I'd be pissed to find out that one of my girls was having unprotected sex with clients.  The more unprotected sex she has, the better her chance of catching something and if she catches something, the better chance of passing it onto a client and if enough clients of a place get infected from one of the girls, the better chance of one of them getting angry and seeking retaliation.  It's all around terrible for the clients and the workers to engage in unprotected sex.  Maybe my logic sucks, but that's how I'm thinking of it.  

I think Grace pretty much summed up all of your tests and info you need.  At this point, just repeating your HSV & HIV tests should be good as far as STD's are concerned.  

[Still_Worried_]

What the heck?   Why are you so worried about minor, curable ones?  Take a few pills and it's gone....What's the big deal?  Don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating to go around picking them up, but if it happens, nothing to stress about.  People even in long term relationships can catch things like chlamydia, gonorrhea, etc.  Hard to go an entire lifetime without having some kind of bacterial infection.

[RandyJ2010]

Really?  You think they are responsible enough to make sure they don't have unprotected sex with clients if they were at risk of infecting them?  That's a little reassuring.  

I called the place and the chinese lady who answered the phone played stupid.  I asked if they check the girls, and she said yes, but hung up on me before I could ask further questions.

Could you please tell me what STDs/infections that I can check for at 6 weeks post exposure?  I'm looking for ANYTHING, abnormalities, STDs, infections, illnesses.  What can I do to cover ALL my bases at the 6 week point?

[CJC2011]

Yes, it's really possible that you have nothing.  I'm wondering about the context of your encounter.  I'd imagine that it's rare for a massage parlor girl to agree to unprotected sex.  Either she's new, or she was on something and it was probably a rare occurrence.  I doubt she has unprotected sex with every client.  If that was the case, somebody would've come down with something and probably annonymously alerted some authority and had the place shut down.  

I've had some really regrettable unprotected encounters and amazing have been clean my entire life.  It sounds crazy, but the internet does a very good job of feeding our paranoia.  After my last encounter, I spent about 18 weeks completely convinced that I had HSV-2, despite everything saying otherwise.  It was mostly about my shame and regret.  

Let us know how your test goes on Friday.  I wish you the best of luck!

[RandyJ2010]

Please comment:

I didn't have time to see the STD doctor yesterday like I had planned.  I will probably go on Friday this week (which is exactly my 6 week mark since the unprotected sex incident with a prostitute).

Grace, please tell me what I need to be tested for, other than herpes (hsv2) and HIV, because I will wait for the 3 month mark to test for those.

I am interested in being tested for anything that can be tested for (infections, diseases, etc), anything I can be tested for with 99% or better accuracy of results.  Do you have a complete list?  

To be honest I'm as much worried about minor/uncommon stds and infections as I am about hsv2 and HIV (because everything you're telling me is that it is unlikely that I have those two, hsv2 and hiv).  I am really expecting negative results for those, but I still think I must have picked up SOMETHING, and I would like to find out what I have.  Remember, I had unprotected sex with a prostitute (massage parlor).  Surely I have caught SOMETHING (right?)...I'm just hoping that the something is not hiv or herpes.

Is it really possible I have NOTHING?  I just find it hard to believe I've received nothing (which would be great...just hard to believe).  I certainly hope i don't have hsv2 or hiv, as everything else i could probably deal with, if i knew i had it.

So Grace, please answer, at 6 weeks after the contact, what can I be tested for?

[CJC2011]

I haven't read anything about HSV causing nearly continuous symptoms in anybody.  Whatever it is that's ailing you, I hope they find out soon.

It's a shame about those IgM tests.  I had a doc run IgM & IgG tests at 10 days post exposure and based on that negative result alone, he told me that I was perfectly fine and didn't need further testing.  I know that if I was recently infected, my IgM would probably but not definitely be positive at 10 days, but it's certainly not enough to rule out HSV.  I'm glad that I got retested at 12 weeks.  

[Badmistake211]

I've seen many doctors, internal medicine, disease specialist, dermatoligist, and even a urologist. The reason why i do sometimes think that it is herpes is because of all the symptoms i had right after the incident. I had swollen lymph nodes in my neck, fever about 4 weeks after, i've had swelling in my gums, blurred vision, lower back pains, terrible headaches, and i have noticed small little bumps kind of like musquito bumps that come and go on my head. I've taken two HSV - 2 IgG Specific tests which both have come back negative, one at 5 months and another a little over 6 months. My idiot doctor had tested me with an IgM test at 5 months which had come back positive for HSV -2, he basicially told me I have it.I dont know what else to do, i still have a little redness and pain which comes and goes every other day. I'm giong to have an MRI done soon for my head because there are days that I have compeltely lost it, tons of neurological issues. I wish the damn stripper just told me the truth. This has been a living nightmare.

[CJC2011]

@ jj214 - Did you ever get yourself checked out, aside from your testing?  There seems to be a bunch of non std related issues that can cause all sorts of genital area problems.  I'd keep going back until somebody found something.  It's hard to live with any chronic discomfort, especially in that area.  

[Badmistake211]

Good Luck Randy I truly do hope your results come back negative and you could let this all go. I've also gone thru a similar incident with a CSW which was a protected incident, I instantly starting feeling the burning tingling feeling which we all know is a sign of an std. I've done all the testing and everything seems to come back negative. I've went a week past 6 months and tested for HIV and HSV-2 IgG Specific test and they all come back negative. But unfortunatly i am still having issues, I have never had any kind of outbreak so i never thuoght it was herpes, but i've had a lot of the other symptoms. Just keep your mind clear stay off the internet, and live your life. Good Luck again.

[Still_Worried_]

Or use your hand instead & use that extra money to donate to herpes research!   He he he

[gracefromHHP]

you've had no symptoms. you have no reason for all the worries you have at this point.

just because you paid for sex doesn't mean you will be "paying" for it for the rest of your life!!!  

if you have money to blow and need more ways to spend it, I can forward a few bills your way :)

[RandyJ2010]

Awesome.  Thanks for all this.  I truly am beginning to feel more optimistic.  I understand the likelihood of severe STDs (like HIV and HSV2) are very low.  What do you think my odds are of having ANY infections at all?  I mean, even minor and treatable infections.  Maybe 50/50 that I can walk away from this with no consequences whatsoever?  Please advise.

By the way, going in for a test today (it's only been 5 weeks, but I want to put my mind at ease).  These are same-day results, so I will post my results tomorrow.

[Still_Worried_]

I agree.  You have to look at the odds.  The odds of her even HAVING HSV or HIV, & then the odds of transmission if she WAS infected (less than 1 in 1000,) & having no obvious symptoms on top of that -- you're looking at a one in a million chance you're infected.   Like CJC stated, you have a better chance of getting hit by lightening.

[CJC2011]

Well I can't blame you for not feeling secure.  You still have to play the averages though.  The odds are in your favor.  Hopefully your experience is a big a wake up call for you as mine was for me.  

[RandyJ2010]

The thing is that the CSW i was with was not a high-end call girl.  If I had to guess, I would say that she is one of the less responsible types (she was a foreigner from a third world asian country).  And the fact that she didn't seem to care whether we used a condom or not just reconfirms my suspicion that she is a "lower class CSW".  I don't feel secure at all.

[CJC2011]

Well I had my first bout of HSV testing at the 10 day mark.  The doctor said everything was negative and I had nothing to worry about.  Luckily, from the resources at great sites like this, I learned that my test wasn't really accurate and I had to wait till the 3 month mark.  About a month after my encounter I tested for everything else on the spread and repeated my HSV & HIV testing at 12 weeks.  Everything that could be tested for, was tested for.  

What's terrible, is that until now, I've been one of those irresponsible people that never got tested.  I bet that most professional CSW's do at some regular interval.  That's not totally reassuring, but your bet with a CSW can't be much worse than a regular girl you'd pick up at a bar.  

[Still_Worried_]

What's ironic is that higher end CSWs probably have a lower number of stds than the general population; they typically test more often.  I know people that haven't been tested for ANYTHING in over a decade despite a high number of sex partners!!  It's so disconcerting and irresponsible.