oral exposure

[Worriedfella8888]

hi

3 weeks ago I received oral sex from a csw, I used a condom although I was drunk put sure the condom was used properly, she did put the condom on with her mouth.

2 days ago so approx 20 days later I have noticed a red patch just under the head of my penis, it has a crater looking edge to it, almost looks like broken skin and it seems to have a clear liquid on it when I pull my foreskin back. I have googled symptoms and one of the things that came up was syphilis canker. Obviously I an freaking out as I have a long term partner and was wondering if this sounds like syphilis and what are the chances catching it from oral sex even with a condom. The only other thing it could be is maybe a fungal infection (balantis maybe) or possibly a abrasion from having sex with my partner ( it appeared the next day after having sex with her) . Any info would be great thanks.

[Gazsmithster]

I cant say what the sore is without looking, for it is unlikely to be syphilis from where she put the condom on with her mouth. To transfer syphilis, it requires vigorous "rubbing". A simple brush past with her lips isnt enough to transfer this.

[Worriedfella8888]

Thanks for the reply, the NHS website in the UK says you can get syphilis grom oral but reading other posts on here am I right in assuming the chances off getting it from receiving oral are extremely low, dont think it herpes as its not a cluster of bumps nor does it itch or hurt, it is slightly tender when I touch it

[Gazsmithster]

you can get it from oral, yes. But the chances are very low, especially for the fact that the oral sex was primarily via condom. The chancre (blister) comes up where the infection took hold and the infection takes hold after vigorous rubbing.

If the sore is under the head which would be covered by a condom then logic dictates that this is not syphilis, however a dr appointment for test will say for sure.

Im also in the UK and several places are getting free postal kits (can send to parents or friends home or place of work if you dont want it going to your house). Go here https://sh24.org.uk/ and put your details in. It is a bit early for conclusive test, but if this is infact syphilis, it will show up on the test.

[Worriedfella8888]

Update

Was seen by a dr today at the local gu clinic and he said it looks like an abrasion from having sex with my partner.  He said it doesn't look std like at all but swapped the sore for syphillis and herpes and also gave me a blood test for hiv and syphillus plus urine sample for gonnarea and clymidia. Says results take about 7 days, he also gave me a steroid cream for the sore. I am feeling slightly better now. Will let you know results once they come in.

Thank you for the replys

[auntiejessi]

Glad you were seen, and got good info. Let us know what happens, for sure. :)

[Gazsmithster]

Good stuff :)

[Worriedfella8888]

Sorry this may seem like a silly question but if on the off chance it was a syphillus sore (I'm 90% shore it isnt) I'm gathering it would show up on the swab test the Dr took even though its only 3 weeks and less than the 6 week conclusive suggested time.

Many thanks

[auntiejessi]

No, a syphilis test is a blood test. The herpes test is a swab test.

Did he do any blood work? If it's syphilis, it would show up on blood work if they run a syphilis test.

[Worriedfella8888]

Yes he done bloods for syphillus but he also took 2 separate swab tests, he said one was for syphillus and one for herpes

[Worriedfella8888]

I've actually had my bloods and urine back today, negative for everything, still waiting on results from swab tests

[auntiejessi]

Can you see what they tested for?

Syphilis will be listed as one or more of: RPR, VDRL, EIA, CLIA, TPPA, FTA-ABS.

[Worriedfella8888]

I'm not sure sorry, was just told the bloods he took where for syphillus and hiv which have both came back as negative, and  still waiting on swab test results which he said where for syphillys nd herpes, am i right in presuming that if this sore was syphillus it would of tested positive on a blood test, even at 3 weeks? Thank you

[auntiejessi]

If you had symptoms of syphilis, the blood test would be positive.

And I just found a couple of articles about doing PCR swabbing of possible syphilis sores. I've seen a couple of different numbers for sensitivity (the ability to detect the disease)  - between 85-89%, and for specificity (the ability to correctly determine when disease is not present) as between 93-99%.

So since you had both a swab test and the blood test, if both are negative, you can rest assured that you do not have it.

I can't find anything on a regular culture for syphilis, as those haven't been successful at all in the past. Herpes can be detected with both a regular culture and a PCR swab.

[Worriedfella8888]

Sorry what is meant by a regular culture?, and yes the dr did say the swab test where fairly accurate.

Thank you for informative auntie jessi

[Worriedfella8888]

The dr told me the blood test looks for the bodys immune response to the disease if that means anything

[auntiejessi]

Oh sorry - regular culture/swab vs a PCR swab, which is more sensitive.

I think the doctor meant the blood test is looking for antibodies, which is what your body develops in response to an infection. That could be for either herpes or syphilis. It's likely too early for herpes antibodies, but not impossible.

There is a herpes test called an IgM herpes test. Your doctor may have done that test. It's a very unreliable test, but many doctors still do that test. If it's positive, ignore it, and do the IgG test at 12 weeks.

I'm not saying I think you have herpes - not at all. I'm just telling you so you'll be prepared in case it does. The IgM test is so unreliable that there is no way of predicting if it's wrong or right.

[Worriedfella8888]

Aah right OK, thanks auntie Jessie, he didnt do a blood test for herpes just a swab, i will let you know when i get swab test results back, and looking forward to getting on with my life and not googling pics of syphillus sores and comparing it to my own haha.

Thanks for the informative replys

[auntiejessi]

Lol don't look at those pics. 90% of the time, they are worst-case scenarios, 9% they aren't even the infection they say they are, and finding the 1% the are accurate are hard to find.

You're welcome, and happy to help.

[Gazsmithster]

Hopefully now your anxiety and eased, you can move on :)

[Worriedfella8888]

Hi

Sorry for asking again but it has been a week since swab test and still waiting on results. In the mean time the initial sore/blemish seemed to heal and go down to a pinkish mark
and barely noticeable after using steroid cream dr prescribed me. However 2 days ago I noticed a bit more redness around the base of the head of the penis and on the head, it just looks like red marks not raised or blister like at all and seemed worse when I got out of the shower yesterday.  Its still quite red today and seems to be flaking dry skin, its not itchy or painful in anyway.  Does that sound like herpes or sphillus or any idea what it could be. As I said I am still waiting results from swab tests.

Thank you

[auntiejessi]

That might just be a reaction to the cream, or whatever caused the sore is spreading. It's not syphilis or herpes. You should follow up with the doctor.

[Worriedfella8888]

So finally received swab test results this morning, both negative for sphillus and herpes, so with a negative blood test at 3 weeks for syphillus and a negative swab test on the sore for both syphillus and herpes I am gathering i can rest assured I do not have either, (might follow up with a 6 week blood test syphillus if its worth it?). Still have symptoms of redness and red spots under head of penis, coukd be some sort of fungal infection maybe, i am going back tomorrow to see what they say.

Thanks for all the reply and your helpful insights

[auntiejessi]

I wouldn't worry at all about syphilis or herpes. You can let that go. You used a condom.

Definitely check with your doctor to see what your symptoms are, but it's not an STD.

[Worriedfella8888]

Sorry forgot to say i am based in the UK and was wondering if it is possible to have caught something when she put the condom on with her mouth as the penis might not off been protected yet as she rolled it on with her mouth.