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STDs (Expert Forum)
A Few Questions
Answered by
University of Washington
Seattle - WA
Welcome to the STD Forum, which is intended only for questions and support pertaining to sexually transmitted diseases other than HIV/AIDS, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, human papillomavirus, genital warts, trichomonas, other vaginal infections, nongonoccal urethritis (NGU), cervicitis, molluscum contagiosum, chancroid, and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). All questions will be answered by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D. or Edward W Hook, MD.
A Few Questions
by Concerned333, Jun 21, 2007 12:00AM
9 weeks ago - Received unprotected oral sex from a friend (not a prostitute/sex worker). A week prior to that - shaved my "abdominal hair” to the top of my pubic hair line.
2 weeks after oral sex - Developed rash above pubic line in abdomin (abdomen). region and 1 of groin lymph nodes swelled (quickly returned to normal). Rash didn't blister, wasn't clustered, didn't embody any of the typical herpes symptoms (wasn't located near my genitals). Saw a general physician, who briefly considered herpes, but diagnosed condition as a staph infection (folliculitis) and prescribed an oral (Amoxicillin) and topical antibiotic.
2 weeks later - (for some reason) grew increasingly worried that I might have contracted an STD and began constantly checking my genital region, developing soreness in one of testicles and burning feeling that comes and goes in the tip of urethra (no or very little pain while urinating). Also, I noticed some slight penile discharge, but completely clear. Finally, last week my lymph nodes, one in each of armpits swelled briefly and were quite tender, only exasperating my worries.
Presently - never any sort of rash or visual STD-like condition on genitals to my knowledge, rash on abdom. almost completely healed, still feel burning sensation (off and on) in urethra and penis is slightly sore.
Suggestions? Should I see an Urologist? Do my symptoms equate to some other problem (NGU, UTI, etc.)? Symptoms merely psychologically induced? Thank you -God bless!
2 weeks after oral sex - Developed rash above pubic line in abdomin (abdomen). region and 1 of groin lymph nodes swelled (quickly returned to normal). Rash didn't blister, wasn't clustered, didn't embody any of the typical herpes symptoms (wasn't located near my genitals). Saw a general physician, who briefly considered herpes, but diagnosed condition as a staph infection (folliculitis) and prescribed an oral (Amoxicillin) and topical antibiotic.
2 weeks later - (for some reason) grew increasingly worried that I might have contracted an STD and began constantly checking my genital region, developing soreness in one of testicles and burning feeling that comes and goes in the tip of urethra (no or very little pain while urinating). Also, I noticed some slight penile discharge, but completely clear. Finally, last week my lymph nodes, one in each of armpits swelled briefly and were quite tender, only exasperating my worries.
Presently - never any sort of rash or visual STD-like condition on genitals to my knowledge, rash on abdom. almost completely healed, still feel burning sensation (off and on) in urethra and penis is slightly sore.
Suggestions? Should I see an Urologist? Do my symptoms equate to some other problem (NGU, UTI, etc.)? Symptoms merely psychologically induced? Thank you -God bless!
Doctor's Answer
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Jun 21, 2007 12:00AM
, Jun 21, 2007 12:00AM
Please read other threads in this and the HIV prevention forum about the low risk of oral sex for all STDs, including HIV; use the search link to look for 'STD transmission risk', 'HIV transmission risk', 'oral sex', 'fellatio', and 'cunnilingus'. Also search 'STD symptoms'. To your specific questions:
1) Doesn't sound like NGU or any other STD; and yes, the symptoms are consistent with anxiety as the primary cause. (And as I have said many times, when a person suspects his or her own symptoms may be psychosomatic, usually s/he is right.)
2) Since the cause is likely emotional, your mental state probably will be the main determinant of when your symptoms resolve. Soon, I hope.
3) In general, lesbian and bisexual women are at low risk for HIV. A standard HIV antibody test will be fine; or have a duo test, P24 antigen plus antibody. It's the routine test in many labs.
5) Frequent urination is not an NGU symptom.
6) You don't need penicillin. People almost always are better off seeing a doc profesionally and formally than relying on their medical friends for health care. And most docs definitely prefer not to provide such favors to their friends, especially for senstive areas like drugs, sex, mental health, and so on.
7) You really didn't need any testing at all. And the drugs you took screwed any possibility of reliable tests for most infections anyway.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
1) Doesn't sound like NGU or any other STD; and yes, the symptoms are consistent with anxiety as the primary cause. (And as I have said many times, when a person suspects his or her own symptoms may be psychosomatic, usually s/he is right.)
2) Since the cause is likely emotional, your mental state probably will be the main determinant of when your symptoms resolve. Soon, I hope.
3) In general, lesbian and bisexual women are at low risk for HIV. A standard HIV antibody test will be fine; or have a duo test, P24 antigen plus antibody. It's the routine test in many labs.
5) Frequent urination is not an NGU symptom.
6) You don't need penicillin. People almost always are better off seeing a doc profesionally and formally than relying on their medical friends for health care. And most docs definitely prefer not to provide such favors to their friends, especially for senstive areas like drugs, sex, mental health, and so on.
7) You really didn't need any testing at all. And the drugs you took screwed any possibility of reliable tests for most infections anyway.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
HHH, MD
The rash on your lower abdomen almost certainly has nothing whatever to do with your oral sex adventure 2 weeks earlier. From all you describe, I see no reason to doubt your personal physician's diagnosis of folliculitis; you don't have an STD. Most of your more recent symptoms--testicular discomfort, etc--suggest only anxiety, nothing more. I don't accept that you actually had lymphadenopathy (lymph node inflammation) unless it was diagnosed by your doc. Self-diagnosis of that problem is very unreliable.
My suggestion is to continue to consult with your doc if your symptoms continue or you otherwise remain concerned. But I see no reason for worry.
Good luck--- HHH, MD