A kiss with sex worker - possible STD risk

[ukmikeuk]

Hi Doc,
To cut to the chase, I had an encounter with a female person on a trip to Latvia, whom I kissed (with tongues for around 20 sec - twice) - it turned out she was a sex worker and i declined to take any further advantage of - a smart move looking back.
1 day later, I got a sore throat which turned into a typical cold that I contracted from her, or in the days before the encounter from somewhere else. I went to see my doctor (4 days later) who prescribed me with Phenoxymethyl penicllin (or Penicillin V 250mg tablets) for the sore throat/cold - The dosage was to take 4 a day for 7 days which I have completed (on 5 June 2007). She seemed to think it was nothing more.
I am interested in your views, so my questions are:
1) Is there a possibility that I contracted any STD with this encounter (mainly Syphilis)? - there was no outward sign of sores/ulcers of any kind on her lips but I did not see the inside of her mouth where twice, my tongue briefly was.
2) Would the penicillin v (250mg) I took have cured, say, Syphilis - after starting the course of treatment four days after a exposure of this manner (if there had been an exposure - I have seen on another post that you stated that penicillin v 500mg, 7 day course would have cured a possible syphilis exposure
3) ...if so, am I safe to Kiss and have sexual relations with other females - my last full sexual health check up was all clear.
4) Am I worrying about nothing
Your faithfully - Someone Slightly Concerned.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Relax.  They call them sexually transmitted diseases because you have to have sex to transmit them, and kissing doesn't count.  There was no STD risk, with or without the penicillin (which indeed would have prevented syphilis).  You can kiss and have sex with all the ladies you wish, without putting them at risk.

HHH, MD

[ukmikeuk]

Thank you so much for your speedy response.....and i take your answer to mean a zero (0.00000000000 per cent) risk of contracting any STD even without the Penicillin V - I suppose my concern was somewhat raised by the fact that the person i kissed would perhaps be at greater risk of contracting and carrying an STD given her line of work.  The internet houses some very misleading information about this subject - with very mixed opinions on the subject of kissing (using tongues).

Although i didn't have space to write it i did ask my Doc about the possibility of contracting an STD in this manner and she said no too, but its always nice to have two opinions that match.

Consider yourself a hero and good luck in life.

[ukmikeuk]

and i shall be doing my best have as much safe sex with ladies who find me simply iresistable too!