Anxiety about possible exposure

[wer138]

Doctor,

I am not sure why my posts get deleted.  I have posted followups to my original post 6/16 "Herpes or something else" and have not received a response.

I don't think I am breaking any of the forum rules.  If I am, I was not aware.

This is my question just for my piece of mind.

I received test results for all STD (HIV, HSV-2, hepatits, chlamydia, and ghonnerea) after possible exposure around the beginning of April.  The tests came back negative on Thursday.

I was wondering if this was enough time for testing or if I should have the tests done again.

Please advise.

I trust your opinion.

Please let me know if I should be addressing this question in another manner.

Thanks and look forward to your knowledgeable response.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Read the several other threads on oral sex and STD/HIV risk; your questions have been answered many times.  You can search for oral sex, fellatio, cunnlingus, etc.

HHH, MD

[harryo75]

I have a bit of anxiety too.. . I'm a guy, and recieved unproted oral sex from a woman. I'm concerned about HPV.

I've done a lot of research on the net, and I've mostly found that a woman is a risk for giving oral to a guy, but what about the guy receiving?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

You aren't likely to have acquired an STD because of hand contact with a partner's genitals, even with a cut.  But if you get signs of infection around the cut (pus, redness, etc), get it checked out.  You definitely didn't get the flu-like symptoms that way.  On the other hand, you could have caught a cold virus, perhaps from your partner, which could cause those symptoms.  In any case, the chance your partner has HIV probably is very low.  Your risk of chlamydia, herpes, or genital warts was much higher, and it's more important to be on the alert for genital symptoms.

And I will take the opportunity to make the same point I did in response to another question recently:  Many people who pledge virginity or abstinence end up with higher rates of STD and unwanted pregnancy than those who don't make such pledges.  Why?  Exactly because of the situation in which you found yourself:  when the sex drive wins out over the intellect, it's often a spur-of-the-moment decision with partners who tend to be at fairly high risk.  And people planning on abstinence are unlikely to be carrying condoms.

HHH, MD

[nervouspatient]

Dear Dr.
I am 22 years old and made a decision long ago to not be sexually active, how ever about 3 weeks ago, I met up with an old Girl Friend from High School and had protected vaginal intercourse with her. It was my first time since I was 20 and I had an STD test that came back negative about 14 months after  I made the abstinence decision.

I felt i could trust this girl, however shortly after my encounter, It got back to me that she was very permiscuous and I asked her about it, she told me she has had unprotected sex with other guys at her college.

I did mention that the intercourse was protected, however earlier in the night, approx. 3 hours before, I got a small cut on my finger (approx. the size of the head on a pin), and during the intercourse I did "finger" her.( Sorry about the crude term). I have recently come down with flu like sypmtoms as well as conjunctivitis, and now I'm starting to worry that I contracted HIV or some other STD.

What are your thoughts?

[download2005]

i can understand the anxiety that you are going through, i too have had loads of anxiety over sex with a prostitute that probably never should have happened, However it did so you get tested and get on with life, i did some reading into STD testings and as i understand it by 3 weeks you will get a reliable result for Gonnorreah and chlamydia,by 3 months you will get a reliable result for syphillis,HIV,Hep B and herpes.

So my advice to you would be to have a definate result at 3 months to reassure you and get on with your life ( easier said than done i know but you have to!!) i think you can be confident with the Docs advice that he doesnt think it is an STD but you will need that reassuring negative result to be able to get on with your life.  

Good Luck

Download2005

[wer138]

I'm sorry if I posted too many times.

It's just that I have been having unbelievable anxiety about this. I haven't been feeling so great the past couple of weeks and just wanted to get the doctor's opinion on the situation.

Not about the symptoms but the question about testing.  If it had been enough time or if I need to get tested again.

Hopefully the doctor will be able to shed some light on this situation.

Sorry if I seem to have been an annoyance to anyone on the board.

[ChicShane]

Wer it's a shame you keep asking the same exact question, maybe that's why he's deleting it, there are others here who would like to post too.  You need to go see a doctor.  Here is his original answer to your question:

It doesn't sound like an STD, and your sexual exposure clearly was low risk. (Epidemiologic studies show that the longer a couple knows each other socially before they have sex, the less the chance of either having an STD. By contrast, having sex the same night you meet someone is just about the highest risk, higher than having sex with a prostitute.) Blackheads occur sometimes on the penis. I suspect the STD clinic won't find anytyhing you need to worry about; but if in doubt, ask the dermatologist to take a look as well.

Thanks for your kind thoughts about the forum.

Regards-- HHH, MD

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

As others have pointed out, you have posted the same question and it has been answered.  Only a limited number of new questions is permitted per day, and not every question can be accommodated.  So your messages have been preventing others from asking more important questions an I have been deleting them.

Also, the answerr to your question is readily in previous strings on the forum--and, most important, from your own provider.  Why are you asking me instead of calling the doctor or clinic who did the tests?

Yes, plenty of time has passed for those test results to be reliable. You don't need further tests.

HHH, MD