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Chlamydia/Gonorhea Test Results and Timing

Hello Doctor,

First let me say thank you for taking the time to read my question and educate me.  It is a terrific service that you offer and is much appreciated.  The other night I was out with friends, had too much to drink and ended up blacking out.  Now, I've been able to piece together most of the night, but there is still a small window where I don't know what went on.  I am hoping nothing, but my mind can take things and run weird places with it.  Anyway, about 24 hours after that I started to experience a strange feeling (itch) in my scrotum.  The next day I started to have a very sensitive feeling (almost irritated) at the tip of my penis, slight discomfort with urination (off and on) and I started having extreme lower abdominal pain.  The next day my wife made an appointment for me to go see a urologist.  I explained my symptoms to the doctor who took a urinalysis and examined me. I had chlamydia in college so the second I feel anything abnormal in that region my mind starts to think about possibilities.  

The doctor stated that he thought it could be prostatitis, but that he would have a culture done on the urine as well as test for STD's.  This was a little over 3 1/2 days (3 days 14hrs) from the end of my blackout. I
spoke with him today & he told me that the culture came back clear and the 5 STD's that he tested me for were negative.

My questions are as follows:
1.). I have read conflicting information in the forums, so I want your input.  Is 3 1/2 days enough time for a conclusive chlamydia/Gonorhea test result of negative?

2.). If the symptoms I mentioned are/were present at the time of the test and they been due to chlamydia or Gonorhea would the test results needed to show up as positive?  In other words, if symptoms exist should the test be an accurate positive or negative?

Again thank you for your time, and I appreciate your response.

3 Responses
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239123 tn?1267647614
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
These symptoms don't sound like those of any STD.  I have to wonder whether you are simply more sensitive and aware of minor variations in the appearance or feelings in your penis, due to anxiety.

The reason for different time frames for testing are that there are no good data, just experts' opinions.  However, almost all gonorrhea would be detected at 2 days and beyond, and almost all chlamydia after 3-4 days.  While you're on the borderline for chlamydia, your symptoms don't suggest it and the chance you are infected is extremely low.  But if you want a 100% definitive chlamydia test, go ahead and have another one.  You can expect it to also be negative.

Urine dribbling can be a symptom of prostatitis.  If you have had prostatitis before and had similar symptoms, that may be a possibility.  However, prostatitis is not an STD, and no STD is a likely cause of these symtpoms.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi Dr. - thank you for your reply. Sorry ran out of text limit to get further in detail. The reason I'm worried is one of the last things I remember hearing before blacking out was "we should have sex". Anyway, I do have a follow up question.  Now, 8 days post blackout, the tip of my penis is reddish and extremely sensitive, and feels like it is being pinched. No discharge, but leakage upon completion of urination.

Should I get retested or was 3 1/2 days post "possible" exposure/blackout more than enough time.  I tried to search the forums before asking you to respond but there are all sorts of time frames from 2 days to 5 days to 7 days?

Does this sound more like a prostatitis episode?

Thanks again for your help and care.

Helpful - 0
239123 tn?1267647614
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome back to the forum.  Let's go straight to your questions and concerns.

"there is still a small window where I don't know what went on.  I am hoping nothing...."  Presumably you fear you may have had sexual contact.  This seems exceedingly unlikely to me, but you were there and I wasn't.  In any case, your symptoms are not typical for any STD, and your urologist obviously agreed-- and you have also had negative test for any STDs that would cause such symptoms.

1) Yes, 3 days is sufficient time for reliable gonorrhea and chlamydia testing.

2) Yes, if your symptoms were due to either of these STDs, the test would have been positive.

Frankly, your concerns about having been at risk for STDs during the brief time of your memory blank seem quite abnormal.  I cannot imagine you had sex and have absolutely no recollection of it.  

Regards--  HHH, MD
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