Concerned about the exposure in Nov

[tommyboy3]

Dear Doc,

I have a single condom protected sex and condom protected oral sex with a CSW back in NOV 19 in MN. She is white and was told she was 19 at the time. I did not notice any sore on her vagina or groin area but notice a dry chancre like sore on her right calf/leg.

I am really worry about syphilis expecially now because i recently develope a sore on the back of my tight. Just 6 inch below the buttchick. No pain, or itch and it heal about 2 weeks. It looks flat and whitish and feel rough and i also have a dry reddish scally spot between my 3rd and 4th finger on my right hand a week after i have the sore on my tight. I suspect it might be due to the dry cold winter here but never know what it could be and it might be due to the exposure. Also my lower back and glut area was extreamly sore and hurt for about a week about 3-4 weeks ago.

Overall, I did not notice any sore around my penis and only have a few raazor burn because i shave all the time. I am really worry now because i am affraid to spread to my wife if i do have any STD. What is the chances that i got the std from the sore that appear on the CSW right leg/calf if she has any. and can syphilis sore happened other than genital/groint area. I touched the sore with my hand during the encounter with the CSW and might rub the sore againt my tight during the encounter.

Also, what is the chance for acquire other STD from this exposure. Thanks

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

The chance of syphilis from an exposure like you describe is virtually zero.  Syphilis currently is a rare disease in the US, with only around 20,000 new cases per year in the entire country -- and 70% of those are in gay men, with most of the rest in a few limited geographic areas.  And condoms are highly protective against syphilis (and other STDs) and although syphilis can be transmitted by oral sex, it is uncommon.  A sore on a partner's leg is not likely to be due to syphilis, even if it really looked like a chancre (which I tend to doubt).

As for other STDs, there is no realistic risk from the condom-protected vaginal exposure.  There is a small risk of some STDs by unprotected oral sex, but all of them would cause symptoms of abnormal discharge from the penis or sores on the skin of the penis.  Without those symptoms, you can be sure you weren't infected.

So the risk was virtually zero and I'm sure you weren't infected with anything.  But since you're worried, visit your local STD clinic or other health care provider for STD testing, including a syphilis blood test.  You can expect the results to be negative.

Regards--  HHH, MD

[tommyboy3]

Thanks for the reassurance. I felt much better now. Thanks

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

"What can it be?"  How can I possibly guess?  There are innumerable possibilities, but these symptoms don't suggest any STD and they are unrelated to the sexual exposure you described.  I never guarantee someone isn't infected, but if I were in your situation, I would continue unprotected sex with my wife.

[tommyboy3]

Thanks for the answer and it make me feel a lot better. What can it be with the sore that show up on my leg and the dry scally spot on my hand? Can i resume unprotected sex with my regular partner?