Concerned

[polishfalcon]

First off, I found this forum informal and helpful for those with concerns. Myself, 29 straight male who had unprotected sex with a female I met while on vacation, May 14th. She told me she was clean, but I do not know if she was telling the truth. May 17th, got cultured, urine sample, as well blood. Urine results came back with UTI, my Doctor prescribed Cipro at 500mg for 10 days. No lesions,blisters were notice after 17 days,hoping herpes is ruled out. June 2, went to ER for I thought I had chlamydia or gonnorhea, however no milky,cloudy discharge, however some tenderness in the testicles and "light burning sensation on shaft of penis(no rash noticable). ER Doctor did dip stick and lab work on urine, no infection was present and gave me a dose of antibiotics,around 6 pills. ER doctor said if any infection is present the dose of antibiotics will kill the infection if present. (1) Is this true, and from the heavy dose of antibiotics, as well with the Cipro, could I have any trace of chlamydia or gonnorhea? (2)Am I stressing too much? (3) Since no visible signs of rash,blisters,lesions,discharge, should I feel safe in engaging in sexual intercourse.

Thank you for taking the time to read my concerns and welcome your opinions.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

First, I have to be skeptical of the diagnosis of urinary tract infection. UTIs are rare in healthy males who don't have an anatomic urinary abnormality or recent urinary tract instrumentation (like a catheter when hospitalized).  If you had negative tests for gonorrhea and chlamydia, and had a positive test for the sort of bacteria that cause UTI (like E. coli and others), then perhaps the diagnosis was correct.  But it is more likely you had urethritis, i.e. an STD acquired either during your vacation exposure or from a prior sexual exposure.  Clinicians who aren't especially familiar with STDs often make this mistake.

In the dose you took, ciprofloxacin would be effective against the likely STD.  It isn't ideal against chlamydia, but in that dose probably would be effective.  Your June 2 symptoms don't sound like urethritis, and the negative dipstick test is good evidence your infection had cleared up, whatever it was.  I'm not sure what additional antibiotic you were given, but azithromycin is a good bet; the normal dose would be 4 pills, not 6, but the ER doc might have decided to use a large dose.  It would cover chlamydia in the slight chance you had it and the cipro didn't work, and usually gonorrhea as well.

In any case, with the treatments you have had, you can be 100% certain you don't still have any bacterial STD.  There is no particular reason for you to suspect herpes or other STDs in the absence of symptoms.

Next time, you'll probably have a condom-- right?

Good luck--  HHH, MD

[polishfalcon]

Very much thanks for your comments. Hopefully the stress will go down! Also, I agree with the condom. To whom ever reads my post, having the satisfaction with a stranger is not worth the many concerns/thoughts afterwards! Think before you act!!

[amie19]

why has my comment been deleted???

[amie19]

i posted something to you last night and now it has gone!?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Read the forum rules.  Your comment was a new question about your own health concern, i.e. a thread jump.  You need to post it as a new question.

HHH, MD

[amie19]

will it charge me to post it as a new question?