Confused after doctor visit, what could it be?

[WorkingMan]

I am 23 and had sex with a girl 12 or 13 nights ago. The condom broke, everything was fine until about 4 days ago I experienced some discomfort in my urethra after urination, very very mild though. It started to freak me out like most people on here so I became very anxious. Went and got my urine looked at, as well as a swab which came back negative for Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, and Herpes. I have no sores or anything on my penis. But I have a general discomfort around the left groin area, at the epididymis and slightly above. When I was 20 I had a UTI/Bacterial infection from food poisoning which led to epidiymitis(right side). The girl I had sex with was an aquaintance, don't know her that well, but she says she's clean and gets checked regularly. I have had a bit of a problem urinating like normal, and sometimes i get a discomfort/very minor burn after or during urination. And when I drink a good amound of water I seem to be going more then usual, and not able to go normally when I do urinate. Before the tests came back he gave me doxycycline to take just in case it was chlamydia. It seems the more water I drink, the easier it is to urinate, Since I've been anxious I haven't been able to pass bowels like normal. Is some of this brought on by anxiety? or what else could this be?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

The lab tests for gonorrhea and chlamydia are reliable evidence you didn't have eitehr of those infections.  But if you had had chlamydia or gonorrhea, the doxycycline would have cleared them up (almost 100% reliably against chlamydia, 90% effective against gonorrhea). In any case, your symptoms don't really suggest any STD, especially the variable ease of urination with or without drinking fluids.  And of course no STD can affect bowel movements in the way you describe.

As I have pointed out before, when a person suspects his or her own symtoms might be due anxiety or other emotional issues, they probably are almost always right.  In any case, your symptoms do not sound serious and you definitely can relax about STD as a cause.  Follow up with your health care provider if they persist.

Good luck---  HHH, MD

[WorkingMan]

Thanks alot for you reply. I understand I've been worried about it, and the tests came back negative. But there still is discomfort that comes and goes, alot more when I sit down at work compared to laying down. It's mostly right above my scrotum on my left side, but sometimes it radiates over to the left side, like i said, where the epidydimis is, and slightly above. That correlated with the frequent urnation and the urge still to urinate after I do urinate. Is it possible my epididymitis decided to flare up? But it was on my right side before, which I've had some discomfort, but it has been on my left side and in the general groin area. and sometimes it's a bit of a sharp pain and sensation, nothing great though. I have calmed down since the tests and the problems have persisted, so I'm a bit confused.

[WorkingMan]

Also to add, I've experienced some lower back pain.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I didn't comment previously on your past epididymitis, but the things you said about its cause struck me as peculiar.  But if you had a typical case, with painful swelling of a testicle that responded to antibiotics, the diagnosis probably was accurate.  However, pain in the groin (away from the testicle) does not suggest epididymitis.

But whatever you had then could indeed be causing pain now, without necessarily meaning a new infection.  People with previous ankle sprains often get recurrent pain in the ankle from time to time; and women with past PID (fallopian tube infection) often get recurrent pain without new infection; etc.  The same can happen in any injured body part, without meaning new disease or injury.

If your pain persists, you should have it examined (and right away if you develop fever or testicular pain or swelling).  But no STD causes the kind of pain you describe, or in the locations you mention.

HHH, MD

[WorkingMan]

Thanks alot for you prompt responses, it's greatly appreciated! you've been very helpful.