Could I have an STD?

[acotta]

Hi there,
I'm a 30 year old male and had unprotected oral sex with an escort about 8 weeks ago.  About a week later I noticed a red wine coloured stain on the toilet paper when I dried my penis after urinating.  There was no pain and I wouldn't have noticed anything had I not dried myself with the paper.  I went to the doctors the next morning and he prescribed me some antibiotics (cephalexin) for potential urinary tract infection but I insisted on a STD scan (blood and urine test).  The tests came up negative for Chlamydia, Syphilis, AIDS, Hep A,B,C - he did not test for Gonorrhea... I had a follow up test about 6 weeks after the event as I had a lot of stomach trouble and a sore throat - all tests (this time Gonorrhea included) came up negative again.  I haven't shown any obvious signs of an STD although I have had a sore throat for a since the event and had a lot of trouble with my stomach and bowels, nausea and dizziness...  I am extremely concerned that I may have contracted (asymptomatic) syphilis and that it hasn't yet shown up on the blood test.  I read somewhere that it has an incubation period of up to 90 days... I am also concerned that I may have Gonorrhea of the throat...
I have a girlfriend and I am concerned that if I have/had something I may have passed it onto  her.  I have asked her to take a test but she hasn’t yet done so.   I will make sure she does this week.
The doctor seems to think that I am in the clear but that if I wanted to be sure I should have another test on the 12 week mark.  Please advise and provide your opinion on the matter.

[Vance2335]

Did you give oral sex also or just receive?
Syphilis is rare in developed countries and a sore is present with syphilis.

[acotta]

Both recieved and gave oral sex...

[acotta]

I went to the medical health clinic and they recommended having another test for HIV and syphilis (more to ease my mind) - they again said that oral sex is low risk and that Syphilis is not common in heterosexual couples (even in sex workers).  They said that if these tests come up negative again then I should forget about it and move on.  I'm still a little concerned given that Syphilis has a potentially long incubation period (up to 90 days) and as such I'll get another test on the 3 month mark for my own closure and peace of mind.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that everything's okay and I'll never ever do something that stupid again.  My word of advice to anyone in a similar situation would be to stop browsing the net for answers and go straight to your doctor.  I think the anxiety and stress as a result of doing my own diagnosis online was the biggest mistake I could have made.
I still have a sore throat and my stomach is still giving me trouble but if my tests come up clear then I guess I have to accept the possibility that it's something else and rule out the possibility of STD's.

[Vance2335]

From what I have been told from a very reliable person who is on the HIV community, HIV is not passed through oral sex. He said that a 10 year study was just completed with partners one had HIV and the other did not and they had unprotected oral and protected vaginal and anal and not 1 new infection of HIV from oral sex.

Is it 100%-no but I think that it is probably so rare that it's not even something to worry about.

[Vance2335]

I also agree with your advice to go to a Dr and not try to find answers. This site is good to help people who are worried and need some reassurance and advice.

[acotta]

I thought I'd provide an update to anyone following this thread.  My tests came back negative.  I was reassured by the sexual medical clinic that I do NOT need to be re-tested as the window for Syphilis and AIDS is 6 weeks.  If I had been exposed then I was re-assured that the Syphilis test would have indicated a warning at this stage, i.e. not a firm positive but a warning that would require further tests to confirm the diagnosis.  I still might have a final test at my local doctor in a month to completely remove any doubts - still undecided... For the moment I'm confident that I'm clear of everything. A big relief!

[acotta]

It's been 3 months since this encounter and I just developed a sore inside my mouth where my lower left wisdom tooth used to be.  The sore is not painful.  It's small, round in shape, elevated, hard, and slightly bleeding in the middle.  I noticed it just yesterday whilst moving my toungue around in my mouth.  I went to the doctors immediately to get another blood test for Syphils.  Is it possible that this is Syphilis?  3 months after the encouter and 2 negative blood tests.  I'm quite anxious.  How do I ask (pay) the doctors on this site to respond to this thread?

[Vance2335]

I would trust your tests, trust what you have been told in here and by the medical professionals you spoke with and not worry further.
If you want to ask the Dr's a question you have to go to the experts form. Click on the link at the top of the page for forms and find STD's which is on the right hand side. I think that you will be wasting your money due to the information you have received from other medical experts where you had testing done.

[auntiejessi]

I'd be more worried about an infected tooth or gum than I would be about syphilis.  Even if it takes a bit longer for some people to show positive on a syphilis test, its still past the time when you would get your syphilis sore.

Aj

[acotta]

Thanks for the positive comments everyone, although I couldn't fight the anxiety and again went to the Doctors...  He had a look at the sore and said that although he didn't think it was a chancre he would give me another test for HIV, Syphilis and Hep C just to ensure.  If it is a Syphilis sore, would it show a positive result to a serology test straight away? How long after the sore appears does the infection produce a positive result?  I have heard so many varying statements regarding this.  I had the test done immediately, i.e. the day it appeared (I noticed it)....

[auntiejessi]

If you had the syphilis test the day the sore appeared, your blood test might still be negative.

It can take a bit longer to get antibodies for syphilis than it takes to get the sore.

Let us know.

Aj

[acotta]

The test was negative.
How long should I wait to have the next test? Given that I had the test on the same daythe sore appeared.  I am going absolutely crazy.  In addition to this, my ENT just diagnosed me with Ménière's disease. I know that this can also be related to syphilis.  I am wondering whether my negative tests are in fact false.  What should I do?  I am desperate to seek help....

[auntiejessi]

Test at 6 weeks post exposure, and then again at 3 months.  If its negative, then you don't have syphilis.  Its also rare that syphilis will cause Meniere's, and from what I found in a quick google, it would be later in a syphilis infection, meaning long after you get the sore, that you might get Meniere's from syphilis.  It wouldn't happen in a new infection.  You'd definitely be testing positive on a syphilis antibody test.

Aj

[acotta]

Thank you so much for your response Aj.