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Epididymitis from Oral Sex?
Three weeks ago I received oral sex(fellatio) to climax from someone who is not my primary partner. To the best of my knowledge, this woman has no STIs and as of today still claims she has no symptoms of an STI. She is the only person I've been with sexually in the past six months outside of my partner.
Several days ago, I noticed rusty, smelly ejaculate and mild swelling behind my left testicle. THERE WERE AND ARE NO OTHER SYMPTOMS INDICATING GONORRHEA(i.e. discharge of any kind, painful urination, etc.) Last year, I had a rather horrible case of epididymitis from chlamydia, so I wasted no time going to Urgent Care to be seen. I described the symptoms to my Doctor, and she prescribed doxy. I also requested a culture swab for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea. The symptoms are already beginning to ease 24 hours later with treatment(swelling has mostly subsided, ejaculate has gone from rusty to yellow but still smells, etc.)
The test results won't be back until after the weekend and I'm hoping to ease my mind at least somewhat by asking a few questions rather than research relentlessly on the internet--
1) What are the chances this is NGU rather than, say, oral gonorrhea? Could it be anything else? I'm 31, so I wouldn't think I'd be high-risk for something like an E. Coli infection.
2) Could this be a recurrence of epididymitis unrelated to sexual activity and if so, what could have caused it? Could it be chronic?
3) If it is an STI, namely NGU, what are the chances I've passed it on to my partner? Should she be tested?
Thanks for all of your help!
Several days ago, I noticed rusty, smelly ejaculate and mild swelling behind my left testicle. THERE WERE AND ARE NO OTHER SYMPTOMS INDICATING GONORRHEA(i.e. discharge of any kind, painful urination, etc.) Last year, I had a rather horrible case of epididymitis from chlamydia, so I wasted no time going to Urgent Care to be seen. I described the symptoms to my Doctor, and she prescribed doxy. I also requested a culture swab for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea. The symptoms are already beginning to ease 24 hours later with treatment(swelling has mostly subsided, ejaculate has gone from rusty to yellow but still smells, etc.)
The test results won't be back until after the weekend and I'm hoping to ease my mind at least somewhat by asking a few questions rather than research relentlessly on the internet--
1) What are the chances this is NGU rather than, say, oral gonorrhea? Could it be anything else? I'm 31, so I wouldn't think I'd be high-risk for something like an E. Coli infection.
2) Could this be a recurrence of epididymitis unrelated to sexual activity and if so, what could have caused it? Could it be chronic?
3) If it is an STI, namely NGU, what are the chances I've passed it on to my partner? Should she be tested?
Thanks for all of your help!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
1) There isn't much information because it's a relatively uncommon condition and to my knowledge hasn't been studied much. Doxycycline isn't the first drug most urologists would use -- ciprofloxacin or another drug in the same class would be more frequent. However, doxy is active against most of the potential causes.
2) Fever and chills favor a bacterial infection, but not one bacteria over another. And it remains possible you have non-infectious prostatitis or just prostate trauma. "Rusty" turning to yellow suggests blood, i.e. trauma.
3) The expertise in this area of any particular GP is difficult to predict. But you could ask him/her about evaluating you further or referral to a urologist.
2) Fever and chills favor a bacterial infection, but not one bacteria over another. And it remains possible you have non-infectious prostatitis or just prostate trauma. "Rusty" turning to yellow suggests blood, i.e. trauma.
3) The expertise in this area of any particular GP is difficult to predict. But you could ask him/her about evaluating you further or referral to a urologist.
Good evening! Thank you for your prompt reply. If you don't mind, I have a few follow-up questions--
1) In reading about seminal vesiculitis, I came across some information about prostatitis, but nothing that was especially detailed. Could you tell me more about this condition? Is the doxy I'm presently on effective with that particular type of infection?
2) I failed to mention the onset of fever/cold chills/body aches that preceded the testicular swelling by a day. The swelling/pain/rusty semen started not long after the fever broke and the chills stopped. Does this information help narrow down the list of culprits?
3) If left untreated, how long should I expect the prostatitis to persist? Will it resolve on its own? Do I need to see a urulogist or will a GP be sufficient?
Thanks again.
1) In reading about seminal vesiculitis, I came across some information about prostatitis, but nothing that was especially detailed. Could you tell me more about this condition? Is the doxy I'm presently on effective with that particular type of infection?
2) I failed to mention the onset of fever/cold chills/body aches that preceded the testicular swelling by a day. The swelling/pain/rusty semen started not long after the fever broke and the chills stopped. Does this information help narrow down the list of culprits?
3) If left untreated, how long should I expect the prostatitis to persist? Will it resolve on its own? Do I need to see a urulogist or will a GP be sufficient?
Thanks again.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum.
Responding to the title of your question, before I read anything else: Probably not. Oral sex has not been reported to lead to epididymitis, sexually transmitted or otherwise.
Now having read the details: I doubt you had epididymitis this time. Having had it previously, I certainly understand your concern about the possibility. But it sounds like the "minor swelling behind [your] left testicle" is pretty minor compared to your past chlamydial epidiymitis. Urethral discharge, with or without odor, is not a symptom of epididymits. Oral sex has not been known to transmit infections that would lead to epididymitis, except for gonorrhea -- and you are obviously aware of that possibility and have given your own good arguments against it.
All that said, I cannot say for sure whether or not you have epididymitis. The altered appearance of your semen is consistent with an infection, but probably not an STD. You may have an infection (or non-infectious inflammation) of the seminal vesicles or prostate, without involvement of the epididymis or testicle. This is something that would have to be sorted out by a physician, preferably a urologist. Another reason to be skeptical of epididymitis is the very rapid improvement after doxycycline. That's too fast for almost any antibiotic -- and doxycycline's particular mechanism of action makes it pretty slow acting (a few days, not under 24 hr . Your symptoms might have improved without the antibiotic.
To your specific questions:
1,2) Neither gonorrhea nor NGU seems likely; probably this episode is unrelated to the sexual exposure 3 weeks ago. If it is related, NGU is more likely than gonorrhea.
3) As implied by those comments, I doubt you have anything that would cause your regular partner any harm.
Even though your symptoms are subsiding, I would recommend you see an expert such as a urologist. I'll be interested in a follow-up comment to let me know the outcome.
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
Responding to the title of your question, before I read anything else: Probably not. Oral sex has not been reported to lead to epididymitis, sexually transmitted or otherwise.
Now having read the details: I doubt you had epididymitis this time. Having had it previously, I certainly understand your concern about the possibility. But it sounds like the "minor swelling behind [your] left testicle" is pretty minor compared to your past chlamydial epidiymitis. Urethral discharge, with or without odor, is not a symptom of epididymits. Oral sex has not been known to transmit infections that would lead to epididymitis, except for gonorrhea -- and you are obviously aware of that possibility and have given your own good arguments against it.
All that said, I cannot say for sure whether or not you have epididymitis. The altered appearance of your semen is consistent with an infection, but probably not an STD. You may have an infection (or non-infectious inflammation) of the seminal vesicles or prostate, without involvement of the epididymis or testicle. This is something that would have to be sorted out by a physician, preferably a urologist. Another reason to be skeptical of epididymitis is the very rapid improvement after doxycycline. That's too fast for almost any antibiotic -- and doxycycline's particular mechanism of action makes it pretty slow acting (a few days, not under 24 hr . Your symptoms might have improved without the antibiotic.
To your specific questions:
1,2) Neither gonorrhea nor NGU seems likely; probably this episode is unrelated to the sexual exposure 3 weeks ago. If it is related, NGU is more likely than gonorrhea.
3) As implied by those comments, I doubt you have anything that would cause your regular partner any harm.
Even though your symptoms are subsiding, I would recommend you see an expert such as a urologist. I'll be interested in a follow-up comment to let me know the outcome.
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
