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An Unexpected Blast from the Past
My husband just informed me that his dad had cheated on his mom numerous times. This apparently happened approximately 20-24 years ago. His mom is now in her 60s and seems extremely healthy. She goes to her doctor minimum once a year, usually more for her job (she works in the cafeteria in a NYC school). My questions:
1. Is there any chance that she has any STDs from this? Please be specific because if there is I'd need to get her tested. Hopefully not because this is obviously a painful subject.
2. Assuming worst case scenario that she does have something, I accidentally used her toothbrush a few weeks ago. I've read (I believe from the CDC) that you can get some STDs from a toothbrush. However, a doctor friend told me that the toothpaste kills everything, including hepatitis, HIV. syphilis, etc. Who is right?
Thank you very much.
1. Is there any chance that she has any STDs from this? Please be specific because if there is I'd need to get her tested. Hopefully not because this is obviously a painful subject.
2. Assuming worst case scenario that she does have something, I accidentally used her toothbrush a few weeks ago. I've read (I believe from the CDC) that you can get some STDs from a toothbrush. However, a doctor friend told me that the toothpaste kills everything, including hepatitis, HIV. syphilis, etc. Who is right?
Thank you very much.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
There are theoretical risks about shared razors and transmission of certain blood borne infections, like HIV and viral hepatitis. It's only theoretical with few if any proved cases of transmission actually happening. For sure this is not a concern for other STDs.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the STD forum.
There is no realistic possibility that your mother in law has any current STD consequences from her husband's distant past behavior. If she does (or did), she already knows about them, e.g. HPV, herpes. Otherwise, any STDs she had would have cleared up on their own years and years ago. Or they would have gone away as a result of the antibiotics most people get over their lives for respiratory, skin, urinary tract and other infections. And most philandering husbands do not catch any STDs anyway; and when they do, usually they know it and take measures to protect their wives.
This is an STD information service, not a general family advice service. But if this were Dear Abby, Ask Amy, or Ann Landers, undoubtedly the advice would be that this is none of your business and you should say nothing to your mother-in-law. It's probably a good bet she knows all about her husband's extracurricular activities anyway; all you'll do is open old wounds. And she is responsible for her own health. There truly should be no worry about STD problems 20+ years after the possible exposure time.
Finally, getting STDs from toothbrushes is ridiculous. As the name implies, you have to have sex to catch and transmit them. The CDC certainly does not say toothbrushes are a risk. Someone is pulling your leg or didn't understand what s/he read. If your concern is that you or your family could somehow be at risk by sharing a household or otherwise having contact with your mother-in-law, it is unfounded. There is no risk.
Regards-- HHH, MD
There is no realistic possibility that your mother in law has any current STD consequences from her husband's distant past behavior. If she does (or did), she already knows about them, e.g. HPV, herpes. Otherwise, any STDs she had would have cleared up on their own years and years ago. Or they would have gone away as a result of the antibiotics most people get over their lives for respiratory, skin, urinary tract and other infections. And most philandering husbands do not catch any STDs anyway; and when they do, usually they know it and take measures to protect their wives.
This is an STD information service, not a general family advice service. But if this were Dear Abby, Ask Amy, or Ann Landers, undoubtedly the advice would be that this is none of your business and you should say nothing to your mother-in-law. It's probably a good bet she knows all about her husband's extracurricular activities anyway; all you'll do is open old wounds. And she is responsible for her own health. There truly should be no worry about STD problems 20+ years after the possible exposure time.
Finally, getting STDs from toothbrushes is ridiculous. As the name implies, you have to have sex to catch and transmit them. The CDC certainly does not say toothbrushes are a risk. Someone is pulling your leg or didn't understand what s/he read. If your concern is that you or your family could somehow be at risk by sharing a household or otherwise having contact with your mother-in-law, it is unfounded. There is no risk.
Regards-- HHH, MD
3. I've also read from the CDC that you can get STDs from shared razors (the kind to shave your legs). However, my doctor friend told me that this also is not true; that all STDs die as soon as they are exposed to the air, even if on a razor. Who is right?
The questions about the toothbrush and razor are very relevant to me now because we're trying to get pregnant, and I don't want to have to worry about this anymore. Thank you.
The questions about the toothbrush and razor are very relevant to me now because we're trying to get pregnant, and I don't want to have to worry about this anymore. Thank you.
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.
