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STDs (Expert Forum)
Gonorrhea 8+ years without treatment in a man - is this possible?
Answered by
Edward W Hook, MD - HIV Prevention, stds
Welcome to the STD Forum, which is intended only for questions and support pertaining to sexually transmitted diseases other than HIV/AIDS, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, human papillomavirus, genital warts, trichomonas, other vaginal infections, nongonoccal urethritis (NGU), cervicitis, molluscum contagiosum, chancroid, and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). All questions will be answered by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D. or Edward W Hook, MD.
Gonorrhea 8+ years without treatment in a man - is this possible?
by rixster, Jul 23, 2009 07:20PM
Hi experts,
Is it possible for a man to have lived with gonorrhea for eight years or longer without treatment? Can gonorrhea live that long in the body without flaring into symptoms or causing other effects?
A second question, is it possible for a man to have a normal sex life with a wife and not transmit the gonorrhea for such a long period?
The context is that my wife went eight years, including a pregnancy, without being diagnosed with gonorrhea. We are divorced now and my new girlfriend has just tested positive for gonorrhea. I have had no other partners. Is it possible I had it eight years and that my wife didn't contract it?
I am seeing conflicting information on/answers to this question. Any help would be greatly, greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
Is it possible for a man to have lived with gonorrhea for eight years or longer without treatment? Can gonorrhea live that long in the body without flaring into symptoms or causing other effects?
A second question, is it possible for a man to have a normal sex life with a wife and not transmit the gonorrhea for such a long period?
The context is that my wife went eight years, including a pregnancy, without being diagnosed with gonorrhea. We are divorced now and my new girlfriend has just tested positive for gonorrhea. I have had no other partners. Is it possible I had it eight years and that my wife didn't contract it?
I am seeing conflicting information on/answers to this question. Any help would be greatly, greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
Doctor's Answer
by Edward W Hook, MD, Jul 23, 2009 10:02PM
, Jul 23, 2009 10:02PM
Gonorrhea can persist for long times without symptoms. I have seen it persist for as long as three years. The situation you describe however is most unlikely. If you had gonorrhea you would have transmitted it to your partner and it would have been detected in the course of her normal health care. The possibilities are:
1. The test was wrong (either a test error or a lab mix up.
2. She already had gonorrhea from some prior partner.
I would suggest that you be tested if you have not been and there your GF be tested again before she is treated. As I said, it is very, very unlikely that you have given her gonorrhea. EWH
1. The test was wrong (either a test error or a lab mix up.
2. She already had gonorrhea from some prior partner.
I would suggest that you be tested if you have not been and there your GF be tested again before she is treated. As I said, it is very, very unlikely that you have given her gonorrhea. EWH
