Gonorrhea and freq. urination

[gonorrhea_question]

About 2 years ago I regrettably had unprotected vaginal sex while visiting China with a girl I met there (I'm a male).  I got tested for the major std's shortly after my return, which came up negative.  However, about a month or two before my Gonorrhea/Chlamydia test, I had some sort of sinus infection and took some anti-biotics (don't remember which).  Recently, I read several places that this can disrupt the accuracy of the Gonorrhea and Chlamydia tests.  Moreover, in the past year I have noticed I urinate much more frequently than before, which is a symptom of Gonorrhea (it is now not uncommon for me to even get up once or twice at night).  So could this mean that my original tests were false-negative because of the anti-biotics and that I could actually have had Gonorrhea all this time?

Also, as an aside question, given that my sexual incident occurred in China, are the standard battery of std tests offered in the USA clinics sufficent, or do I need more particular tests geared toward the different strains of diseases potentially present in Asian, etc.

Thanks greatly for your help!

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

You're wrong on an important point:  frequent urination is definitely not a symptom of gonorrhea.  More important, gonorrhea never persists 2 years.  If you had genital gonorrhea, you would notice discharge of pus from the penis.  Finally, tests for gonorrhea are extremely accurate; your negative results are proof you dn't have it.

After 2 years, you can be 100% confident that no STD is the cause of your symptoms.  You have no health problem that will ever harm you or  sex partner.  See a health care provider if they persist, but don't worry about any STD as a cause.

Good luck--- HHH, MD

[gonorrhea_question]

Thank you for your quick and reassuring response.  Much appreciated!  But I'm still confused then why so many reputable websites list "frequent urination" as a symptom of gonorrhea, e.g.,

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/sexual-health/std/gonorrhea.htm

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

That's the problem with looking for symptoms on the internet.  You can't always rely on the information.  In addition, printed lists of symptoms almost always ignore context.

Some women with gonorrhea may have increased urinary frequency.  Not usually, however.  And when it occurs, it is very frequent and urgent, with only a very small urine volumes--the same sort of symptom as in people with non-sexually acquired urinary tract infections.  It's not the same thing as having to urinate, say, every couple of hours instead of just 3-4 times a day.

HHH, MD

[HHH,MD]

I should have added that frequent urination never is the only symptom of gonorrhea; it would always be combined with genital discharge and often other symptoms.  That's another thing you can't tell by just reading lists of symptoms.

HHH, MD

[gonorrhea_question]

Thanks again.  I guess the internet, and all the self-diagnosis that goes along with it, must drive doctors crazy.