STD - any more testing required?

[katy40]

Hello Doctor.  I wonder if you could clear something up for me please.  This is my situation.  I'm female (40's) and 2 months ago met up with an old friend (male hetrosexual).  We engaged in mutual masturbation and unprotected oral sex (both ways).  I performed oral 3 times.

Now I've gone through the forms and I'm satisfied that MM is safe sex as no penetration occured and pretty much low/zero risk for the oral protection.

However, human nature being what it is, I had a urine test for Clam & Gonorreah - both negative so happy to move on from this incident.

The anxiety has been chipping away at me and I've now seen that there is a full STD panel of testing which can be done for urine and these include:

•Trichomonas Vaginalis
•Mycoplasma Genitalium
•Ureaplasma Urealyticum/Parvum
•Gardnerella/Bacterial Vaginosis

Now I haven't been tested for these and scanning the forum, I don't see them mentioned much.  Should I be concerned and get tested due to my incident above?  I note that both you and your colleague really only make reference to Gonoreah & clamidya

In the last couple of a weeks I've had some UTI symptoms and my urine sample (for bacteria culture) has come back negative.  Nothing major, just a little external discomfort - but perhaps focusing too much of my anxieties has made me more aware of something that probably wouldnt bother me.

Would you be happy for me to just carry on with my life now and forgot about what happened?  Thank you

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Yes, this would still represent a no risk expsoure.  EWH

[katy40]

Just one clarification on mutual masturbation if I may.

I've read lots of replies about this subject and how they are not transferred genital-hand-genital - I'm just curious if this means externally to genitals.
  
To clarify, would this be a no risk event even if there was some pre-*** on a man's fingers and then his fingers were inserted into a woman's vagina?

Many of the questions I read relate to enquiries from men and not women.

Thanks for clearnig this up and have a good weekend

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Correct. STDs are not spread by mutual masturbation.

Out of fairness to the companies, BV is a common cause of vaginal discharge In fact, among the most common ones), it is just not an STD.

The data are unclear but oral GC appears to clear in many people within a week or two although, as you can imagine, there really are not a lot of data.  

Glad we could help. Take care.  EWH

[katy40]

Thank you doctor.  Your comments are very helpful.  As you spoke of the oral sex exposure, I assume you are happy that the STD's I listed are not of concern due to mutual masturbation?  I find it quite amazing that companies try and charge you for tests which are probably not necessary, especially if BV isn't an STD!

Out of interest, "if" oral gonorrhea was in my throat (I know it doesn't present symptoms) - how long does it take to clear up on it's own?

Thank you for your help and for all the wonderful advice you give to people like me.  The internet is a scary place sometimes and I didn't want to search Dr Google and end up with all sorts of cyberspace problems!

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to the Forum. In my opinion, there is nothing related to the exposure you report that suggests a need for further genital testing. Your exposures were oral sex and the major STD you are at risk of getting as the recipient of oral sex is gonorrhea.  There is no proven association of the other STDs mentioned with oral sex.  Trichomonas is not transmitted through oral sex, bacterial vaginosis is not an STD but a disruption of normal vaginal bacteria and the value of testing for Mycoplasma genitalium and Ureaplasmas is unproven at this time.

The only testing that you might consider, to be absolutely confident that you did not get anything is to have a throat culture for gonorrhea which you could have (at least theoretically) gotten through performing oral sex.  Oral gonorrhea is rare in the situation you describe but it does happen.

Hope these comments are helpful.  You really have very, very little to worry about. EWH