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STDs (Expert Forum)
I am so scare please help doctor.
Answered by
University of Washington
Seattle - WA
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.
I am so scare please help doctor.
by Iamsoscrare, Sep 11, 2007 10:57AM
I think I have been oxposure with syphilis 2002. 2002 I have unprotected oral sex with a street prostitue. I am so scare to death so I have take RPR Test on sep. 8, 2007 and the result came back at negative. My concern is that do the RPR test can be able to dectect the syphilis virus in your body if its 5 years ago?? I have read a lot of website about syphilis and they said the RPR can give false negative if its in late stage or if has in your body for many years ago. DR.HHH can you please help me straighten this out so I am not worry about my negative test I just took on sep.8, 2007
Doctor's Answer
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Sep 11, 2007 11:15AM
, Sep 11, 2007 11:15AM
Why all the questions all of a sudden about false negative RPR tests? Are you the same person as smith2006, jgh, and/or vjay2004? Or did you all just see the same (apparently unreliable) website? Read my responses to their questions, all in the past 3 days.
It is exceedingly rare for someone to have active syphilis with a negative RPR. First, most street prostitutes don't have syphilis. Probably less than 1 in 10,000 have active syphilis that could be transmitted by oral sex. Second, if you caught syphilis from oral sex, almost certainly you would have noticed the sore of primary syphilis (the chancre) on your penis. (It's hard to miss a sore that lasts 3-6 weeks before it goes away.) Third, if you had been infected, the RPR would have been positive. The combination of low risk, no symptoms, and negative RPR prove unequivocally you did not catch syphilis.
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
It is exceedingly rare for someone to have active syphilis with a negative RPR. First, most street prostitutes don't have syphilis. Probably less than 1 in 10,000 have active syphilis that could be transmitted by oral sex. Second, if you caught syphilis from oral sex, almost certainly you would have noticed the sore of primary syphilis (the chancre) on your penis. (It's hard to miss a sore that lasts 3-6 weeks before it goes away.) Third, if you had been infected, the RPR would have been positive. The combination of low risk, no symptoms, and negative RPR prove unequivocally you did not catch syphilis.
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
Member Comments (4)
by Iamsoscrare, Sep 11, 2007 11:27AM
DR. HHH I have another question. So you mean it doesnt matter how long or how many years (5 years ) if you have syphilis the RPR blood test would let you know if you have negative or postive? Thanks you very much for your help as I am just scare.
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Sep 11, 2007 11:29AM
, Sep 11, 2007 11:29AM
No, the time does not matter. Even if someone catches syphilis, most cases "burn out", i.e. go away without treatment. If that happens, the RPR may become negative. But if there is active syphilis that has any chance of doing harm, the RPR is always positive--whether 1 year, 5 years, or 20 years after infection.
by Iamsoscrare, Sep 11, 2007 11:34AM
thanks you very much Doctor. That really help me alot.
