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LVG strain of Chlamydia no symptoms for 15 years?
Hi,
I had unprotected sex with someone who lived in South America 15 years ago. I am now very worried that I could have gotten the LVG strain of chlamydia. I never had any symptoms, but I read that it could lie dormant for 20 years. Is this true? My husband has never had symptoms and we've been together 7 years.
Also, if I have a negative urine test for chlamydia, does this mean that I couldn't have LVG.
I would appreciate any help.
Also, I have been tested for Aids, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, hepatitis b and c. Is there any other disease that could have lain dormant for 15-20 years that I should get tested for?
Thank you.
I had unprotected sex with someone who lived in South America 15 years ago. I am now very worried that I could have gotten the LVG strain of chlamydia. I never had any symptoms, but I read that it could lie dormant for 20 years. Is this true? My husband has never had symptoms and we've been together 7 years.
Also, if I have a negative urine test for chlamydia, does this mean that I couldn't have LVG.
I would appreciate any help.
Also, I have been tested for Aids, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, hepatitis b and c. Is there any other disease that could have lain dormant for 15-20 years that I should get tested for?
Thank you.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Chlamydial infections are transmissible as long as the infection is present. Since untreated infections, go away within a few months, rarely a year or more, that is the maximum time the infection can be transmitted. When the infection is diagnosed and treated, transmissibility ends almost immediately after start of the antibiotic.
Thank you very much for the help. It does alleviate my fears. I do have one question out of curiosity. If someone is infected with chlamydia and specifically LVG how long are they contagious? Are they contagious until they have been treated with antibiotics or does the contagion last only a certain period of time?
Thanks again.
Thanks again.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the STD forum.
There are no worries about lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) in this situation. First, no chlamydial infection is known to persist 15 years; the longest ever documented was 4 years. (Some web sites might speculate persistence for 20 years, but that's all it could be -- speculation). Second, LGV generally doesn't cause asymptomatic infection; if your partner had it, he would have known -- and you would have known if you were infected. Third, LGV has always been an extremely rare STD in the United States, with never more than 100 cases per year in the entire country (and most of the time 10 or fewer cases). I realize you are concerned about a possible South American origin, but even there LGV has been very rare in the past few decades.
HSV-2, the cause of genital herpes, could last 20 years, but I don't really think you need testing for it. Human papillomavirus sometimes can last that long, but there is no test for HPV except for regular pap smears -- if your paps have been normal, you have no worries there.
In summary, I see no reason for you to worry you might have any STD dating back to your exposure 15 years ago, and for sure no worries about LGV.
I hope this helps. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
There are no worries about lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) in this situation. First, no chlamydial infection is known to persist 15 years; the longest ever documented was 4 years. (Some web sites might speculate persistence for 20 years, but that's all it could be -- speculation). Second, LGV generally doesn't cause asymptomatic infection; if your partner had it, he would have known -- and you would have known if you were infected. Third, LGV has always been an extremely rare STD in the United States, with never more than 100 cases per year in the entire country (and most of the time 10 or fewer cases). I realize you are concerned about a possible South American origin, but even there LGV has been very rare in the past few decades.
HSV-2, the cause of genital herpes, could last 20 years, but I don't really think you need testing for it. Human papillomavirus sometimes can last that long, but there is no test for HPV except for regular pap smears -- if your paps have been normal, you have no worries there.
In summary, I see no reason for you to worry you might have any STD dating back to your exposure 15 years ago, and for sure no worries about LGV.
I hope this helps. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
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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.
