Massage Parlour Infection

PLEASE HELP!

I thought that hand relief at a massage parlour was a low risk encounter.

I've been 10-12 times over the last few months and I'm very upset to have tested positive for clamidia today.

I was tested prior to my encounters and have always been clean. I was given a packet of powder immediately, rather than doing a retest.

Just had a very painful chat to my wife, who is also being tested. She is furious!

Got 3 questions:

1) Is this infection typical in hand to penis contact?

2) And if not - what are the stats for a false positive test?

3) Recently, a massuse scratched my penis (seemingly on purpose) and I'm worried about other "finger nail bourne" viruses that may have been transferred.

Please help!

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

If you have chlamydial infection, you did not acquire it by hand-to-genital contact in a massage parlor.  Period.  No STD is transmitted that way.  Second period.

The chance of a false-positive test depends on the particular test that was done; "urine test" isn't enough.  Most tests done on urine use highly reliable methods, but every test in existance can, on rare occasions, give a falsely positive result.  It was a mistake for you to be treated without a repeat test; my guess is that a repeat test would have been negative.

Of course, this assumes you indeed have had no  vaginal or anal sex partners in the past 1-2 years, other than your wife; and that your wife has not had other partners.  Your wife should be tested. If she is negative, that's will support the likelihood your result was false-positive.

Good luck--  HHH, MD

[Brian123]

No.
Hand-to-genital touch is not a means of transmission for chlamydia as far as I know.
You must have had it and the last test did not pick it up from previous exposure or you tested too soon after the last exposure to get an accurate result.

When testing for chlamydia, the "cotton swab test" is not always as accurate.
More than often, from what I understand, men urinate before the test, which can often allow testing to chlamydia as "false".

[Tony H]

Actually both tests were urine tests.

Interested to know the % of false positives and negatives if anyone knows?

[Tony H]

I'm racking my brain here to think how this may have happened.

On one or two occasions I touched the massuses genitals (external) which may have picked up some fluid.

If she was infected, could it be transferred to me by touching my penis, eye, mouth, anus shortly after the massage?

[Englishman]

It might be possible that you got it off your wife. I'm not sure how long it can linger in the body - is latent chlamydia transmission possible? . There is also the chance that she went with someone else and picked it up herself. I'm sure the doc will help out.

[Tony H]

Hi Englishman,

She had a test in February and was negative. Also, we have no problem making babies. Our second is mid term, which makes this either a false positive or something that I've contracted over the last 6 weeks.

I've not had penetrative / oral sex with anyone but her during this time.

I heard that clamydia (chlamydia) must be kept warm. is it possible that the hot towels administered at the spa might contain bacteria?

[Englishman]

Tony,

Go with what the doc has said. I'm not an expert, i'm just interested in STDs. I think the warm towels theory is a little paranoid. Sounds like a problem with the testing to me. Chlamydia is not a major problem anyway. Good luck.

[Tony H]

Thanks, I find these words comforting.

However, I will not be visiting massage parlors anymore.

It's just one scare after another. For instance:

During my final visit I was deliberately injured.

The massuse dug a finger nail into the top on my euethera 5 days ago.

Evidently she didn't like me. - blatant assault, really.

Initially it felt like I'd caught it in my flyhole.

It burns when I wash with antibacterial soap. Inside looks dark red.

Is this going to go away or do I have a urinary tract infection / worse?

[Englishman]

Tony,

If you are worried, go and see a decent doctor. They will tell you if you have anything wrong. It sounds like a normal injury to me and will take time (probably longer because of where it is) to heal. A fingernail jabbed into the top of the penis has got to hurt (the thought of it is hurting me at the moment!). Steer clear of massage parlours, or find yourself one where they provide better value for money! Best of luck.

[Englishman]

Rubbing loads of soap into the top of your penis might make it worse. See a doctor if it doesn't heal naturally.