Oxytetracycline prevent infection?

[poorsparrow]

Dear Doctor,

I am a 23 year old female biomedical sciences student. This week I decided to bite the bullet and get myself screened for the sexually transmitted infections Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea. The results take up to 14 days to process, and quite frankly over the past few days I have gone from not even considering the prospect of having an infection, to being utterly terrified.

You see, I am in a monogomous relationship, with a partner who has a clean bill of health, and have been for around six months. Any infection would be due to unprotected sexual intercourse with my ex-boyfriend in December 2008. We were intimate on two occasions. He entered me but did not ejaculate either time

My current boyfriend and I were not together at this time. However, I suspect my current boyfriend would not believe that I had been faithful to him, had I contracted an infection. He would believe I had cheated and I think I would lose my relationship. This frightens me much more than the medical implications.

My question is: I am taking two tablets of 250mg of oxytetracycline twice a day (two in the morning, and two at night before bed) for the skin condition rosacea. Would these have offered any protection against infection?(Particularly chlamydia - I know resistance to tetracyclines has been rising with gonorrhoea)I know oxytetracycline is not generally the drug of choice for chlamydia treatment. I have read reports of it being used in male infection, but not in females.

I feel like I am going mad waiting for the test results. The English NHS is very slow. Thankyou.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Your nurse is doing a good job and there certainly is no "downside" to taking a deeper specimen.  Patient collected vaginal swabs have recently become the preferred specimen for STD testing.  You can have confidence in the results.  Glad to hear your tests were negative.  Take care.  EWH

[poorsparrow]

Doctor, thank you. Your response did indeed put my mind more at ease. Coincidentally shortly after your reply I received confirmation from the clinic that the results were all clear. I am very happy - I won't take any risks with my sexual health again.

If I may though, I would like to add one more thing. I was instructed to take a self vaginal swab when I had the test. The nurse told me I only had to take the swab from the lower vagina, however I did reach fairly far inwards towards my cervix. Will the test still be accurate? I assume if infected the bacteria would be in all parts of the vagina?

I am happy to be free of worry :)

Thank you again.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to the Forum.  I hope my comments will help to calm your concerns and to be comfortable waiting for the result.  The oxytetracycline you are taking will have a major preventative effect on reducing your risk for chlamydia acquisition and a more modest effect on risk for gonorrhea (which is a far less common infection than chlamydia).

To add to what I've just said about the antibiotics you're taking, I would also point out that the chances are that your former BF did not have infection.  You tests will tell the story.  Regarding your tests, it really should not take 2 weeks for test results to be back, I'd call after a week or so and check.  The tests fro chlamydia currently take only a few hours to perform in the lab and thus, even with transport and recording time, there really is no reason why you shouldn't get your results after a week.  

Finally, if you are infected (which I suspect will not be the case), then both you and your current BF need treatment but I doubt that this will be the case.  Hope this helps.  EWH