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Quick Follow Up Question to Earlier testing Question
Dear Dr. Hook,
I posted a few months ago about having received unprotected oral sex from someone whose sexual history I was unsure of (all other sex was protected) while I was separated from my wife. I followed your suggestions regarding my post, which wer extremely helpful and reassuring, and got tested a few weeks out just in case (you may recall my wife and I were working on getting back together) and all was well. I realized belatedly (this week) that I never got tested for syphilis. There were never any sores and I am obviously more than 3 weeks from the exposure. Is it worthwhile to get tested. We are now back together and I might have a hard time explaining a bill from an STD clinic. From everything I have read the risk of syphilis is low from receiving oral sex and if there is no sore/cancre (sp?) by 3-4 weeks its probably not a concern. Should I just go get a penicillin shot just in case? My sense is that I don't need to do either under the circumstances (test or shot), but I value your and Dr. Handsfield's knowledge and wanted to check.
I posted a few months ago about having received unprotected oral sex from someone whose sexual history I was unsure of (all other sex was protected) while I was separated from my wife. I followed your suggestions regarding my post, which wer extremely helpful and reassuring, and got tested a few weeks out just in case (you may recall my wife and I were working on getting back together) and all was well. I realized belatedly (this week) that I never got tested for syphilis. There were never any sores and I am obviously more than 3 weeks from the exposure. Is it worthwhile to get tested. We are now back together and I might have a hard time explaining a bill from an STD clinic. From everything I have read the risk of syphilis is low from receiving oral sex and if there is no sore/cancre (sp?) by 3-4 weeks its probably not a concern. Should I just go get a penicillin shot just in case? My sense is that I don't need to do either under the circumstances (test or shot), but I value your and Dr. Handsfield's knowledge and wanted to check.
Thank you and sorry for so many posts! I have learned a lot from your website and I am grateful for what you and Dr. Hook do. It is an exceptional public service and I will not post again as per your rules (which make total sense given the volume of questions you must receive). Much gratitude and best wishes.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
No, that doesn't change anything. Syphilis is even more rare in Japan than in the US. And not all that frequent in Hong Kong, as I understand it. And even in the highest risk scenario you could think of, I would not recommend penicillin treatment, only testing.
All is well. You can expect a negative test result.
All is well. You can expect a negative test result.
Thank you and I will follow the rule. The only clarification is that the woman was from Japan living in Hong Kong (I was living there at the time) so just want to make sure that doesn't change the answer. Thanks again. Best wishes,
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Dr. Hook and and I take questions interchangeably, without regard to specific requests. This time you got me again.
As Dr. Hook emphasized 2 months ago, syphilis is a rare STD in the us, and is exceedingly unlikely after any heterosexual oral sex exposure. (There are only 20,000 new cases of syphilis in the US every year, and two thirds of those occur in gay men; and in over 90% of counties in the US, syphilis is entirely absent.)
Since you're nervous about it, have a syphilis blood test. You can expect it to be negative. Your "sense" that you don't need penicillin is correct.
Please note that MedHelp has a policy against multiple questions by the same user in the professionally moderated forums -- specifically, a maximum of 2 questions every 6 months (see Terms and Conditions). This is your third since last May and second since November. It will have to be the last until next July at the earliest. The purpose is to discourage hyper-anxious persons from filling the forum with questions with little educational value. And to make sure all persons with new questions have the opportunity to fit them in, since only a limited number of questions can be accepted each day. Thanks for your understanding.
Regards-- HHH, MD
As Dr. Hook emphasized 2 months ago, syphilis is a rare STD in the us, and is exceedingly unlikely after any heterosexual oral sex exposure. (There are only 20,000 new cases of syphilis in the US every year, and two thirds of those occur in gay men; and in over 90% of counties in the US, syphilis is entirely absent.)
Since you're nervous about it, have a syphilis blood test. You can expect it to be negative. Your "sense" that you don't need penicillin is correct.
Please note that MedHelp has a policy against multiple questions by the same user in the professionally moderated forums -- specifically, a maximum of 2 questions every 6 months (see Terms and Conditions). This is your third since last May and second since November. It will have to be the last until next July at the earliest. The purpose is to discourage hyper-anxious persons from filling the forum with questions with little educational value. And to make sure all persons with new questions have the opportunity to fit them in, since only a limited number of questions can be accepted each day. Thanks for your understanding.
Regards-- HHH, MD
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
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.
