Aa
Please assess Oral Risk
Hello Doctors. I wonder if you could look at this for me and let me know your thoughts. Have just come out of a brief relationship with a male friend of mine and at 3 months post last exposure I went along to my local GUM clinic (I am in the UK). The exposure was that I performed oral sex on him a few times and he performed oral sex on me only once. There was also some mutual masterbation (no sex involved). Now I've done lots of reading on the forums and have learnt that there was no risk from the masterbation or him performing cunninglingus, however there appears to be some (low) risk for the oral I performed on him.
GUM carried out vaginal swabs for gonorreah & Clamydia, bloods for HIV and syphilis. All negative 3 months.
I've seen other posts now about oral gonorreah so called the clinic to have a chat to them but they said it was very rare and didn't feel it necessary, plus I asked about blood test for Hep B (lots of posters seem to have this test?)but again she said they didn't routinely test for Hep B or C.
Do you agree with these statements or do you think I need to have any more tests done? I would like to feel that the tests done to date are final.
Many thanks.
GUM carried out vaginal swabs for gonorreah & Clamydia, bloods for HIV and syphilis. All negative 3 months.
I've seen other posts now about oral gonorreah so called the clinic to have a chat to them but they said it was very rare and didn't feel it necessary, plus I asked about blood test for Hep B (lots of posters seem to have this test?)but again she said they didn't routinely test for Hep B or C.
Do you agree with these statements or do you think I need to have any more tests done? I would like to feel that the tests done to date are final.
Many thanks.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I am not personally offended. But our experience is that continued responses to obviously anxiety-driven questions often serves to extend the anxiety.
Truly, stop worrying. Move on with your life, take care, and stay safe.
Truly, stop worrying. Move on with your life, take care, and stay safe.
Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you. It was only because a few posters had asked about DGI because they had achy joints. I thought maybe it was best to check.
I do appreciate the advice you have given me.
I do appreciate the advice you have given me.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
It is impossible to have DGI without symptoms and is not a remote possibility in this situation.
With apology, users may not return indefinitely with every additional anxiety-driven "yes but" or "what if" question that comes to mind. It is crystal clear you caught no STD from the relationship you describe. Please move on and stop worrying about it, with no more comments on this thread (and also no new thread with additional quesitons about the same exposures).
With apology, users may not return indefinitely with every additional anxiety-driven "yes but" or "what if" question that comes to mind. It is crystal clear you caught no STD from the relationship you describe. Please move on and stop worrying about it, with no more comments on this thread (and also no new thread with additional quesitons about the same exposures).
Hello Doctor. there I was all relaxed from your post, then foolishly found one about DGI. Should I be concerned?
It's only because over the last couple of weeks the joints in my knuckles are a bit stiff and aching. Now I do go rowing so it could be that. My vaginal swabs were negative for gonorreah.
I tried to read some of your replies about DGI and it seems it would happen quickly after being infected but my last oral exposure was in April, no rash or anything.
It's only because over the last couple of weeks the joints in my knuckles are a bit stiff and aching. Now I do go rowing so it could be that. My vaginal swabs were negative for gonorreah.
I tried to read some of your replies about DGI and it seems it would happen quickly after being infected but my last oral exposure was in April, no rash or anything.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Correct. Sorry for the misunderstanding. Take care.
sorry doctor, I may have confused you.
I had noted that you had said "Hep B is rarely if ever transmitted by oral sex", I was then assuming that Hep B was the same as HIV being transmitted by oral sex - both rarely.
I had noted that you had said "Hep B is rarely if ever transmitted by oral sex", I was then assuming that Hep B was the same as HIV being transmitted by oral sex - both rarely.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
HIV is rarely transmitted by oral sex. This is one of the most important topics of the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex forum. Scan a handful of threads at random and you'll find several discussions about it.
Oh forget to say, when you say Hep B is rarely if ever transmitted by oral sex, would that be similar in figures to the oral transmission of HIV? If so, then it is rare and of no concern.
Thank you very much doctor for your reply and I appreciate you taking the time to explain in detail.
As I have read, and again you have confirmed, oral gonorreah (IF present), would clear up so I'm happy to accept your reassurance. I did infact speak to my previous partner about STD's and he was quite offended and shocked I would think this but adamant he has never taken risks and always used a condom for sex with previous partners.
Re Hep B, you have stated that it is rarely transmitted through oral sex.
To be honest, to have further tests would add to my anxiety plus your reassurance in your last paragraph does make me feel better. Thank you.
As I have read, and again you have confirmed, oral gonorreah (IF present), would clear up so I'm happy to accept your reassurance. I did infact speak to my previous partner about STD's and he was quite offended and shocked I would think this but adamant he has never taken risks and always used a condom for sex with previous partners.
Re Hep B, you have stated that it is rarely transmitted through oral sex.
To be honest, to have further tests would add to my anxiety plus your reassurance in your last paragraph does make me feel better. Thank you.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the STD forum.
With rare exceptions (if any), the UK GUM clinics are highly expert; collectively they may be the best network of STD/HIV clinical and prevention clinics worldwide -- rivaled closely by Australia's sexual health centres. The expertise of the clinician(s) you saw probably is similar to mine. At that level of expertise, any apparent disagreements in advice represent legitimate differences of opinion among experts, not a case of right versus wrong.
Whether oral gonorrhea (technically pharyngeal gonorrhea, since the infection is localized in the pharynx -- i.e. back of the throat) is "very rare" or not is a matter of interpretation. Among all persons with gonorrhea, pharyngeal infection is present in well under 10%; and in the UK, gonorrhea is itself a pretty rare STD. So they are certainly correct that it is statistically very unlikely you were infected. Of course, the chance would be higher if you knew your former partner had urethral (penile) gonorrhea. Another factor is that pharyngeal gonorrhea rarely causes symptoms, is uncommonly transmitted to other partners, and almost all cases clear up on their own, without treatment, within 3 months.
Given your concern, some clinics would have tested you for pharyngeal gonorrhea. However, as an NHS facility, your GUM clinic is responsible for efficient use of scarce resources, and I can fully understand their decision not to do so. If you find this continues to play on your mind despite this reassurance, you could always seek out a private provider (e.g., Freedom Health, a private sexual health clinic in London, if you are in or near the city).
As for hepatitis B, we also do not test for it in my STD clinic in heterosexual men and women, unless they are sexual contacts of known-infected partners. Although hep B certainly can be sexually transmitted, the actual risks are very low in heterosexual settings; and it probably is transmitted exclusively by vaginal or anal intercourse, rarely if ever by oral sex. So I am in agreement with the advice from your GUM clinic. Here too, you could be tested privately if you remain concerned.
But truly, you should not be worried about either of these problems. If I were in your situation (or if you were someone close to me personally), I would not get or recommend testing for either pharyngeal gonorrhea or hepatitis B.
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
With rare exceptions (if any), the UK GUM clinics are highly expert; collectively they may be the best network of STD/HIV clinical and prevention clinics worldwide -- rivaled closely by Australia's sexual health centres. The expertise of the clinician(s) you saw probably is similar to mine. At that level of expertise, any apparent disagreements in advice represent legitimate differences of opinion among experts, not a case of right versus wrong.
Whether oral gonorrhea (technically pharyngeal gonorrhea, since the infection is localized in the pharynx -- i.e. back of the throat) is "very rare" or not is a matter of interpretation. Among all persons with gonorrhea, pharyngeal infection is present in well under 10%; and in the UK, gonorrhea is itself a pretty rare STD. So they are certainly correct that it is statistically very unlikely you were infected. Of course, the chance would be higher if you knew your former partner had urethral (penile) gonorrhea. Another factor is that pharyngeal gonorrhea rarely causes symptoms, is uncommonly transmitted to other partners, and almost all cases clear up on their own, without treatment, within 3 months.
Given your concern, some clinics would have tested you for pharyngeal gonorrhea. However, as an NHS facility, your GUM clinic is responsible for efficient use of scarce resources, and I can fully understand their decision not to do so. If you find this continues to play on your mind despite this reassurance, you could always seek out a private provider (e.g., Freedom Health, a private sexual health clinic in London, if you are in or near the city).
As for hepatitis B, we also do not test for it in my STD clinic in heterosexual men and women, unless they are sexual contacts of known-infected partners. Although hep B certainly can be sexually transmitted, the actual risks are very low in heterosexual settings; and it probably is transmitted exclusively by vaginal or anal intercourse, rarely if ever by oral sex. So I am in agreement with the advice from your GUM clinic. Here too, you could be tested privately if you remain concerned.
But truly, you should not be worried about either of these problems. If I were in your situation (or if you were someone close to me personally), I would not get or recommend testing for either pharyngeal gonorrhea or hepatitis B.
Best wishes-- 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.
