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Possibility of a False Negative
A little while ago, I had a brief heterosexual encounter with a woman I did not know very well. She was a friend of a friend, probably around 23 years old. I received unprotected oral and had brief intercourse while wearing a condom, (applied as well as possible considering my inebriated state). The next day I had sex with another partner, whose history I knew very well and did not consider a high risk for STI's.
Just a few days later after reading about symptoms online I thought that my testicles felt pained and sensitive, although they were not really swollen or red. It could have been totally psychosomatic, but I was freaked out enough to go straight to a doctor. This is just about 5 days after the encounter. I was there given a chlamydia/gonorrhea urine test, which came back as negative a few days afterwards. I was so badly freaked out at the time of my test that I was given doxycycline as a precautionary measure. At the time I contented myself with the negative result, but then I read that testing before 2 weeks increases the likelihood of a false negative. Could this possibly have been the case?
I've been trying to become an expert on chlamydia in the meantime, and it seems that aching testicles are a complication that would only appear after a long period of untreated infection, and not something that would commonly occur less than a week after exposure. Is that correct?
What I really want to know is if I should inform the second partner (the well-known one) that this was a concern that I had. Or is it really an unnecessary concern that doesn't have to be addressed? Not really sure, hoping a doctor or a medical professional could shed a little light on if its information that could seriously affect someone's health, or if this is just the result of paranoia.
Just a few days later after reading about symptoms online I thought that my testicles felt pained and sensitive, although they were not really swollen or red. It could have been totally psychosomatic, but I was freaked out enough to go straight to a doctor. This is just about 5 days after the encounter. I was there given a chlamydia/gonorrhea urine test, which came back as negative a few days afterwards. I was so badly freaked out at the time of my test that I was given doxycycline as a precautionary measure. At the time I contented myself with the negative result, but then I read that testing before 2 weeks increases the likelihood of a false negative. Could this possibly have been the case?
I've been trying to become an expert on chlamydia in the meantime, and it seems that aching testicles are a complication that would only appear after a long period of untreated infection, and not something that would commonly occur less than a week after exposure. Is that correct?
What I really want to know is if I should inform the second partner (the well-known one) that this was a concern that I had. Or is it really an unnecessary concern that doesn't have to be addressed? Not really sure, hoping a doctor or a medical professional could shed a little light on if its information that could seriously affect someone's health, or if this is just the result of paranoia.
Thank you again for the information. I had no idea that that was the case. It seems so predatory for these websites to post information like that, or more like misinformation, really.
How do you know so much, if you don't mind me asking? Just kind of curious, you mentioned that this is the non-professional community forum.
How do you know so much, if you don't mind me asking? Just kind of curious, you mentioned that this is the non-professional community forum.
The problem is this: When a new test is developed, such as the current DNA tests for chlamydia and gonorrhea, research with the test may specify a particular time for testing, such as 2 weeks -- i.e. they only enroll research subjects whose most recent risk was 2 weeks or longer. When regulatory agencies approve the test for diagnostic use, they require the manufacturer to specify in the product information, catalogues, etc that the test may not be reliable before 2 weeks. And some health agencies or websites then perpetuate such statements. It doesn't mean the test isn't valid sooner, only that it hasn't been studied in that way.
In the real world, STD clinics and other experts have observed that 2-3 days is plenty of time for gonorrhea test accuracy, and probably the same for chlamydia, although some experts say 4-5 days or even a week. But for sure it isn't necessary to wait 2 weeks.
In the real world, STD clinics and other experts have observed that 2-3 days is plenty of time for gonorrhea test accuracy, and probably the same for chlamydia, although some experts say 4-5 days or even a week. But for sure it isn't necessary to wait 2 weeks.
Hey Howard, I mean once again it's probably paranoia. The thing is is that I want to be sure that everyone is healthy, I couldn't live with the idea that I could have passed something on to someone who didn't even know. Here, I included some links to websites that vouch for two weeks (or in some cases even more) for chlamydia testing. Some seem unprofessional, but a few look like legitimate sources.
http://smartsexresource.com/topics/chlamydia
http://www.thestdproject.com/std-testing-windows-when-to-get-tested-stds/
http://www.healthcentre.org.uk/std/window-period-urine-testing.html
All of these suggest that two weeks is probably a better time for a result, although some websites don't even mention it at all. Really the problem is that I feel guilty; the encounter was an infidelity. I actually confessed to it anyways, but I want to be positive that there is nothing ELSE that this other person needs to know.
http://smartsexresource.com/topics/chlamydia
http://www.thestdproject.com/std-testing-windows-when-to-get-tested-stds/
http://www.healthcentre.org.uk/std/window-period-urine-testing.html
All of these suggest that two weeks is probably a better time for a result, although some websites don't even mention it at all. Really the problem is that I feel guilty; the encounter was an infidelity. I actually confessed to it anyways, but I want to be positive that there is nothing ELSE that this other person needs to know.
"There are a number of websites that I found on the internet that suggested that chlamydia might be in early stages if one tests before two weeks (or in some cases 6 weeks)." All I can say is that you apparently found some nonscientific or otherwise unreliable websites.
"implying that if you test before two weeks you may as well have not tested at all." That's totally wacko.
"implying that if you test before two weeks you may as well have not tested at all." That's totally wacko.
Hey Howard, thanks for your response. There are a number of websites that I found on the internet that suggested that chlamydia might be in early stages if one tests before two weeks (or in some cases 6 weeks). I know, it sounds pretty ridiculous and my doctor never mentioned that when I went in for my test anyways. But these websites use very scary but also vague language, almost implying that if you test before two weeks you may as well have not tested at all.
Anyways, its nice to finally hear some reassurance. I just want to be sure that everyone involved is healthy and that there is nothing to worry about, and if someone on the internet personally tells me that there's nothing to worry about then I'm feeling much better.
Thanks again
Anyways, its nice to finally hear some reassurance. I just want to be sure that everyone involved is healthy and that there is nothing to worry about, and if someone on the internet personally tells me that there's nothing to worry about then I'm feeling much better.
Thanks again
Sorry, but no professionals here; this is a non-professional community forum.
Given the condom protection, even for oral sex, there is no realistic chance of any STD that could cause the sympomts you report, and your negative gonorrhea/chlamydia test is definitive as well. I don't know where you saw 2 weeks for definitive testing, but that's wrong. Five days after exposure is plenty.
The kind of testicluar aching you describe isn't consistent with chlamydia at any time. STD related testicular pain is epididymitis, which almost always involve only one testicle, with enlargement, severe pain, and marked tenderness. The more vague pain you seem to be describing is usually the result of anxiety following a regretted sexual exposure. And when the expert forum was active, one of the doctors there (Hansfield, I think) used to say that when someone suspects his own aches and pains are emotional ("is this just the result of paranoia"), he's usually right.
You don't have anything that requires mention to your second sex partner.
Given the condom protection, even for oral sex, there is no realistic chance of any STD that could cause the sympomts you report, and your negative gonorrhea/chlamydia test is definitive as well. I don't know where you saw 2 weeks for definitive testing, but that's wrong. Five days after exposure is plenty.
The kind of testicluar aching you describe isn't consistent with chlamydia at any time. STD related testicular pain is epididymitis, which almost always involve only one testicle, with enlargement, severe pain, and marked tenderness. The more vague pain you seem to be describing is usually the result of anxiety following a regretted sexual exposure. And when the expert forum was active, one of the doctors there (Hansfield, I think) used to say that when someone suspects his own aches and pains are emotional ("is this just the result of paranoia"), he's usually right.
You don't have anything that requires mention to your second sex partner.
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