Aa
Possible Syphilis
Had unprotected sex with man ive known for 10 years several times first time on April 16 last time on May 14. June 7th found open sore between vagina and anus in periarea (on 12 year old episiotomy sca)r looked like chancre pictures ive seen on google. Sore did not bleed or hurt i could exam and touch no feeling no visible drainage.June 10 had rpr negative and June 18th negative. I also want to mention I had rocephin shot on May 16th next day my palms were bright red like rash dont know if allergic reaction or what, but it remains on my palms. Started Doxycycline yesterday because i think my doctor is tired of me and gave me something to make me feel better i quess, this morning after 2 doses redness on palm visably lighter dont know if that means anything. Had another rpr done June20th get results next week. From everything ive read i shouldve tested positive if syphilis but open area doesnt make since if not,please help.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the Forum. I will try to help. I presume that the sore you mention has now healed, correct? I think you have already done a nice job of thinking this through and have come to the correct conclusion that this is almost certainly not syphilis. I'll provide a number of comments which I hope will be helpful.
1. Your partner is unlikely to have syphilis. You do not say much about him but if he is heterosexual and does not have sex with other men, he is unlikely to have syphilis. This year in the U.S. there will be fewer than 10,000 cases of syphilis in our nation of about 350,000,000 people. Of those who get syphilis, two-thirds will occur in men who have sex with other men. thus, on the basis of statistics alone, this is unlikely to be syphilis.
2. As you point out, if this were syphilis, your RPR test would be positive. While occasionally (about 10% of the time, at most) the RPR can be negative when a syphilis lesion is first noted, those persons with initially negative syphilis develop positive tests in less than a week after the lesion is noted.
3. The skin around and near a scar tends to be a "weak spot" which can break down providing an alternate explanation for the lesion you describe.
4. You are treated. The ceftriaxone (Rocephin) shot you received several weeks before the sore was noted would have prevented syphilis and prevented the sore from forming if it were due to syphilis. Further, the doxy would have been curative as well.
For all of the reasons I mention, I am confident that the lesion you describe was not syphilis. Please do not worry about this and, if you are still taking the doxycycline, there really is no need to continue.
I hope my comments are helpful. EWH
1. Your partner is unlikely to have syphilis. You do not say much about him but if he is heterosexual and does not have sex with other men, he is unlikely to have syphilis. This year in the U.S. there will be fewer than 10,000 cases of syphilis in our nation of about 350,000,000 people. Of those who get syphilis, two-thirds will occur in men who have sex with other men. thus, on the basis of statistics alone, this is unlikely to be syphilis.
2. As you point out, if this were syphilis, your RPR test would be positive. While occasionally (about 10% of the time, at most) the RPR can be negative when a syphilis lesion is first noted, those persons with initially negative syphilis develop positive tests in less than a week after the lesion is noted.
3. The skin around and near a scar tends to be a "weak spot" which can break down providing an alternate explanation for the lesion you describe.
4. You are treated. The ceftriaxone (Rocephin) shot you received several weeks before the sore was noted would have prevented syphilis and prevented the sore from forming if it were due to syphilis. Further, the doxy would have been curative as well.
For all of the reasons I mention, I am confident that the lesion you describe was not syphilis. Please do not worry about this and, if you are still taking the doxycycline, there really is no need to continue.
I hope my comments are helpful. EWH
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
If he had sysphilis which was transmitted to you while performing oral sex on this partner, you would have noticed a genital lesions. Oral syphilisis very, very rare. Further. new syphilis lesions would not appear while taking doxycycline. You are over reacting (again). Retesting is a waste of time. You need to get a grip on yourself and this unwarranted paranoia. EWH
Dr.Hook i dont know if im loosing my mind or what, im sorry i know there are other concerns from others as well. I need some guidance though because my pcp has admittedly told me he doesnt know alot regarding syphilis. I did perform oral sex on this man June 3 that was all and that was last time anything has happened, i didnt think about this in first response because of low exposure risk and i new too soon for chancre to form from this time. My concern is that on june 18 i developed a ulcer on tonque on 20th began the doxy. this was also date of last rpr In 2 days this began to heal but i began forming more like abthous ulcers on tongue my rpr results from 20th were negative i got these results on the 27th so i stopped the doxy. Saturday morning on the 28th my tongue was covered with more spots with a large area on back of tongue.Tthese areas not sore but tongue very sore, hard to swallow. I dont know whats going on, anymore info. please. Would these still occur while on doxy? Should i get retested?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Anotehr "what if" question. If that were the case, don't you think I would have said so? No change in my assessment or advice. your concerns about syphilis are misplaced. The test result would have still be positive.
In all seriousness, you need to sort out what you want to do. if you ask enough doctors you'll find someone who will give you (more) syphilis treatment rather than take the time to provide an explanation and deal with arguments about why their assessment is wrong. Otherwise, you need to accepth that you did not get syphilis and deal with the issue of why you are so concerned that you don't want to accept the advice of your doctor (and me, but the key here is your own doctor). EWH
In all seriousness, you need to sort out what you want to do. if you ask enough doctors you'll find someone who will give you (more) syphilis treatment rather than take the time to provide an explanation and deal with arguments about why their assessment is wrong. Otherwise, you need to accepth that you did not get syphilis and deal with the issue of why you are so concerned that you don't want to accept the advice of your doctor (and me, but the key here is your own doctor). EWH
Just one more question is it possible the rocephin shot could have suppressed bacteria instead of curing and cause false negative. Thank you
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Thnaks for the additonal information, It strenghtens my confidence that the lesion you noted was NOT syphilis. EWH
Thank you so much I do feel better. Yes the sore is healed just a pea size indented scar. My partner is heterosexual and was tested as well his rpr was neg. My fear was that it couldve been too early for both of us, although he states hes not had sex in 3 years since his divorce,which i believe but at same time you never know. I did read rocephin is treatment but 1 shot times 10 days so i didnt know that would be effective. I mentioned the episiotomy scar cause thought that could be possibility but if it did open or tear wouldnt this hurt. Failed to mention because i know these are second stage symptoms and rpr shouldve been positive but did develope a sore on tongue 3 days ago but could be from not eating or sleeping well and smoking excessevly and drinking alcohol more than usual and last weekend i woke up with freckles like spots on thighs that are now fading and sunspot looking marks on bilaterral tops of hands. Freckles were not pustules looked just like freckles but no sun exposure. Just wanted to see if this could change anything. Thank you again and after this Im done worrying.
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.
