Question about STD testing

I have some questions in regards to STD testing and when to have it done. My girlfriend of almost a year admitted to cheating on me recently. The one and only incident took place this past weekend. She was under the influence of alcohol and she had sex with an ex-boyfriend without a condom. I haven't had any sexual contact with her since then. We both had STD tests back in May of 2005 and tested negative for everything. I am 100% certain that my risks have been zero since and that I am ok. I dont want to have any risk of picking up anything from her after putting her self at risk.

1. In regards to HIV, how long does she have to wait before she gets tested and the results to be certain? Is it advise able to not have sex with her until we know?

2. In regards to HSV, how long does she have to wait before she gets tested and the results to be certain? Should I avoid sex until we know the status?

3. Are there any other STD's that she needs to be tested for?

4. Any specific types of tests that she needs to request?

5. What sort of things sexual things can be engaged in that are low risk for me?


I had an STD scare of my own a while back and I do not want to put myself through that again. Please let me know the answers to my questions and any additional information or medical advice you may have. Thank You.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Your partner's likelihood of getting HIV, assuming she isn't sleeping with gay/bi men or injection drug users, is about zero.

1) Too low a risk to worry about.  But if you are anxious and want still more reassurance, she should be tested at least 4-6 weeks after her last exposure to a high-risk partner.

2) I'm not sure I would recommend HSV testing either.  But if she pursues that, it takes about 3 months to rely on a negative test result.

3) Statistically, the greatest likelihoods are chlamydia and HPV.  There is no test for HPV, so you can forget that.  But chlamydia When chlamydia testing is done, a gonorrhea test usually is done automatically at the same time.  Syphilis is unlikely, but is easily checked with a blood test.  (Gonorrhea and chlamydia tests can be done at any time; syphilis needs to be delayed about 6 weeks to be reliable.)

4) If she goes to a provider knowledgeable about STDs, don't worry about what specific tests to ask for; the provider will know the best tests.  (Except maybe for herpes; if she gets tested for that infection, she needs to ask for a type-specific test, such as HerpeSelect.)

5) Consistent condom use will keep any risks very low.  Oral sex carries almost no STD risk.

Good luck--  HHH, MD

[rbman2005]

Dr.,

I would like to know why you wouldn't recommend HSV testing? I am not all that paranoid about HIV so much as HSV because of the documented lower rate of HIV transmission vs. HSV. Statistically you have a 1 in 4 chance of running into somone that has HSV. Since I am not the one who had the encounter, I cannot say if I know if they had it or not. But based on the odds, you wouldn't recommend it?? Please explain if possible.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Since 25% of the population has HSV-2, a positive test wouldn't mean your wife caught it from her new partner.  A 1 in 4 chance of "running into" HSV does not mean a 1 in 4 chance of catching it.  You could get HSV testing if you want, though.

HHH, MD

[rbman2005]

Sorry, I have been out of the country and havent been able to follow up on this question.

So you think I have nothing to worry about in regards to HIV if I have sex with my girlfriend without a condom after what happened?

[daveinmd2008]

A related discussion, Unprotected Oral was started.