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STDs (Expert Forum)
Questions about chlamydia and gonorrhea?
Answered by
Edward W Hook, MD - HIV Prevention, stds
Welcome to the STD Forum, which is intended only for questions and support pertaining to sexually transmitted diseases other than HIV/AIDS, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, human papillomavirus, genital warts, trichomonas, other vaginal infections, nongonoccal urethritis (NGU), cervicitis, molluscum contagiosum, chancroid, and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). All questions will be answered by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D. or Edward W Hook, MD.
Questions about chlamydia and gonorrhea?
by sportygirl89, Jan 09, 2009 10:09AM
OK, so I've been worrying for a long time, and I decided I just want to ask these questions altogether NOW. Hopefully my fears will be completely solved after this, but I figured this was the place to ask.
1.) What is the likelihood that someone can get chlamydia or gonorrhea from a guy touching his own genitals and then touching yours immediately after? (this happened a while ago and the guy said he was clean but I feel worried anyway)
2.) Also, if I got tested for chlamydia AND gonorrhea 3-4 days after this encounter and the results came out negative, is that conclusive proof that I actually DON'T have chlamydia or gonorrhea (this was about three-four months ago)? Since then I have gotten into a relationship and although I have no symptoms of anything I am very afraid that those were false negatives because I got tested too soon, and that my boyfriend will get chlamydia and think I cheated on him (which I didn't).
3.) If I live with a roommate who has chlamydia, can I get it? (I don't have sex with her obviously)
4.) I heard that girls always have symptoms when they have gonorrhea, is this true?
5.) A while ago I used to bleed a teeny tiny bit after sex with my boyfriend but it went away after a few days. This happened with my ex too, and I was tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea after that. (It only happened a few times with him too). Should i be seriously worried about this? My doctor said if it stopped, then it was probably just rough sex or something. (it was, for the most part, rough, but the bleeding stopped months ago)
6.) How long do you have to have chlamydia or gonorrhea for PID to develop? And would I know if I had PID or had become infertile?
7.) If I do have an STD from the encounter before I met my boyfriend, what do I tell him so that he understands this happened before I met him?
Thank you so much!!!!!
1.) What is the likelihood that someone can get chlamydia or gonorrhea from a guy touching his own genitals and then touching yours immediately after? (this happened a while ago and the guy said he was clean but I feel worried anyway)
2.) Also, if I got tested for chlamydia AND gonorrhea 3-4 days after this encounter and the results came out negative, is that conclusive proof that I actually DON'T have chlamydia or gonorrhea (this was about three-four months ago)? Since then I have gotten into a relationship and although I have no symptoms of anything I am very afraid that those were false negatives because I got tested too soon, and that my boyfriend will get chlamydia and think I cheated on him (which I didn't).
3.) If I live with a roommate who has chlamydia, can I get it? (I don't have sex with her obviously)
4.) I heard that girls always have symptoms when they have gonorrhea, is this true?
5.) A while ago I used to bleed a teeny tiny bit after sex with my boyfriend but it went away after a few days. This happened with my ex too, and I was tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea after that. (It only happened a few times with him too). Should i be seriously worried about this? My doctor said if it stopped, then it was probably just rough sex or something. (it was, for the most part, rough, but the bleeding stopped months ago)
6.) How long do you have to have chlamydia or gonorrhea for PID to develop? And would I know if I had PID or had become infertile?
7.) If I do have an STD from the encounter before I met my boyfriend, what do I tell him so that he understands this happened before I met him?
Thank you so much!!!!!
Doctor's Answer
by Edward W Hook, MD, Jan 09, 2009 10:34AM
, Jan 09, 2009 10:34AM
Reading your questions, it appears that you were in a relationship and are worried that a prior partner may have had gonorrhea or chlamydia but have had negative tests since that time. Is this correct? If so, you have little to worry about. Now let's get directly to your questions:
1. Despite the fact that it sounds hypothetically possible, transmission from an infected person's genitals to your genital tract on someone else's hand is unheard of an not something to worry about.
2. You did not get tested too soon. Testing at four days after an exposure is reliable and your results should be believed.
3. No, no way.
4. No, that is not true. Both gonorrhea and chlamydia can be present without symptoms in women and men.
5. Spotting after sex can be a sign of gonorrhea or chlamydia but it can also be normal and present for many other reasons. Once again, you should believe your test results.
6. The time it takes PID to develop after infection varies. the longer the infection is present, the more likely it is to cause PID. Your doctor would be able to tell you if you had PID during his/her examination. Most persons with PIF have lower abdominal pain, pain on intercourse and/or pain detected during pelvic examinations. No everyone with PID becomes infertile.
7. If you have an STD like gonorrhea or chlamydia and it has been treated, there is no need to discuss it with your current BF.
Hope this helps. EWH
1. Despite the fact that it sounds hypothetically possible, transmission from an infected person's genitals to your genital tract on someone else's hand is unheard of an not something to worry about.
2. You did not get tested too soon. Testing at four days after an exposure is reliable and your results should be believed.
3. No, no way.
4. No, that is not true. Both gonorrhea and chlamydia can be present without symptoms in women and men.
5. Spotting after sex can be a sign of gonorrhea or chlamydia but it can also be normal and present for many other reasons. Once again, you should believe your test results.
6. The time it takes PID to develop after infection varies. the longer the infection is present, the more likely it is to cause PID. Your doctor would be able to tell you if you had PID during his/her examination. Most persons with PIF have lower abdominal pain, pain on intercourse and/or pain detected during pelvic examinations. No everyone with PID becomes infertile.
7. If you have an STD like gonorrhea or chlamydia and it has been treated, there is no need to discuss it with your current BF.
Hope this helps. EWH
Member Comments (3)
by sportygirl89, Jan 09, 2009 10:37AM
you said 4 days is OK, but if this encounter happened late, late on Saturday night (technically early early Sunday morning) and I got tested on Wednesday, that's really more like 3 days. That's still not too early?
by Edward W Hook, MD, Jan 09, 2009 10:43AM
, Jan 09, 2009 10:43AM
Still OK. EWH
by girly89, Jun 06, 2009 07:43AM
A related discussion, should i get tested? was started.
