STD Testing

[scared524]

I made a HUGH mistake this past weekend.  I let my sex drive get the best of me.  To make a long story short, I had unprotected oral sex performed on me and I returned the act as well with an escort this past Saturday.  My brain completely shut off and did not even think about the possibilities of contracting an STD.   Possibly because the girl I met appeared to be clean or just the simple fact that my other brain was doing the thinking for me.  Immediately after I got back home my brain inside my skull started to play the guilt trip/mind games with my conscious. Every time a read about an STD symptom I feel like I am having it.  I am not the type of person who can roll with the punches concerning my guilt.  I have not been able to sleep, eat or function in my daily life for the past 4 days.  The guilt of what I have done is one thing; the fear of exposing my family to something is another.  I guess my question is simple.  How long do I have to wait before I can get 100% accurate testing done?   What type of STD's should I be concerned of?  I desperately need some sleep and food.  But I'm afraid I won't be able to get either until I know for sure.  

[sam340]

You have nothing to worry about, I did the same (stupid) act 6 months ago. The risk of catching something with unprotected oral sex with a sex worker is very low. I couldn't sleep or eat & lost weight because of it. Looking at symptoms on the internet to the wee hours of the morning makes the mind play games on you. So don't worry. Your healthy.

Best thing to do is go to a sex clinic or hospital (walk in & get a urine test for chlamydia & gonorrhea, as the doc said you won't have chlamydia but if gonorrhea does show up its just a simple dose of antibotics.

Syphillis is a simple blood test as well, done in 6 weeks. But you have a low risk. You might as well do the blood test for HIV with the Syphillis test when you see the GP to reasure you. But you wont have HIV. Syphillis is treatable with a single shot of Penicillin if it does turn up but as the doc said a very low risk.

If still concerned get another HIV test at 12 weeks, but 90% of all HIV in the blood will show up after 6 weeks.

But again you won't have HIV.

Don't worry, your still a great person, we all make silly mistakes, get some food into you & some sleep.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

There is little medical reason for you to have HIV tesitng.  AT the same time however it might be reassrurring. I don't see a downside to HIV testing.  Ultimately however it is up to you

EWH

[scared524]

Well, I could not get an appointment until tomorrow at 7am so my mind went wandering today.  The HIV scare started to creep into my head.  Is this something I should be tested for too?  Or is my mind giving me something to worry about that I shouldn't?  I did some reading and it sounds like there is a chance to be infected by vaginal secretions.

[scared524]

Thank you again.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Call your local health department.  They can tell you where the clinics are, their hours, etc. and put a premium on confidentiality.

Results depend on the lab.  The test for white blood cells should be available in a day or so, the tests for gonorrhea should be available in less than a week.  EWH  

[scared524]

oops, one more........how long does it take for results?

[scared524]

Sorry, one more question.  Where can I find a list of STD clinics in my area?

[scared524]

Thank you Dr. Hook.  Just being able to ask the question has lifted a huge weight off my shoulders.  Can I get tested at a STD clinic and have full confidence that the results are confidential?  If I have learned one thing so far from my experience, it is that I love my family very much and will never, ever put myself in this situation again.  I pray that the mental guilt is all I have to worry about. Which turns out is punishment enough.  

[Edward W Hook, MD]

While I understand your concern and guilt, if this is the worst mistake you ever make, you have a healthy life before you.  Your risk is low.  Why? for the following reasons:

1.  Most commercial sex workers don't have STDs (or HIV), thus the odds are in your favor that you were not exposed.
2.  Infection does not occur with most exposures.
3.  Oral sex is an "inefficient" way to transmit STDs.  Most are not transmitted this way.
4.  Of the bacterial STDs only gonorrhea and nongonococcal urethritis (NGU) are transmitted through oral sex; chlamydia is not and without an obvious sore or lesion on your partner’s mouth, the chances of syphilis and herpes is likewise tiny.   If you had gotten gonorrhea or NGU you would have most likely developed symptoms of urethritis (penile infection) within 3-5 days of expsoure.  Even if your partner had an STD (any STD and it is likely she did not), most exposures do not lead to infection.  It is reasonable to get tested for this exposure.  I would recommend that you have your throat tested only for gonorrhea.  I would also recommend a penile swab or urine specimen taken for NGU which is diagnosed by demonstration of increased numbers of white blood cells in the specimen.  Testing for these STDs at any time for here on will provide accurate results (which I anticipate will be negative).  

Hope this helps.  Your chances of having gotten an STD are very, very low.  EWH