STD risk and pending results...

Good day,

I thought I'd get some feedback from you all while I await my STD results and to provide another source of information for the many people trying to find their exact situation and "what if" scenarios.

Since my last STD screening (all was negative), I've seen/dated 3 woman (I am male).

1) Condom protected vaginal intercorrse 4-5x over a few weeks and 1x of unprotected oral (I was receiving).

2) Condom protected vaginal intercourse 3-4x over a few weeks, no oral of any kind.

3) Condom protected vaginal intercourse 1x and 1x of unprotected oral (both give and receive).

Of course following the last time I had sex it coincided with me getting a cold...so for some reason I started thinking STD because about 1 week after having sex my face and neck and such felt "warm"...however...my temperature of 98.2F put any fever issue to rest!!

Besides the above "symptoms" I have NO sores, pain, itching, burning while urination...also I have not noticed any abnormal discharge and I believe I've read here that "if you had discharge, you'd know it".

So far, only my HIV and Syphilis have come back, both negative.  The rest should be in on Monday / Tuesday and obviously I'm looking to continue that negative trend!

Ok, based on my story...how do my odds / risk shape up for the remaining bacterial infections?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

I'm suprised you even asked the question.  All vaginal sex protected, giving and receiving oral w/o protection (very low risk), no symptoms (risks now still lower), negative HIV and syphilis so far.  Likelhood of STD-- miniscule at most.  Nothing to worry about.  Your tests will be negative.  EWH

[nycbound]

Well, I had some of my own anxiety, but also wanted to post and help build the knowledge base under the Expert forum for other users.

I'm still waiting on the results, I spoke with the clinic and there's a chance that the lab lost or misplaced my results...nice.  Based on my scenarios listed above, in your opinion would you recommend that I go back for retesting if, in fact, my results are "lost" ?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Your risk is very low, thus on the basis of the exposures described, I don;'t think you need testing.  HOWEVER, we do recommend routine annual testing for folks who have multiple sex partners, mostly as a matter of good health maintenance.  you fall into this category.  While I think you have very little if anything to worry about, I would recommend you get tested annually as long as you have multiple partners.  EWH

[nycbound]

Good Day,

Well, my remaining test results did come in this morning.  It's a sweep, everything came back negative just as you thought.  As you said, it's good health maintenance to know and test every year.

If you have time to answer one more...
Am I correct in assuming that condom protected anal sex (male to female) is just as "safe" as condom protected vaginal?  My assumption is protected is protected...

Take care...

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Correct, protected is protected

EWH