Sex life after Sphyllis

[welliamin]

Hi,

I am 25 year old male. I was in a 100% monogamus relationship with my male partner. We are sexually active since 2.5 years. We never have unsafe sex. 1 month ago I got a kind of pimple on my penis. I went to my doctor. After tests I was told that I have syphillis. Because my only contact was my partner. Not to mention I am totally devasted and our relationship is not any good.

3 years ago my partner had got syphillis. He went to his doctor who perscribed him anti-biotics and his rash on penis went away. He was badly informed and he did not go for any checkups further.

I have got 2 injection shots and have been told to come back after 3 months to have blood tests. And then regular blood tests for 2 years.
Meanwhile he is also tested positive and has got 1 shot as the concetration was very very low in his blood.

My questions are - We have not had any oral contact after medication or anal penetration. Only handjobs, thus no contact of penis together.
Is it safe for him to masturbate me? What kind of sexual contact is safe? What are the chances that we can re-infect each other? Is it safe to that his body parts (chest, stomach) come in contact with my sperm?

How long and how often do i need to go for tests? Chances that I will recover.

i appreciate your response as the information online is lots and very confusing.

[welliamin]

Oke. i figured out the difference between this forum and the expert forum.

i have posted my query there. Could you please read and add something if it is required?

Best regards,

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/699997?camp=26

[Vance2335]

Free answer start your own thread. Dr's answer pay to post in the Expert forum.

[mshiraz1984]

DR Hook i visited the libtory and go through the test and got the result of TPHA 1:64, i just want to know what does it means, which stage it is.

[auntiejessi]

Hi there -

I have to defer to Dr. Hook here.  He knows far more about syphilis than I do, and is one of the foremost experts in syphilis in the world.  I wouldn't presume to know more than he does.

He knows the intricacies of testing with the VDRL, and if he says its ok to have sex, its ok.

Do you all have any more testing set up?

I'm glad you all are doing well though.

Aj

[welliamin]

Hi AJ,

I am doing better.

I wanted to ask you something. Can you please look at the thread posted for Dr. Hook
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/699997?camp=26

My question to you my partner was initially infected in Nov 2004 , his VDRL value back then was 1:64. Treatment with pencillin.  After that he had no follow up controles due to medicial neglect on the doctors part.

June 2008 - He was tested again because of my condition. His VDRL value was 1:16.
Treated with single dose 2.4 million units of benzathine penicillin .

Sep 2008 - VDRL remains 1:16

He then got an 2.4 mil penicillin 3 times (once every month Sep, Oct, Nov 2008).
Dec 2008 - VDRL 1:8
Jan 2009 - No Neurosyphilis.

My question to you is - What should be our sexual behaviour. We have engaged in kissing around breast/chest/neck area and handjobs. Is this fine? Can we go back to protective sex? The doctors here are not able to suggest exactly what should be fine for us. Does he require further treatment? If yes, what and when can we go back to healthy sexual life?

Dr. Hook says that my partner and I are fine. Is 1:8 VDRL enough to say he is cured.
I thought it was 1:4?

Look forward to your early response.

[auntiejessi]

Hey Welliamen -

How are you doing??

Aj

[welliamin]

RPR values do not say anything about HIV.

You have to get a separate test done for HIV and other STD's.

As for syphilis. You need to tell your previous VDRL values, RPR values and also see if you want to get a check for neuro syphilis. This could mean that at the first stage the bacteria reached the brain. Or it is a failed syphilis treatment.

Look at the thread -

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/699997?camp=26

[auntiejessi]

Did you ever get a follow up test after you were treated last year?

I'm not sure what you mean about the HIV part.  The RPR titer results have nothing to do with HIV.

Aj

[MILGUY]

Hello AJ,

I found your string and want to ask a question.  I was treated over a year a go for syphilis and now have developed a rash.  I received results today with a positive FTA and an RPR of 1:64.  I have tested neg. for HIV back in June, but everything I read indicates that with a RPR of 1:64 would probably mean I have HIV.  Is this true or can you be HIV Neg and have this cured?  I have also received one of three Penicillin G Procaine IM 1.2MILL in each cheek with two more to go.

[auntiejessi]

Oh I'm sorry.  This is really beyond my scope, but yes, this is still curable.  As Dr. Hook said, you should be cured with the IV antibiotics.  

Yes, that stuff should go away.

I don't know about the lumbar procedure - you should ask Dr. Hook.

I think once you have the meds, and get retested, if its good results, you are not infectious.  You should ask Dr. Hook that too.

Dr. Hook is one of the leading syphilis experts in the world, and has been for many years.  I would certainly trust what he has to say on this.

Please keep me posted, and let me know how you are doing, ok?

Aj

[welliamin]

Dear AJ,

I have come back with more bad news.

I was wondering if you could look at the thread at expert's forum.

I am a bit lost about a few things.

1.What is the chance that this is curable? What does this really mean (is this an early stage of later stage ?)
VDRL negative and THPA 1:32 for CSF (spinal cord fluid)

2. I have a lot of weird conditions - pain in leg, ringing of ears, ulcers in mouth, rash on parts of body. Will all of this go away?
3. Regarding neurosyphilis - Will i have to go under go lumbar puncture every 3 months? This is a very painful process.
4.Obviously I am not going to be doing any thing (sexual for a while). But what is the general advice?


http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/699997?camp=26
Thanks in advance

[auntiejessi]

I think it looks good, and I'll be checking it for replies.

AJ

[auntiejessi]

Well, that's good news.  It doesn't help this, but it's good that you don't have anything else to worry about.

The other possibility is that maybe your infection was older than originally thought, and you needed a longer course of treatment than you got, like your partner did.

Aj

[welliamin]

Yes, tested for everything
(all other STD's).

All negative.

:(

[auntiejessi]

Hi there -

I'm sorry I missed this earlier.

I wish I had an explanation for you.  My only suggestion would be to post this in the experts forum, as Dr. Hook is a leading syphilis experts.  You do have to pay, but he might be able to shed some light on this.

Have you been tested for HIV?  Sometimes people with HIV can have difficulty treating syphilis.

Aj

[Vance2335]

AJ is not going to be around until Thursday or Friday. I would say keep following up with your Dr or ask him/her for a referal to a STD specialist.

[welliamin]

Hi,

I have a very sad news. I went for a check up. I have got really weird conditions since the infeciton. My ears are ringing a lot (tinnitus), my mouth is full of ulcers.

I had the results of my blood test back. The value has gone up to 1:16.

The doctors have no explanation what so ever. I have not had any intercourse with or without condom. I did let me partner masturbate me and we did kiss.

I am extremely shocked.

What should be the next step for me now?

My GP is consulting a specialist as she is clueless.

I look forward to your comments.

[auntiejessi]

Its going to be different for you than it is for your partner.  Your partner has an old infection, so the numbers mean different things for him than they do for you.

I would absolutely stick to safe activities until he gets some decent treatment.  I'm sorry this is so complicated - it really shouldn't be.  :(

Aj

[welliamin]

25-11-2004.
I thought I will post the results of my partner as on 25-11-2004 and then no follow up.

On June 23 - 2008 1:16 and on 29th sep 2008 1:16
TPHA       : positief
VDRL       : titer 1/ 64 positief
FTA - abs.: positief

[welliamin]

Thank you v much for all your help.

I will keep you posted.

I wonder since the count is still 1:16 in case of my partner (as it was). I imagine that I can get REinfected if I have sexual contact with him. Last months we did sleep together, but with shorts/underwear on. In order to avoid direct contact of sexual organs. We would give each other hand jobs and practised safe sex one or 2 times. But I would not want to get reinfected, so will not take any chances with safe sex as well.

I guess we need to restrict all sexual contact other than handjobs, kissing which are safe. You confirmed that earlier.

I look forward to your response.

He is speaking to an expert today and getting his old data from his first infection few years ago

[auntiejessi]

Yes, it is enough.

And good luck with his doctors.  :)

Keep me posted, and you know we are here if you have any questions.

Aj

[welliamin]

Is the four fold drop enough to confirm that I am cured and cannot spread it ?

I will speak to the doctors again and see what can be done.

[auntiejessi]

Hi there -

You are cured, and can't spread it.  Your titer will continue to drop.

Your partner will get no benefit from a shot now and then one 4 weeks later, but I am sure you have tried fighting this one.  He really needs 3 shots, 1 week apart.  

Aj

[welliamin]

Hi,

Long time since we had contact.
My results are in. The VDRL was 1:16  3 months ago. It is now 1:4.

It is a four fold drop. How do I understand it? Have I been cured? Can I infect someone else?

In case of my partner - His VDRL is still 1:16. I fought with the doctors and told them he needs more treatment. They were only giving him 1 dose after the results. I have got them to agree to give him one dose now and one dose 4 weeks later.

I really do not know what to say more. I look forward to your comments.

I thank you for all the help and your time.