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Sore on Tongue, STD worries
I've had a few questionable sexual encounters recently, the last one being 32 days ago. This included kissing and protected sex with a female escort and then several other encounters this summer with another girl, performed oral sex and protected sex.
No genital symptoms but . . .
This morning I noticed a sore on the side of my tongue, it's brand new. I checked it because it felt sore last night. It's small circular in shape with a yellow/white border . . . it looks like either a canker sore or a chancre.
I'm worried about syphilis.
After the encounters I felt guilty and worried, too ashamed to go to my doctor I took some antibiotics on my own.
11 days ago I took 1 gram of Zithromax, and have been taking 100mg of doxyclyine twice a day since then.
I realize I was wrong and reckless not to see my doctor and will be visiting him Friday morning. I am worried about receiving a false negative due to the antibiotics.
What are the chances I could have syphilis despite the antibiotics?, and what are the chances the they would cause a false negative test?
Thank you for your help. The worry, anxiety, and shame are killing me. I understand if you disapprove ( I do too) of my actions but I seriously need help. Please give me advice.
No genital symptoms but . . .
This morning I noticed a sore on the side of my tongue, it's brand new. I checked it because it felt sore last night. It's small circular in shape with a yellow/white border . . . it looks like either a canker sore or a chancre.
I'm worried about syphilis.
After the encounters I felt guilty and worried, too ashamed to go to my doctor I took some antibiotics on my own.
11 days ago I took 1 gram of Zithromax, and have been taking 100mg of doxyclyine twice a day since then.
I realize I was wrong and reckless not to see my doctor and will be visiting him Friday morning. I am worried about receiving a false negative due to the antibiotics.
What are the chances I could have syphilis despite the antibiotics?, and what are the chances the they would cause a false negative test?
Thank you for your help. The worry, anxiety, and shame are killing me. I understand if you disapprove ( I do too) of my actions but I seriously need help. Please give me advice.
Thank you
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
You obviously are articulate and intelligent; just start talking about it. You could use pretty much the exact words you have used in this thread, starting with the last paragraph of your opening question. You might even describe my reply.
I'm sorry, one final question and I will not continue with the thread. How should I explain my emotional problem to my provider? Should I say I am having a great deal of anxiety over fears of STDs? I'm not sure how to describe my problem.
Thank you for you advice I will do my best to abide by it. I am getting help for my compulsive sexual behavior and the next step will be to see my provider. I have an appointment with my provider pre-booked for an unrelated issue on Friday and will show the sore to him and ask for STD screening.
Thanks again I appreciate your compassion.
Thanks again I appreciate your compassion.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
From all you say, I see no worries about syphils or other STD. Kissing and protected vaginal sex carry no appreciable STD risks.
Syphilis could cause a primary lesion (called a chancre) on the tongue, and could be acquired by oral sex. But it's still not an issue for you. Syphilis is an uncommon disease, with only around 20,000 cases per year in the entire US, most of them in gay men. More important, it is not possible for a syphlitic chancre to develop while taking the antibiotics you have had. Most cases would be prevented by azithromycin (Zithromyax) and all cases would be aborted with with doxycycline. At this point, there is no need even to test for syphilis.
Could your tongue sore be another STD, such as herpes? Conceivably, but unlikely. However, the only way to know is to see a provider. You simply cannot get definitive answers by this forum or from any other online source.
This forum absolutely stays away from moral judgments about people's sexual behaviors (as long as there is no potential overt harm to another person). I do not judge your your actions and therefore do not disapprove them. However, you obviously disapprove of your actions. That is cause for concern, and probably for professional counseling. Further, you had a similar story about your emotional concerns over STD risk and fear of seeing doctors about STD in another thread 6 months ago.
Anyone who says "I seriously need help" clearly does need it. That is the only health problem reflected in your questions; STDs are not. Please bite the bullet and see your primary care provider, ask about the oral sore, but also be up front about the obvious emotional problem; and then follow the advice you are given, including professional mental health care if your provider suggests it.
I hope this helps. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
Syphilis could cause a primary lesion (called a chancre) on the tongue, and could be acquired by oral sex. But it's still not an issue for you. Syphilis is an uncommon disease, with only around 20,000 cases per year in the entire US, most of them in gay men. More important, it is not possible for a syphlitic chancre to develop while taking the antibiotics you have had. Most cases would be prevented by azithromycin (Zithromyax) and all cases would be aborted with with doxycycline. At this point, there is no need even to test for syphilis.
Could your tongue sore be another STD, such as herpes? Conceivably, but unlikely. However, the only way to know is to see a provider. You simply cannot get definitive answers by this forum or from any other online source.
This forum absolutely stays away from moral judgments about people's sexual behaviors (as long as there is no potential overt harm to another person). I do not judge your your actions and therefore do not disapprove them. However, you obviously disapprove of your actions. That is cause for concern, and probably for professional counseling. Further, you had a similar story about your emotional concerns over STD risk and fear of seeing doctors about STD in another thread 6 months ago.
Anyone who says "I seriously need help" clearly does need it. That is the only health problem reflected in your questions; STDs are not. Please bite the bullet and see your primary care provider, ask about the oral sore, but also be up front about the obvious emotional problem; and then follow the advice you are given, including professional mental health care if your provider suggests it.
I hope this helps. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
