Unprotected Oral Sex Left Some Worry

[Alittleworried380]

I am a 24 year old male. For the past four years i have been in a monogamous relationship and had no signs or symptoms of any STD's, and was even tested for HIV, which came back negative. She and I ended our relationship in March, and since then I had remained abstinent. About seven days ago i met a woman whose sexual status/history I am unaware of. After some light kissing she gave me unprotected oral sex for somewhere around 6 minutes. I did not ejaculate into her mouth nor was there any other type of intercourse that took place. Yesterday, about 5 days after this, the tip of my penis has started to have a sort of stinging discomfort in it from time to time. I find myself going to the bathroom somewhat more frequently. It does not burn when I urinate, only just a stinging discomfort after and other times randomly throughout the day. I have no visual symptoms of anything wrong with my genital area, no red marks, abrasions, lesions, discharge etc. I have read on the internet that the chances of contracting such diseases as Gonhorrea, Syphilis, Herpes  etc. through oral sex is actually quite high, is this true? If so do you believe that there is a good chance that I may have caught something of that nature from this woman? Should i be worried about this? Is unprotected oral sex really that un-safe? What are the chances if she had something that i would catch it from her through an Oral medium? I would appreciate any information or advice you can give me on the topic. Thanks!

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Chances are your partner did not have any STD. Most people do not.  Even if she did however, oral sex is an inefficient way to transmit STDs.  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.   Even if your partner had an STD (any STD and it is likely she did not), most exposures do not lead to infection.  In your case, the symptoms you report are somewhat suggestive of NGU and it may be worthwhile to go on and get checked by a health care professional (your doctor or your local STD clinic). There you can be tested for NGU and gonorrhea.  This is done by taking either a swab specimen from your penis or collecting the very first portion of a urine specimen for testing (it is best if you have not urinated for an hour or more before testing).  

If these tests are negative, then perhaps this is a manifestation of guilt and anxiety.  Sometimes after an exposure that, in retrospect, one wishes they had not had, persons tend to examine themselves and be far more attuned to genital sensations than in periods when they are not concerned.  This in turns leads to noticing what turn out to be normal sensations that might have been not noticed or ignored at other times.  Perhaps this was a contributor to your situation.  

Hope this helps.  EWH

[Alittleworried380]

This is the eighth day after the exposure, and still no pain while urinating and the random penis tip pain seems to be going away/lessening. Do you believe it still to be worthwhile to get tested? Or does this sound like just anxiety? Is contracting NGU or Gonorrhea through oral sex common?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Contracting NGU or gonorrhea throguh oral sex is not common.  As for the need for evaluation, I cannot judge this.  Your risks are low but you need to decide if you want to just wait this out ( a perfectly logical plan) or to get tested.  Your risk of STD however is low.  EWH

[Alittleworried380]

I just returned from a health care provider. I explained the situation above to them. I returned a perfectly normal urine test. They swabed the opening to my penis with two swabs, one thin, and one bigger. Then they performed a rectal exam. What exactly will these tests tell them/ what are they looking for? Thanks so much for all the advice and help.

[Alittleworried380]

Also is it normal to have increased pain while urinating after the uthereal swab test?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

The answers to your question are at the end of the first paragraph of my first answer to you.  The swabs were probably for NGU, gonorrhea and chalmydia.  The urine test helps to rule out the possibility of NGU.  I suspect the other tests will be negative indicating that the sensations you are experiencing are not due to STD.

The rectal exam may have been a test for prostate infection.

It is normal to have discomfort on voiding after swab tests are taken.  It will pass.

I find myself wondering why you did not ask the health care providers who did your tests what they were testing for.  After all, it is your health.  EWH