Very worried...info and opinions required

Question

Ok, first of all thanks for reading this and i appreciate your time

I first noticed yesterday that it felt like the there may be liquid coming from the tip of my penis. I felt this throughout the day, but know actual discharge appeared. The only thing i noticed was the opening to my urethra was wet with what looked like a clear liquid, but i assume this is normal, as it did not leave my penis, and there was only a very small amount (i am assuming that the urethra would always be slightly wet?).

This afternoon, i have began to notice a slight stinging pain at the tip of my penis, which occurs on and off. it is not particularly painful, but it is noticeable.

I am early 20's and have only had 2 sexual partners. The first was about a year ago, and we did have unprotected sex, however i had an STI test (urine and blood) at my GUM clinic about 4 months later and was all clear.

I have not had unprotected sex with my second partner at all (we have always used a condom).

I am very worried about this, and am looking for some advice as to what could be causing it.

Is it likely to be sexually transmitted, given my sexual history and that i had a STI test done after the unprotected sex? How accurate are the STI checks?

Also, for a while now i have been using ordinary bubble-bath (the type that is diluted to make bubbles in the bath) as shower gel, including washing my penis and underneath my foreskin. Could this be causing the problem, even though i have been doing this for several months?

I was worrying about this a lot last night and today. I feel that i may be over-reacting to this, which may possibly be causing the pain to worsen.

Thanks in advance for any replies to this, as stated i am really worried!!!

Jimmy

auntiejessi · Answer

I don't know much about it, but we have a kidney disorders forum here that might be able to help.

Aj

localjimmy29 · Answer

Ok, thanks again for your time auntiejessi.

I will just have to wait for my test results to come back and hopefully everything should be ok.

I got the results from my GP today and they came back as clear.
Another 11 days untill i get the STI results though :(.

I know that i am very low risk for STI's etc, but i cannot stop worrying about them.

One further thought (sorry to keep asking you questions), i have a history of polycystic kidney disease in my family. I have been screened for this throughout my life, and have always been clear. Do you know much about the disease at all? and if so, could that be a possible cause ( i really hope it isn't)? 

thanks again,
Jimmy

auntiejessi · Answer

Well, I can only tell you what I tell everyone - if you have symptoms, you should get it checked out.

And I'm sure you are right - a water infection is probably a urinary tract infection or bladder infection.  Now that you say that, it makes sense.  :)

Aj

localjimmy29 · Answer

Thanks for that auntiejessi.

I think by water infection, the doctor probably meant some kind of urine infection?

There does seem to be quite a bit more pre-come than normal, i can feel it in my underwear and on my penis when it is erect.
However it is not like my underwear is coated with it, it is only odd bits.

thanks again for your help.

Jimmy

auntiejessi · Answer

Prostatitis used to be thought of something only "older" men get, but we are seeing more and more of it in younger men.

I'm not sure what the water infection you refer to is.  

I don't think having more pre-come is a sign of anything, unless its significantly more.

Aj

localjimmy29 · Answer

Thanks again for the reply Auntiejessi.

I know there is nothing i can do now but wait. I should get the results from my doctors urine test tomorrow. I am kind of hoping that it shows up a water infection or something like that, as then i could stop worrying about the STD test results, which i may not get for another 12days.

All of my symptoms have more or less stopped now... i still have the occasion warm feeling at the tip of my penis, however it is almost un-noticable now.
The only thing i have noticed is that i seem to be getting more discharge than normal when i have an erection (by discharge, i mean pre-come, if that is the right word?). This seems to be happening even if there is no sexual contact at all, ie. if i have an erection, but it is not touched etc.)
I have never seen anything that would relate that to an STD, is it a common symptom for any of them?
I have also seen in another post that it could be licked to prostatitis. could that be a likely cause of what i have been experiencing, given that i am in my early 20's?

Again, thank you for taking the time to advise me on this, and I am sorry for all the questions. 

Thanks,
Jimmy

auntiejessi · Answer

Rohan - 

If you haven't been tested, you need to be.  Your symptoms are not normal.

Aj

Rohan22 · Answer

Don't think too much about it. Today I have been feeling really better than previous days. I can urinate just as normal without burn or anything, but one thing I want to get rid off is from the SMELL... I hope You know what I am talking about....

auntiejessi · Answer

It could be just irritation from the swab.  I wouldn't overly worry about it for now.

Unfortunately, all you can do now is wait.  If your symptoms worsen, don't hesitate to go back to the doctor in the meantime.

Aj

localjimmy29 · Answer

Thanks for the reply, that helped ease my mind before the test this morning.
My doctor did a urine test, but said he wasn't sure if it would be tested for DTI's, and to get a separate test done if i wanted to put my mind at rest.

I went for the test today, and the Dr examined my genitals, and took a swab, as well as a urine and blood sample.
From her examination, the dr said there was not much discharge (enough to worry her anyway).
The swab was taken from the inside of my urethra (which was not a pleasant feeling), and she looked at the swab with a microscope for signs of infection whilst i waited. She said that there were no signs of any infection on my swab, but they had to send off the urine sample to be certain, which would take up to two weeks to come back. I assume that, given the dr's analysis and the information i have given previously, i am pretty much certain to be clear of any STI??

The doctor did say that she found a small amount of blood in my urine, which could be caused simply by her taking the swab, or by something like a water infection.
However, this afternoon i have had a small amount of discharge from my penis, which showed on my underwear, and seemed to be clear. There was only a small amount in my boxers, however underneath my foreskin was quite wet. Is this likely to be my penis' reaction to the swab being taken, or could it be something more serious?

I know that no-one will be able to give me a definite answer, but a two week wait for the test results will be difficult as i am still quite worried, so any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again for all your replies,

Jimmy

auntiejessi · Answer

Jimmy - Frequent urination is not usually a symptom for men.  No, you can't get an std from a toilet seat, etc.

Getting tested is a good idea, but hasn't your doc already done these tests?

Rohan22 · Answer

I have the same feeling. I even asked a friend of mine today at work. He said he had the same feelings like you and I after he had sex without condom with his girlfriend. He said it happens for a while and then goes away.

localjimmy29 · Answer

Thanks again for your replies.

I have today made an appointment with my local GUM clinic, and will be screened tomorrow. I made this decision because, although i am quite sure i do not have an STD, i want to be absolutely sure, so i do not put myself at risk, but more importantly so id do not put my girlfriend at risk.

Over the past few days, i have noticed a need to urinate more often than normal. i understand that this could be a symptom of chlamydia for women, although i have not seen anywhere that says it may happen to men?
Could someone confirm whether this is correct or not for me?

Also, is it likely that a situation as described in my earlier post (with my friend) could transmit a disease? Also, can it be transferred through public toilets etc?

thanks again for all your time, i would really appreciate a reply as i am very worried about tomorrow. 

Jimmy

Rohan22 · Answer

Dude, I have the same feeling these days, I had sex without condom for the first time few days ago. My partner, she said always get tested every six months and she is negative in all things, yet her vagina was too tight for me. I had a hard time sliding my penis. 

The burn on the tip and the hotness during urinating is actually my problem too, its not that strong strong, but irritates me a lot. And sometimes it totally goes away. 

Now since your DOC said its nothing to do with STDs, I am not worried about it. Also, just let you know I had this same feeling several times. Once when I masturbated for long with my SALIVA ( I know sounds disgusting, guys can be pigs), then after that I felt the same thing for at least few days. I think its cause of IMPACT on PENIS, Hard RELEASE OF SPERM. 

There is this plant called in our country "SHEBIT" I don't know whats it called in English. You boil it at night and drink. It looks like "Green Tea".

localjimmy29 · Answer

Thanks for the reply!

I have stopped using soap at all for the moment, and i am cleaning my penis with just clean hot water until i get this sorted out!

so you think that it is unlikely to have caught anything from the situation described above with my friend then? if so, i can basically totally rule out the possibility of an STI, which will be a huge relief!

Thank you again to everyone for the replies, it is helping a lot with my anxiety!

Jimmy

gracefromHHP · Answer

I'd stop using anything but a mild soap on your genital area too.  Some shower gels can be very irritating.

You are having protected sex - no reason to suspect a std is causing this.

grace

localjimmy29 · Answer

I visited my GP this morning, and explained the situation and symptoms to him. He examined me, and said that he didnt think there was anything to be worried about. He said that if it was anything sexually transmitted, then there would normally be some physical symptoms, as a pose to just feeling discomfort/pain.

By this, he meant that if i had chlamydia for example, then there would be noticeable discharge, and not just the feeling of "wetness" that i described.

He said that it could be a few things, such as bladder irritation etc, but would hopefully clear up on it's own given time. 

He took a urine sample from me, and told me that it would be tested for infections in my urine. Would this include any STD's at all, as my doctor did not seem sure?

Also, is it possible to catch things such as chlamydia other than through intercourse? the reason i ask is that a friend of mine has had chlamydia several times, although as far as i am aware he does not have it at the moment. A few weeks ago, he went to the bathroom, and when he returned i shook his hand, as i had not seen him in a while. Shortly after that i went to the bathroom. Would it be possible that if he did not wash his hands, that he passed anything on to me when we shook hands, then i touched my penis when i went to the bathroom?

I would appreciate any replies given to this post. Although my worry has been eased slightly through talking to my doctor,  i am still quite worried at the possibility that i could have caught this via my friend not washing his hands after using the bathroom.

Also, i am in the UK, if that makes any difference to anything.

Thanks again,
Jimmy

localjimmy29 · Answer

Thankyou so much for your reply! I am going to try to get an appointment at my GP this morning, as this is driving me nuts with worry!

As i haven't had unprotected sex since my last STI check, am i right in thinking it would be more or less impossible to have been infected with an STI, or would it be possible to contract one through another means (such as my penis making contact with a public toilet or something)?
Also could it be transmitted through someone with an STD using the bathroom, then making touching my hand, then me using the bathroom?

My reason for asking this is that, having researched several places round the web, my symptoms seem to match those of chlamydia. 

Thanks again for your help Emma.

Jimmy

Emma_08 · Answer

STD tests in general are very accurate.  You can count on your negative results after your unprotected encounters.  If you are experiencing discharge or "wetness" and stinging, you should get this checked out.  It's possible that you have an infection that is not sexually transmitted or maybe nothing at all.  Depending on what your doctor thinks, he/she may want you to get an STD screen just to be sure, and this will probably ease your mind a great deal.  It sounds like your anxiety is also driving some of your symtoms.  Anxiety can be very powerful and magnify normal body sensations.  Basically, the only way you will know what is going on is to see a doctor.  
Good luck,
Em