What are the chances???

[justasking324]

Hello,

I wa just wondering if you can give me soe insight in to my current situation....I hadreceived oral sex from a women approx a year ago and I had 2 HIV test done at 3 months and 9 months but nver thought too much about other more common STD's now I am in a bit of a panic!.  So I went to my doctor and he said I did not need STD test as I have not had any symptoms...although I can remeber a time were I think my testcle hurt for a couple of days i cannot remeber too much but I never went to a doctor so it was probably not that bad other than that I hve had no symptoms what so ever so here are my questions...

1) Do you agree with my doctor or is he just not up to speed on STD's?

2) Could one be infected for a year and not know it?

3) I have also read some threads that you mention most infections would clear up by themselves is this true?

4) I also had a swollen saliva gland 6 months ago and my doctor gave me antibiotics (I think it was amoxicillian I took it 3 times a day and the dose was 500mg.  Would this do anything?

5) I have read in many differnet websites (including the Body) which I think is a good one also that STD testing is usually not required after such incident if there is no symptoms are present...do you agree?.

6) Are symptoms of STD's that I could get from this noticable or is the dripping so little and the burning is slight that it can go unnoticed?

Thank you for your time

[Edward W Hook, MD]

It depends on the infection.  10% of men with gonorrhea are asymptomatic.  For chlamydia the figure is close to 40% - chlmydia is irrelevant for you since you do not get it from receipt of ora sex.  For NGU, signs or symptoms are part of the definition.  EWH

[justasking324]

Thank you for your answer...just a quick follow up then I will give it a rest!!...How often do you see test positive for std's like clymidia , gonnerea and NGU and have no symptoms ?...what percentage of men do not develop symptoms?...when a person has a urine test for something unrelated to std's would they not see an infection in the way of WBC or RBC?.  Thanks

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Your risk from the outset is very low.  Oral sex is an inefficient way to transmit STDs.  Of the bacterial STDs only gonorrhea and nongonococal 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.   If you had gotten gonorrhea or NGU you would have most likely developed symptoms of urethritis (penile infection).  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, you had a single exposure; I would urge you not to worry. If you must, you could go to your local STD clinic or health care provider to be tested at this time.  As for your specific questions:

1.  STDs can be asymptomatic but most in men do cause symptoms. The symptoms may be mild and unnoticed but from the sounds of things, it sounds as though if you'd had even mild symptoms you would have pursued them.
2.  Very, very rarely.
3.  Related to 2 above, yes, most bacterial STDs will cure themselves over time.
4.  It might cure gonorrhea.  Little effect on nongonococal urethritis if it were present.
5.  In your specific situation, I see no reason for testing.
6.  It of course depends on your own perceptions but in most cases the symptoms are noticed but ignored.  Sounds like that is not your problem.

Hope this helps.  I suspect you have nothing to worry about.  EWH