The odds of catching any STD are very low. Wait 10-14 days. If in that time you don't develop symptoms (abnormal discharge from the penis, genital blisters/sores), you can be pretty sure you weren't infected with anything. But if you remain nervous, you could visit your local health department STD clinic for testing. Urine testing for gonorrhea and chlamydia is accurate within a few days; blood tests for syphilis and HIV need to be done at 6 weeks or later. Herpes testing makes no sense and I recomnmend against it in this circumstance.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
Why does Herpes testing make no sense? For some reason, that's what I am most worried about.
Because the only virus you could catch from oral sex is HSV-1. But half the population has that virus, so there is a 50:50 chance you will have a positive test result--and it won't mean you caught it from the oral sex event. And if you don't develop typical symptoms, the chance you caught HSV is very low anyway. Forget it.
I know you get a lot of paranoid people on this forum (you do a great service by the way), but when you say the chance of getting HSV is low is there any way to put a number on it? less that 5%?
Thanks Doc
There are no data. Surely much less than 1% chance.
Doc,
It has been almost a month since I last posted. I don't think I have had any real symptoms of anything. Last weekend, however, my wife and I had sex. She later told me that towards the end of our romp it began to get very painful for her. This is not uncommon. We were going at it for awhile and I suspect she "dried" up a little. She was a little sore for a few days afterward and had a little discharge. I noticed a couple of days afterward that I had three tine (1mm) red dots just under my head but above my foreskin (I am circumcised). 4 days later, the dots have all but disappeared.
My wife started spotting this morning. About four-five days before her period was supposed to start. I have been fixated on my genitals and am constantly aware of them. I wouldn't say there is any itching, I just am "aware" of that area. We did have sex last night and she said it hurt her when I was all the way in. She chalked it up to being sore from our last encounter (we had not had sex since the previous encounter mentioned above which was about a week ago). Some searching on the internet said that painful intercourse was a sign of an STD. I am worried that my symptoms are a sign of an STD and that hers are indication that I passed her some thing. Am I out of my mind?
Not herpes.
Use a little common sense when you read symptoms on the internet.* Painful sex due to STD occurs when there are already genital sores or internal inflammation, like in the uterus or fallopian tubes. Pain after vigorous sex obviously is irrelevant.
* Better yet, stop searching the internet for bad news.
You and your wife should see a health care provider if you remain concerned about any of your symptoms. I will have no further opinion or advice for you.
Doc,
Quick question. I have tried to search your previous posts but have not found any information. What is the risk of catching syphilis via oral sex. (no symptoms for 6 weeks now).
Thanks