Worried sick of all STDS

Dear Doctor,

Thanks for taking time out of your busy life to help those in need as well as people like me that are probably freaking out about nothing after encounters of the sexual kind.
I am a 20 yr old medical student and I had a run-in with a high risk woman while i was in the Caribbean a month ago. I wore a condom, and I felt that I was safe from infection. But the following day I experienced an itch and slight inflammation of the frenulum of my penis and very tiny red spots (1mm diameter, circular in shape and raised. Since then I have been worried sick that the condom i used (which was given to me by this woman) was tainted or that it did not work. I had brief (5 min) vaginal intercourse, then oral sex (10 minutes). I am uncircumsized, so I am hoping that this swelling is due to a pull or a tear from the foreskin (mine is not  easily retractable) but I just  don't know. The inflammation has persisted for a month and during this time i've had symptoms of night sweats, pain in lower back, headache, maybe some swollen lymph nodes (i don't know what they feel like, i've only been sick like 4 times in my life) and a few pimples on my chest, back, and arms. I know these symptoms are very general, but please tell me if testing is warrented for HIV or any other std.
I will make a donation as soon as i get a check and I hope to be even half the compassionte doctor you are.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Thanks for your kind comments about the Forum.  No donation needed!

Indeed, your symptoms are very general.  I certainly don't think the night sweats, back pain, headache, or acne are related--except to the extent they can be due to anxiety, which you clearly are experiencing.

Hard to say much about the penile problem.  Onset of irritation the next day is too soon for any STD, but could be due to allergy or irritation from the condom itself (latex allergy) or lubricant, especially if it contained a spermicide such as nonoxynol-9.  I'm not sure what you mean by fearing that the condom "did not work".  If it didn't break, the barrier was intact; no viruses or bacteria can pass through the latex of an intact condom.  I would sit tight (no pun intended); don't be tempted to continually recheck for irritation, which can cause persisting symptoms itself; and see a health care provider (e.g., dermatologist) if the problem continues.

This doesn't sound at all like HIV, nor would a single heterosexual exposure (especially with an intact condom) be likely to result in transmission, even if your partner is HIV positive.  And HIV is very rarely acquired by oral sex.

Good luck--   HHH, MD