Worried

I received a phone call today from someone I had sex with about 4-5 months ago. We had unprotected sex I believe 2 times. Neither of us had any diseases to our knowledge at the time. I personally had never been tested but after being married 10 years I started dating and had several partners in the last year prior to meeting this person. In the phone call today, he said that he had met someone after me (which would be in the last 4 months)and she went to the Dr. yesterday because she had symptoms of pelvic pain and was tested for I believe chlamydia /gonorrhea. He asked if I got tested, or recommended I do. Currently I have no symptoms, he has no symptoms. Ironically I just had my annual pap test this week and requested those tests be done. (before I got this call). My question I guess is...could I have had something back when I was with him, neither of us have symptoms, and now 4 months later him pass it on to her? I also am having bloodwork done for HIV/Hep testing aside from this. I have been very active sexually since becoming single this last year and I am very worried. I have 2 small kids and I regret the decisions of having unprotected sex with too many (5 or 6) partners this last year. I am also now seeing someone new (for the last 4 months) and want to make sure he is OK too. I need som e peace of mind, although maybe the only way to get that is getting all of my test results.
Thanks in advance.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Good for your former partner for being responsible.  Many people in his situation, especially men, don't bother to contact past partners; since there is a chance he was infected when you were together, it is good you were given the opportunity to know about it--and clearly you were at high risk.  But it's also possible that his new partner brought the infection into their relationship, or perhaps he had other partners since you that he didn't tell you about.

Even if your current test results are negative, you probably should be treated with drugs active against both gonorrhea and chlamydia.  This is a judgment call, and may not be necessary; you should discuss it with your doctorr and follow his/her advice.  But the tests are not perfect, especially 4-6 months after infection, and with 5-6 partners in the past year, you were at quite high risk for both these STDs.  To be completely safe, it wouldn't be a bad idea for your new partner to be tested; but he does not need treatment if your tests and his all are negative.

Every sexually active young woman, especially under age 25, should be tested for common STDs at least once a year--so keep up that habit!

Good luck--- HHH, MD