concerned

[concerned00001]

Dr,
This is my first time on this site and want to say that it is amazing how much time and effort is put into it.  I have read all the post about oral sex and realize that it is a low risk exposure even close to zero for HIV.

My scenario:  received licking of penis and tip(tip may have entered mouth once very briefly) from a 41yr old married lady from California on a bachelor party. We kissed but I know from your post that carries no risk)  The next day, I developed a sore throat and head cold. I was given clarithromycin(biaxin) 1000mg/day for 7 days.  I have read on some of the post that it will cure/prevent gon.,syphilis,chlamydia and NGU because it is similar to a Z-pack and then on others that there may be some problems.  I started the pills the day after exposure and have been taking them for 4 days.  I have not had any sexual contact with my fiance.

Can you clarify and also recommend what i should do?

Thanks!

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

HPV is rarely if ever transmitted by oral sex and I have never heard of a penile wart acquired from oral exposure.  Also, warts usually are not soft, and 6 weeks is a bit too soon.  See a health care provider if you remain concerned, but this lesion probably has nothing to do with the sexual exposure described above.  

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Welcome to the forum and thanks for the kind comments about it.

You have correctly predicted my reaction to the exposure itself.  It was essentially zero risk for any STD.

Clarithromycin is essentially the same antibiotic as azithromycin (Z-pack) -- different dosing etc, but bioloigically identical in its activity against various bacteria.  It protected you against all the STDs you mention, especially in the realtively high dose you are taking.  (I'm skeptical you needed the drug for your cold -- it  seems an example of over-prescription of antibiotics for viral infections, a major problem in American medicine; unless your doctor had a strong suspicion you had a strep throat, I cannot condone his prescribing an antibiotic, even if you requested it.  But this off topic for this forum, of some importance to infectious diseases specialists like me, but I'm not inviting ongoing discussion about it.)

I recommend you do nothing more about your sexual exposure.  If I were in your position, I would never stop having unprotected sex with my wife, with or without the antibiotic treatment.

Regards--  HHH, MD

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I agree 100%.  Just put this whole business behind you and stop worrying about it.

[concerned00001]

Just wanted to let you know that my local doctor said that he could not diagnose the lesion because it was no longer there.  He advised that I do nothing more about this exposure.  He said that STD lesions do not appear over night, get scratched off and heal within a day or so.  He said that I could safely resume sex with my fiance without any testing or worry.   I hope you agree.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

No.

As I suggested, see a doctor or clinic.  If they diagnose an STD, I might have another comment -- but otherewise that will be all for this thread.

[concerned00001]

Could syphilis or herpes be the cause?  

[concerned00001]

I would also like to add that this lesion was not present before Friday maybe Thursday at the earliest because after the above event, I have been paying close attention to any changes.

Thanks

[concerned00001]

Doctor,

Sorry for the delay in response but my concerns were at ease until Friday evening(6 weeks after the above event) when I discovered a raised flesh color bump on the side of my penis shaft.  I immediately thought it was a skin tag.  I picked at it once and it fell off only bleeding slightly and was completely healed Saturday.  I know you cannot diagnose without physically seeing the lesion but could this have possibly been a wart caused by HPV?  I do not want to give my fiance anything.  I have been completely faithful our entire relationship of 2years until the last event.  Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!