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discharge & testing
Heterosexual male that had sex with a woman of unknown sexual background. At 6 and 12 weeks tested negatively for hsv2, syphilis, ghonorreah , hiv, hep and chlamydia. Used an anonymous online service, tstd.org. They use Quest labs. Symptoms came and went, was told is was anxiety and regret.My questions: (1) Is a service such as tstd.org reliable as to posting accurate results?
(2) I'm almost certain that at 6 weeks, and now months later, I'm having some sort of discharge from my penis, as well as sporadic discomfort in the penis. I suspect the discharges, both day and night, due to unusual stains (whitish rings) in the front of my undershorts. Once, I noticed a whitish substance mixed with my urine in a toilet, but it was an office toilet and I don't know if I might have urinated into something that was already there. Not sure. Are discharges noticeable? If not an STD (despite the results) what could be causing this? I do not want to see my doctor as family and friends use the same practice. Thanks for any help or advice.
(2) I'm almost certain that at 6 weeks, and now months later, I'm having some sort of discharge from my penis, as well as sporadic discomfort in the penis. I suspect the discharges, both day and night, due to unusual stains (whitish rings) in the front of my undershorts. Once, I noticed a whitish substance mixed with my urine in a toilet, but it was an office toilet and I don't know if I might have urinated into something that was already there. Not sure. Are discharges noticeable? If not an STD (despite the results) what could be causing this? I do not want to see my doctor as family and friends use the same practice. Thanks for any help or advice.
Doctor Handsfield -- Thank you for your prompt and thorough reply. I've been concerned about this for a quite a while now. I thought I had put it behind me (difficult, I'm not proud of myself right now) when the sporadic discomfort and stains returned after 3 months. With confidence that it is not an STD, I'll see my regular doctor and hope for the best. You provide a valuable service.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
You can be pretty sure you have no STD from the events 12+ weeks ago. I know nothing about the performance or reliability of tstd.org or any other online testing service, but Quest is a reliable laboratory using up to date technologies. The negative results even once, let alone twice, should be highly reliable.
As far as your possible discharge is concerned, I cannot confirm from your description whether or not anything abnormal is going on. Some men occasionally have increased mucus production, and others may notice pre-ejaculate fluid. For example, nocturnal erections--which are normal whenever dreaming occurs--can result in pre-ejaculate fluid that might be noticed on arising in the morning, or might stain pajamas or sheets. Six weeks is too long for most STDs to show up with such symptoms, and the negative gonorrhea and chlamydia results rule out those problems.
The only answer is for you to see a health care provider. Your local STD clinic would be a good choice if you don't have a primary provider, or if you're not confident s/he is up to speed on STDs. Wherever you go, plan on not urinating for at least 4-5 hours before you are examined, so you don't wash out any possibly abnormal discharge, so the provider can see what's going on.
Final editorial comment: These issues reflect some of the reasons I recommend against self-testing through online services. First, in the absence of symptoms you probably didn't need all those tests; an STD-knowledgeable provider could have told you which ones were appropriate, i.e. not HIV, hepatitis, chlamydia, or HSV-2, since the only unprotected exposure was oral and carried not risk for those infections. Second, you probably paid a fair amount, whereas the necessary tests probably would have been insurance covered if ordered by a provider (or free at your health department). Third, as you have found, you didn't save anything from the standpoint of direct health care. You still need to see a doctor.
In any case, I doubt you have anything that will likely harm you or a future sex partner. But you need to get direct care to know for sure.
Best wishes--- HHH, MD
As far as your possible discharge is concerned, I cannot confirm from your description whether or not anything abnormal is going on. Some men occasionally have increased mucus production, and others may notice pre-ejaculate fluid. For example, nocturnal erections--which are normal whenever dreaming occurs--can result in pre-ejaculate fluid that might be noticed on arising in the morning, or might stain pajamas or sheets. Six weeks is too long for most STDs to show up with such symptoms, and the negative gonorrhea and chlamydia results rule out those problems.
The only answer is for you to see a health care provider. Your local STD clinic would be a good choice if you don't have a primary provider, or if you're not confident s/he is up to speed on STDs. Wherever you go, plan on not urinating for at least 4-5 hours before you are examined, so you don't wash out any possibly abnormal discharge, so the provider can see what's going on.
Final editorial comment: These issues reflect some of the reasons I recommend against self-testing through online services. First, in the absence of symptoms you probably didn't need all those tests; an STD-knowledgeable provider could have told you which ones were appropriate, i.e. not HIV, hepatitis, chlamydia, or HSV-2, since the only unprotected exposure was oral and carried not risk for those infections. Second, you probably paid a fair amount, whereas the necessary tests probably would have been insurance covered if ordered by a provider (or free at your health department). Third, as you have found, you didn't save anything from the standpoint of direct health care. You still need to see a doctor.
In any case, I doubt you have anything that will likely harm you or a future sex partner. But you need to get direct care to know for sure.
Best wishes--- HHH, MD
I failed to mention -- urination is normal and painless. The activity was unprotected fellatio and protected vaginal sex. The discomfort is at the head and tip of penis. The activity took place in the fall of last year. I thought I was over it, but the symptoms returned recently causing much stress.
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
