Aa
Confused in Canada?
I am a 39 year old white female who had a one time hetero unprotected encounter (40 year old male) that unfortunately I cannot remember because alcohol was involved. Needless to say I am very anxious and worried about the transmission of an STD from this encounter. I went to my doctor on Wednesday (this occured the previous Saturday) so 3-4 days later and she tested me for Chlamidya, gonorrhea and other bacterial Std's. I have read so much conflicting information on the testing window for bacterial std's!! Did I test too soon for an accurate result? Most of the information I can find says 7 days to 14 days or a negative result could be false. The chlamidya test came back negative two days later.....I am still waiting for the others. Also, statistically in my province the rate of chlamidya is 197 cases per 100,000 poplulation and the rate of gonorrhea is 35 cases per 100,000 population. I will test again in two more weeks but can I count on the chlamidya test I had being correct (cervical exam and sample) Do I have much to worry about with Syphilis or HIV? I already have HS2 and no breakout was present at the time. I know having that makes me more susceptible to other infections. I also asked the guy if he had anything and he said he never had. He went for testing also. Any help you can offer would be so appreciated to alleviate some stress:( Thank you so much.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I'm very glad to hear of your high level of responsibility in connection with your herpes. After 15 years, you may not have much asymptomatic shedding, and with Valtrex the chance of transmission is even lower. The likelihood of transmission in this exposure was miniscule. (If I were in your partner's situation, knowing what I know, I wouldn't even get tested.)
Anyway, it's nice to hear that your doctor and I are in agreement on the important points about testing. Try to stay mellow as you await your additional test result; it is very unlikely you caught any STD.
Thanks for your kind words about the forum.
Anyway, it's nice to hear that your doctor and I are in agreement on the important points about testing. Try to stay mellow as you await your additional test result; it is very unlikely you caught any STD.
Thanks for your kind words about the forum.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the STD forum. The bottom lines are that you probably were at low risk for any STD from this encounter; your negative chlamydia test is highly reliable; and you can expect your remaining STD test results to be negative. The main STD risk in this situation was for HSV-2 transmission from you to your partner.
It isn't possible to apply broad statistics about STD rates in the population to your risk of infection from this encounter. Gonorrhea is indeed less likely than chlamydia, but that's about all that can be said. Such broad population rates, across an entire country or province, simply cannot be extrapolated to the city, neighborhood, or individual level.
One very strong factor in your favor: STDs are largely restricted to youth. There are exceptions, of course, but chlamydia is rare in women over 25 and men over 30 years of age; gonorrhea occurs in somewhat older folks, but also is very rare in both men and women over 30-35. And syphilis is virtually nonexistant outside certain restricted populations, including gay/bi men and certain ethnic groups -- e.g. pockets of First Nations Canadians, African Americans in the south and urban areas of the US, Latinos (especially illegal immigrants) in the southwest. (I'm most familiar with US data, but Canada is pretty much the same.) Finally, when a guy is quite certain he doesn't have an STD, usually he is correct. Your partner's willingness to be tested is also a strong indicator that his test results will be negative.
Sometimes too much is made of testing windows. When initial research with a test is done in patients believed to have been infected for, say, 7+ days, regulatory agencies require the test manufacturer to state 7 days as a minimum period for accurate testing. In fact, the test may be perfectly good earlier times that were not studied. The general consensus among STD and diagnosis experts is that chlamydia testing is fully reliable within 3-4 days of catching it. For gonorrhea it's probably even shorter, probably 1-2 days.
As for your HSV-2, it raises the risk of HIV if exposed, but not for any other STDs; and HIV is so unlikely in this situation that it isn't worth another thought. However, your herpes remains a significant issue: by far the highest STD transmission risk in this situation is that you could have transmitted HSV-2 to your partner. As you have been infected for some time, presumably you know that most HSV-2 transmissions occur in the absence of a symptomatic outbreak. That you were not having an outbreak during the sexual exposure does not mean he wasn't at risk. Presumably you have told him of your herpes so he can be aware and be on the lookout for symptoms. At the same time, the chance he was infected was very low -- he shouldn't be highly concerned.
All things considered, this was a very low risk scenario for any and all STDs, with the possible exception of herpes for your partner -- and even that is not a very high risk.
Regards-- HHH, MD
It isn't possible to apply broad statistics about STD rates in the population to your risk of infection from this encounter. Gonorrhea is indeed less likely than chlamydia, but that's about all that can be said. Such broad population rates, across an entire country or province, simply cannot be extrapolated to the city, neighborhood, or individual level.
One very strong factor in your favor: STDs are largely restricted to youth. There are exceptions, of course, but chlamydia is rare in women over 25 and men over 30 years of age; gonorrhea occurs in somewhat older folks, but also is very rare in both men and women over 30-35. And syphilis is virtually nonexistant outside certain restricted populations, including gay/bi men and certain ethnic groups -- e.g. pockets of First Nations Canadians, African Americans in the south and urban areas of the US, Latinos (especially illegal immigrants) in the southwest. (I'm most familiar with US data, but Canada is pretty much the same.) Finally, when a guy is quite certain he doesn't have an STD, usually he is correct. Your partner's willingness to be tested is also a strong indicator that his test results will be negative.
Sometimes too much is made of testing windows. When initial research with a test is done in patients believed to have been infected for, say, 7+ days, regulatory agencies require the test manufacturer to state 7 days as a minimum period for accurate testing. In fact, the test may be perfectly good earlier times that were not studied. The general consensus among STD and diagnosis experts is that chlamydia testing is fully reliable within 3-4 days of catching it. For gonorrhea it's probably even shorter, probably 1-2 days.
As for your HSV-2, it raises the risk of HIV if exposed, but not for any other STDs; and HIV is so unlikely in this situation that it isn't worth another thought. However, your herpes remains a significant issue: by far the highest STD transmission risk in this situation is that you could have transmitted HSV-2 to your partner. As you have been infected for some time, presumably you know that most HSV-2 transmissions occur in the absence of a symptomatic outbreak. That you were not having an outbreak during the sexual exposure does not mean he wasn't at risk. Presumably you have told him of your herpes so he can be aware and be on the lookout for symptoms. At the same time, the chance he was infected was very low -- he shouldn't be highly concerned.
All things considered, this was a very low risk scenario for any and all STDs, with the possible exception of herpes for your partner -- and even that is not a very high risk.
Regards-- HHH, MD
I will always use condoms in the future, and I will always inform potential partners of my HSV-2 status prior to sex....it will be their choice. I know the risk is low and if they truly care for me than it should not be an issue. Unfortunately HSV-2 has such a stigma attached to it in North America even though 1 in 4 women over the age of 35 is infected! I have read horrible things that people have said about herpes, it really is sad. I believe I caught it from my husband when we first started dating, he did not know he had it. I will not let it stop me from living my life, that is why I take precautions and choose to give any future partner a choice. If they don't choose me then it is their loss because they don't understand the risk. I would think they would be at more risk with someone who carries the virus and isn't aware.....they have a one in four shot of that!
Well I do hope I never need to ask another question in this forum again:) But I certainly am grateful for the resource as it is hard to find collective, useful and reliable information on the internet. I have a young daughter and with all that I have learned she will be well educated in safe sex and STD transmission before she starts having sex...in many, many years! Thanks again...No longer confused in Canada:)
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
And one final comment: Having first implied that you might not have been fully responsible with respect to your herpes, I'm now concerned you might have gone overboard in reacting to it. It saddens me when people put unnecessary restriction on their sexuality for fear of either transmitting or catching herpes. Of course you should guard against unsafe lapses as you did this once -- i.e. use condoms. But if you do use condoms consistently and continue to take Valtrex, your HSV-2 really should not seriously limit seeking new relationships, rewarding sex, and the potential for romance. Please think about it.
Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions. I have let the man know of my HS2 status. I also am on Valtrex supressive therapy and was definitely not having an outbreak at the time. I have been aware of my status for 15 years. I have always told a partner of my status before sex! Like I said....both of us were under the influence of alcohol and unfortunately I cannot even remember what happened:( I especially appreciate your insight on the testing window for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea, a local STD clinic insists that you must wait 2 weeks or your test will not be accurate. My physician disagreed and said that because it is a bacteria it is unlikely that it would take that long for a test to detect it because bacteria start to divide as soon as you are infected. Symptoms may take a few weeks, but the infection should be detectable after a few days. I do know my risk is low..but it is hard not to worry when you read so many conflicting things. I am also not married, and I do not engage in casual sex for fear of such transmissions. That is why I am so stressed out about this event as it is out of character for me. This forum is invaluable and you are helping a lot of people....you must feel good about that:) Thank you so very much.....
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.
