persistant burning

[xr]

I am 24 yrs old and back in march 2005 i had unprotected sex with a girl i did not know. The following week out of my own paranoia i went to the local docs to get checked out no symptoms at this stage. he did a urine test for for chlamydia gonn gave me to single tablets all tests came back neg. Two weeks later began to get soreness in the left testical no soreness when urinating or discharge went to the docs again this time my normal doc who sent me off for more test urine first catch mid and swabs plus blood tests, he also gave doxy for a week i think, all tests again came back neg. Pain was still there so i went back had an ultrasound all normal i also had a couple more scripts of antibiotics i cant remember what ones but nothing really seattled it.
Now fast forward to September 05 i am on holidays in america and i have met a new girlfriend i still have some discomfort but when i start having sex again it comes back but this time with burning urination and slight discharge sex was with a condom but not for oral. Go to doc in New York he suspect nsu takes a urine sample plus blood again he give me another dose of antibiotics for a week all  tests neg again including nsu. Symptoms get slightly better but not really Girlfriend goes to docs they test her all neg and give her 2 tablets after she was treated  symptoms continue  fly back to aus see my doc he gives me a 6 week course of doxy clears discharge but does not stop slight burning as soon as course is finished gets slightly worse i am back in america now and girlfriend and i did have unprotected sex a couple of times (drunk) still getting slight burning get another 6 week course still no change. Sent to urologist who does a cyscoscopy and says all is clear told nothing more can be done and to wait things out

*Is there anything you would recommend that i do.

*My concern is that i have passed something on to my girlfriend and we keep rinfecting each other is that possible after all the meds plus her being treated.

*Is there a chance of long term damage or will this just gradually ease.

*what else could cause this when it did start was milking penis allot to see if any discharge

Anyway any thoughts would be greatly appreciated i am mainly concerned for my girl and thankyou for all your help this is a great service.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I would like to help.  But you should know that most STD experts aren't knowledgeable for syndromes like yours.  That's because it is clear that they never are due to STD. In my clinic, we refer men with similar complaints to urologists.  But as both an STD and infectious diseases specialist, I can say that after the negative tests plus the treatements you have had, you can be 100% certain no STD is causing your symptoms and that you have nothing you can transmit to a partner or that will cause any sort of harm to you in the long run. Although unproved, it's a good bet that lots of people (maybe most?) with such symptoms have some sort of inflammatory reaction going on, but not an infection.  Often there is an emotional component, but that's impossible for me to judge.  The urologist is exactly right:  sit tight, wait things out, and anticipate that your symptoms will gradually fade. But truly, you can relax about both the effects on your health and your partner's.

Best wishes--  HHH, MD

[freekedguy]

this is interesting because i just got testicle pain to. and i had chyl, gonn, hep b and syph urinalysis just 2 weeks ago. the only possible exposure to anything was 7 months ago (unprotected oral for 5 secs).

the doc says probably epiditimitis. but i can't figure out why.
i don't understand why they can't figure this stuff out.

:(

[Imdumb]

My right nut has ached for years.  I have had several tests of chl, gonorrhea and every type of infection, all negative. I took all kinds of antibiotics.  It comes and goes.  I found when I didn't' carry my wallet in my back pocket it was a bit better.

I did some research and it seems that unexplained off and on ball pain in pretty common and no one has an answer.   If tests are negative for STD's, believe it and move one.  I have just decided to live with it.

[XKIVEL]

I am not a doctor or anything, but when i decided to take a vacation down to Mexico. I had a little bit of discomfort on my penis urethra. It burned it didnt, itch or i didnt saw no redness. I was tired of going from doctor to doctor with no answers to my problem. My like you guys started out of nowhere. I believe the last time i had unproctected sex was on OCT of 2004 and my burning started on DEC 12, 2005. I went to the clinic all test came back negative. But Like i was saying this doctor from Mexico gave me a soap that is call cetaphil, and a lotion that is call Baycuten. So i said to my self this thing aint going to work. But believe after i started using the soap and the lotion. It got a lot better. I think you should ask a doctor for the lotion, the soap you can preety much buy it at any drug store. GOOD LUCK

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

It is a fact of life that human beings get various aches and pains.  Out of the blue, knee pain, a headache, abdominal discomfort, a stich in the side, tingling down a leg.  Sometimes such problems are continuing or recurrent, yet no specific cause ever is found and clearly no important infection or disease is present.

Why should the genital area be any different? Not every symptom means disease.  People with such symptoms of course should see a health care provider.  But when a comprehensive evaluation comes up with no good explanation for genital symptoms, and if they persist after treatment of the potential infectious causes, it is wrong to assume a serious health problem.  Just as some people have to learn to live with unexplained but benign headaches or abdominal pain, others have to live with unexplained genital symptoms.

But our genitals have a special place in our psyches, and unexplained discomfort can be harder to ignore than for a joint or even the head.  But the principle holds.  It's fine to look for harmless things that might help control symptoms.  But potentially harmful treatments (e.g., repeated high doses of antibiotics, potent pain controllers) make no sense, and doctor-shopping (or internet shopping) for different answers generally is fruitless.

Best wishes to all-- HHH, MD