Covering the bases.

[tafaro1234]

Doctors,

I would like your opinion so I can move on.

I had a onetime encounter of Unprotected Vaginal Sex.

I had a Dna/PCR prior to 21 days; I think it was 18 or 19 days.

I just had blood work at my GP done at 20 weeks past the encounter.

HIV
Hep A,B,C
RPT

HSV 1 >5.00
HSV 2 <0.06

Gon, Chlamydia negative (This was done at around the two week mark)

1) As far as Hiv, I see that no further testing should be done.(Base on your opinions)
2) I understand Hep C is not generally a sexually transmitted disease. Do you think any additional testing should be done at some point down the road to confirm?
3) RPT conclusive at this point?
4) Hsv2, I don’t feel completely comfortable,that I am in the clear, what’s you opinion?
5) Hpv I have no clue, I guess time will tell(I guess Gardisil shots at this point is useless)


I had Anxiety and I associate that with the tingling that I had, but I am currently running a bit of low temperature in the   97.6 range. Is this any concern with any of the above?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

One of the points I tried to convey above (and consistently for several years on this forum) is that the sexual health world is less "scary" than one might assume from media attention and the tone and style of health education these days.  Common sense precautions are, well, common sense -- and I would encourage you to use condoms for new or non-monogamous partnerships.  But overall the risks are lower than you apparently fear.

[tafaro1234]

It's a scary world out there. I appreciate the reassurance.

Thank you doctor for your help.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Welcome to the forum and thanks for your question.  I also reviewed the discussion you had on the community forum.  I can confirm the accurate responses you had there.

The risk of any STD from any single episode of unprotected sex almost always is low, and it usually doesn't require testing as extensively as you had.  The large majority of even the highest risk partners (e.g., commercial sex workers, bar pick-ups) don't have STDs; and all STDs are transmitted inefficiently -- i.e. most unprotected exposures to infected partners doesn't result in disease transmission.

To your specific questions:

1) I agree.

2) Agree; no testing was warranted at all for hep C and certainly no further testing is necessary.

3) I think you mean RPR (for syphilis) not "RPT".  It is conclusive.

4) The odds of HSV-2 from any single exposure like this are no higher than one in a few thousand.  Combining that with lack of HSV symptoms plus the blood test result, you can be 100% confident you didn't cathc HSV-2.

5) You'll never know whether or not you acquried HPV from this event.  Most infections never cause symptoms and this are never diagnosed.  In the event you ever develop genital warts, or if a future partner has an abnormal pap smear, you'll never know when and from what exposure the infection was acquired.  And it doesn't matter.  Assuming you weren't a virgin before this event, and will have future sexual experiences as well, you can be confident you have been or will be infected with HPV, probably more than once.  You are correct that Gardasil won't protect you from HPV from your exposure 20 weeks ago, but all sexually active young persons (under 26) should be immunized for protection against the 4 most worrisome HPV strains.

Finally, your temperature isn't low at all.  98.6 is only the average normal temperature; everybody's temperature fluctuates naturally from ~97 to ~99.5.  Anxiety has no effect on body temperature.

I hope this helps you move on.  You obviously are somewhat obsessed by a sexual experience you regret.  You'll have to deal with that aspect, but you can entirely dismiss any STD consequences.  There were none.

Best wishes--  HHH, MD