Searching and worried

[landleg7]

Dear Doctor, one week ago today i had an encounter with a CSW.  There was kissing, then she performed unprotected oral on me for at least 5 to 10 minutes, then condom protected sex with no breakage or slippage at all.  That was the extent of it.  I have suspicions that this 'girl' may have been a transexual just based on her deeper than normal voice and 5'11" height.  Definitely were fake breasts too.  Once i began to have these suspicions i got very turned off and stopped in the middle of it.  

3.5 to 4 days later i developed a sore throat that now 8 days later has not gone away.  It was mild for the first 1 to 2 days and now for 2 days has been pretty bad although i've had worse.  I also noticed just tonight that i have a somewhat swolen and sore to the touch right side of my neck that i am pretty sure is a lymph node.  I am fairly positive that is what it is.  I have NO other symptoms such as rash or fever and nothing abnormal on my penis or coming out of my penis.  I am not overly anxious and just making myself have or notice symptoms.  These are real.

My question is could it be possible that i have contracted some kind of STD with the symptoms i have mentioned?  Is it too early to tell and more possible symptoms may arise a few days later?  I am very worried and concerned.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

That previous sore throats were not associated with obvious lymph node inflammation doesn't mean a thing.  A local reaction to a respiratory virus remains far and away the most likely cause.

"Am i to assume from your answer that if it were you with these symptoms and this situation that you would not go get tested with all the knowledge and experience that you have?"  Absolutely yes.  If I were in your situation, I would rest securely in the knowledge that my symptoms were not due to an STD.  If they had anything to do with the sexual encounter, it's just because you caught a cold from your CSW partner.

That's all for this thread.  See a health care provider if your symptoms persist and you remain concerned.  But truly, it's just a cold.

[landleg7]

Thanks Doctor!  I just have had many sore throats in the past and they have never caused any swolen lymph nodes before.  This is the lymph node on the definite side of the neck by the large muscle / tendon and not the lymph node directly under the cheek bones.  That is what got me more worried.  Am i to assume from your answer that if it were you with these symptoms and this situation that you would not go get tested with all the knowledge and experience that you have?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Very brief replies since the identical quesitons have been asked and answered innumerable times.  (Did you heed the advice to read the Disclaimer message and its advice to read similar threads before asking questions?)

1) Kissing = zero risk for any and all STDs.  2) Protected vaginal = zero risk.  3) Unprotected oral carries small risk for gonorrhea, nongonococcal urethritis (NGU) -- all of which would be expected to cause symptoms if you caught it.  4) No STD causes cold symptoms like you have.

Since you are worried, you could see a health care provider such as your local health department STD clinic.  But all things considered, the chance you caught any STD is very low and your symptoms certainly don't suggest that you did.

Regards--  HHH, MD