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STDs (Expert Forum)
IS IT POSSIBLE?
Answered by
Edward W Hook, MD - HIV Prevention, stds
This forum does not cover AIDS/HIV issues. This forum is for questions and support regarding STD issues such as: Chlamydia, Crabs (pubic lice scabies), Gonorrhea, Hepatitis (viral), Herpes, HPV, Molluscum Contagiosum, PID, Rectal Infections, Syphilis, Trichomonas, Warts, Yeast Infection.
IMPORTANT
This forum is limited to questions about STDs other than HIV/AIDS. For questions about HIV prevention, or if you have general questions about safe sex (e.g., condoms, how to protect yourself from HIV and STDs), please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum
Some of the most common types of questions concern the risk of HIV or STD after a particular sexual exposure, and about symptoms that might or might not be due to HIV. If your question is along these lines, please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum.
This forum is limited to questions about STDs other than HIV/AIDS. For questions about HIV prevention, or if you have general questions about safe sex (e.g., condoms, how to protect yourself from HIV and STDs), please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum
Some of the most common types of questions concern the risk of HIV or STD after a particular sexual exposure, and about symptoms that might or might not be due to HIV. If your question is along these lines, please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum.
IS IT POSSIBLE?
by Anza, Oct 22, 2007 10:49AM
My partner recently found out that she contracted gonorrhea. Is it possible that it was contracted without sexual contact? How?
Additionally - how could I test negative - but she test positive - when we've been intimate together unprotected?
I really need your help / advice on this.... I've heard that this scenario isn't likely - but how would it be possible?
Additionally - how could I test negative - but she test positive - when we've been intimate together unprotected?
I really need your help / advice on this.... I've heard that this scenario isn't likely - but how would it be possible?
Doctor's Answer
by Edward W Hook, MD, Oct 22, 2007 10:07PM
, Oct 22, 2007 10:07PM
To: Anza
Without knowing more about your situations, there are several possible explanations. Before we go there however, let's address your initial question. Gonorrhea is only an infection of humans and almost always spread through sexual contact. Sexual contact however is not limited only to genital-genital contact and includes oral-genital and ano-genital contact.
Most women with gonorrhea and about 10% of men with gonorrhea do not have symptoms of their infection. Thus a person could have gonorrhea and not know it. In addition, not every sexual contact with an infected person leads to transmission of infection. Thus a person can unknowingly have gonorrhea and still not transmit it to partners despite inprtected sexual contact.
Finally, while most tests for gonorrhea are accurate, there are occasional false postive test results (that is the test is positive in persons who do not actually have gonorrhea) which could be the situation in her case or false negative (in which a person has infection but it is not detected by the test) which could be the situation for you. Sorting this out is complex and should be addressed through candid discussions between you and your partner (could this be a result of a prior relationship for either of you) and then discussion of your questions with a trusted physician. I hope this helps. EWH
Most women with gonorrhea and about 10% of men with gonorrhea do not have symptoms of their infection. Thus a person could have gonorrhea and not know it. In addition, not every sexual contact with an infected person leads to transmission of infection. Thus a person can unknowingly have gonorrhea and still not transmit it to partners despite inprtected sexual contact.
Finally, while most tests for gonorrhea are accurate, there are occasional false postive test results (that is the test is positive in persons who do not actually have gonorrhea) which could be the situation in her case or false negative (in which a person has infection but it is not detected by the test) which could be the situation for you. Sorting this out is complex and should be addressed through candid discussions between you and your partner (could this be a result of a prior relationship for either of you) and then discussion of your questions with a trusted physician. I hope this helps. EWH
Member Comments (2)
by jackson0000, Oct 22, 2007 11:12PM
To: Dr. HHH or Dr. Hook
OK, I know I need to stop coming to this message board and I really do not mean to beat a dead horse, but I am freaked out by the differing opinions on gonorrhea (and I dont mean to hijack a thread). I received unprotected oral. No symptoms. Dr. HHH said, in multiple threads, that "you would know it if you had gonorrhea". He also stated that "if you dont have a drip from the penis or discharge, you can be sure you did not catch gonorrhea". Now Dr. Hook is stating that 10% of men with gonorrhea have no symptoms, which I am assuming no discharge. Now, in some instances, 10% is small, but in the case of knowing if you have gonorrhea or not, 10% is not something to mess around with. Could someone please clarify, not just for me, but the other people on this board freaking out about gonorrhea? I did test negative 8-9 weeks after the event, but am worried that it either went away on its own or some meds that I took in between made it go away. Reason I am concerned is because a few weeks after the event, I had unprotected sex with my gf. I do not wish to put her in harms way; I would be devastated if this one-time slipup messed things up. Thank you in advance for your reply and help with this matter.
