Protected Sex and STD Contraction

[PapaNarb]

Stuipdly, I recently engaged in protected sex with a stripper (oral and vaginal) and wore a condom the entire time. I did not think much of it, but then I began wondering if I was at any risk of contracting Herpes, HPV, etc. from vaginal to testicle contact during the act. The act did not last terribly long.

After the act, I wiped down my penis with a napkin and a disinfectant towel, but am wondering if I should go and get tested for STDs.  I have not felt any itching, etc. in my genitals. However, since I have a bit of a fever a few days after my act I have become paranoid.

Please advise me on my probability of contracting diseases to put my mind at ease.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Protected sex is just that, protected, and as long as the condom is used properly and does not break, you have virtually no risk of HIV, gonorrhea, chlamydia, trich, or non gonococcal urethritis.  There is a theoretical risk for herpes and syphilis but they are very rare (sorry difficult to quantify better).  Of these two, syphilis is quite rare making it almost a sure thing that a person using a condom would not get syphilis from genital exposure.  HPV is a slightly different situation.  What data we have says condoms do protect against HPV however how well is somewhat less clear, primarily because just about everyone who is already sexually active also already has or has had HPV.

Having said this, I can also tell you with confidence that without genital symptoms, the likelihood that you acquired any STD from a single exposure to a commercial sex worker is virtually nonexistent and, with symptoms, you really don't need testing.  Your fever is unlikely to be related to your exposure.  If you cannot shake your paranoia (not uncommon), then you should just go on and get tested, not for any medical reason but to put your mind at rest.  What you should NOT do however is worry about it - that is most certainly a waste of your time.  EWH