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Am I ok?
Dear Dr.,
I had unprotected sex with a women about two months ago. A week after we had sex I had noticed that I had a bump on the shaft of my penis. I ignored it because I had had something similar to this 3 years previously and had tested negative for herpes. The next week I had noticed that I had swollen glands in my groin. I notified the girl about my complications. She then went and got test for STD's about 3 weeks after we had had sex. During that third week i noticed that I had had another outbreak of bumps. They were in two spots at the base of my shaft. They were very small itchy bumps. Three on each side. When I had wen to the doctor they had went away so she said that she couldn't tell me if it was herpes. The woman had then later let me know the results of her test. She had tested positive for chlamydia but negative for HIV. This was around the middle of the five week mark. During This time I had also experienced soreness at the base of my neck on top of my shoulders. I took antibiotics for the chlamydia. I had also taken antibiotics for an internal ear infection. It has now been a little over two months since I that exposure. I have not had sex since then. The glands in my groin have not went down yet. Then are not sore. They are just hard. It appears to only be on my right side. My tongue has also seemed to be a little white in color. I am a smoker so I don't know if that it cause from me smoking or not. It does not seem to be hairy tongue. I've really been paranoid lately. I just want to know do I have to worry about HIV or not? Also, could this just be complications from what may be genital herpes? I did not ejaculate in the women either so I just want to know could I have already had it or is three weeks enough time for an accurate HIV test?
I had unprotected sex with a women about two months ago. A week after we had sex I had noticed that I had a bump on the shaft of my penis. I ignored it because I had had something similar to this 3 years previously and had tested negative for herpes. The next week I had noticed that I had swollen glands in my groin. I notified the girl about my complications. She then went and got test for STD's about 3 weeks after we had had sex. During that third week i noticed that I had had another outbreak of bumps. They were in two spots at the base of my shaft. They were very small itchy bumps. Three on each side. When I had wen to the doctor they had went away so she said that she couldn't tell me if it was herpes. The woman had then later let me know the results of her test. She had tested positive for chlamydia but negative for HIV. This was around the middle of the five week mark. During This time I had also experienced soreness at the base of my neck on top of my shoulders. I took antibiotics for the chlamydia. I had also taken antibiotics for an internal ear infection. It has now been a little over two months since I that exposure. I have not had sex since then. The glands in my groin have not went down yet. Then are not sore. They are just hard. It appears to only be on my right side. My tongue has also seemed to be a little white in color. I am a smoker so I don't know if that it cause from me smoking or not. It does not seem to be hairy tongue. I've really been paranoid lately. I just want to know do I have to worry about HIV or not? Also, could this just be complications from what may be genital herpes? I did not ejaculate in the women either so I just want to know could I have already had it or is three weeks enough time for an accurate HIV test?
Thank You Dr. Handsfield. I feel much better about the situation.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Who knows? A hundred things can cause lymph node enlargements. Probably a quarter of all people have slightly enlarged lymph nodes in the groin. Anyway, I don't accept that your lymph nodes are swollen anyway, if not diagnosed by a trained clinician. Self assessment of apparently enlarged nodes is highly unreliable. On top of all that, HIV never causes isolated node enlargement in only one area. If you had enlarged nodes due to HIV, they would be apparent in several areas of the body, not only the groin.
If you're convinced something is abnormal, see a health care provider about it. But forget HIV as a possibility.
If you're convinced something is abnormal, see a health care provider about it. But forget HIV as a possibility.
Thanks Dr.
It has been over two months since we and I have had sex though. What could be the explanation for my swollen glands?
It has been over two months since we and I have had sex though. What could be the explanation for my swollen glands?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Congratulations on a responsible approach to medical care, on both your part and your partner's, for the STD issues. I cannot comment on whether your penile "bumps" were herpes. The recurrent nature in more or less the same area of your penis certainly suggests that possibility, but you don't say anything about a blister-like appearance, whether they heal with scabs, and other things that would favor herpes. You should have a blood test to see if you have antibodies to HSV-2. I assume you have told your partner about your concern for herpes; she also should be evaluated for it.
Treatment for chlamydia is completely reliable, so that problem is settled. It sounds like you weren't tested for it. You should have been. But getting treated is the most important part. You and your partner both should be retested for chlamydia in 3-4 months. Up to 10-20% of people with chlamydia catch it again within that time, so routine retesting at 3-4 months is recommended.
As for HIV, this is a low risk situation. HIV is rare in most sexually active women in the US and other industrialized countries, even those with STD -- although this can vary quite a bit. In any case, her test result shows your partner doesn't have it, so it isn't possible you caught HIV from her. Even if your partner had HIV, the chance you caught it is quite low. And your symptoms don't suggest HIV.
On the other hand, HIV testing should be done in every person with a newly diagnosed STD. Three weeks is a bit early; about 70-80% of people with new HIV infectious are positive by that time. But since your partner doesn't have it, you really don't need to be retested. But if you remain nervous, talk to your doc about having another test about 6 weeks after your last sex with this partner. That also might be a good time for the herpes blood test.
In the meantime, don't worry about HIV. You don't have it.
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
Treatment for chlamydia is completely reliable, so that problem is settled. It sounds like you weren't tested for it. You should have been. But getting treated is the most important part. You and your partner both should be retested for chlamydia in 3-4 months. Up to 10-20% of people with chlamydia catch it again within that time, so routine retesting at 3-4 months is recommended.
As for HIV, this is a low risk situation. HIV is rare in most sexually active women in the US and other industrialized countries, even those with STD -- although this can vary quite a bit. In any case, her test result shows your partner doesn't have it, so it isn't possible you caught HIV from her. Even if your partner had HIV, the chance you caught it is quite low. And your symptoms don't suggest HIV.
On the other hand, HIV testing should be done in every person with a newly diagnosed STD. Three weeks is a bit early; about 70-80% of people with new HIV infectious are positive by that time. But since your partner doesn't have it, you really don't need to be retested. But if you remain nervous, talk to your doc about having another test about 6 weeks after your last sex with this partner. That also might be a good time for the herpes blood test.
In the meantime, don't worry about HIV. You don't have it.
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
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