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Chlamydia HIV and symptoms
Dear sir,
I had protected sex with a girl. I did touch her vagina (fingered) and afterwords put on the condom for protected sex. She did also stroke me penis a little and touched the tip and I think she touched her vagina before she did this.
I developed burning with urination and red urethra within a day or two. I do recall that my urethra may have been a bit irritaded before i was with her but definarely not due to sexual activity. Then I read up on std symptoms and looked for a discharge, which unfortunarely i noticed for a few mornings. I was in Europe and went to a local clinic. Very helpfull the doctor did a range of tests including including Chlamydia, Ghonorrea, hepatitis, hiv among others.
The results came back positive for Chlamydia and negative for all others. I was given antibiotics and symptoms disappeared after a week.
I was very shocked that this bacteria can transfer so easily.
It is 3 weeks later and I started worrying if this is possible what about hiv? The last few days I have a bit of a headache and sore throat it feels like the lymph glands by my throat are swolen.
Obvously my question and concern is the chance of hiv infection after being carefull with protected sex, but what about touching vagina and then the urethra? And why certain symptoms could it be the travelling stress and as a result weakening of the system?
I had protected sex with a girl. I did touch her vagina (fingered) and afterwords put on the condom for protected sex. She did also stroke me penis a little and touched the tip and I think she touched her vagina before she did this.
I developed burning with urination and red urethra within a day or two. I do recall that my urethra may have been a bit irritaded before i was with her but definarely not due to sexual activity. Then I read up on std symptoms and looked for a discharge, which unfortunarely i noticed for a few mornings. I was in Europe and went to a local clinic. Very helpfull the doctor did a range of tests including including Chlamydia, Ghonorrea, hepatitis, hiv among others.
The results came back positive for Chlamydia and negative for all others. I was given antibiotics and symptoms disappeared after a week.
I was very shocked that this bacteria can transfer so easily.
It is 3 weeks later and I started worrying if this is possible what about hiv? The last few days I have a bit of a headache and sore throat it feels like the lymph glands by my throat are swolen.
Obvously my question and concern is the chance of hiv infection after being carefull with protected sex, but what about touching vagina and then the urethra? And why certain symptoms could it be the travelling stress and as a result weakening of the system?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
1) Retesting for chlamydia is recommended, but not until 3-6 months after treatment. The idea is to detect both rare treatment failures plus reinfections. But assuming you aren't likely to be reexposed, you could have a follow-up test any time 4 weeks or more after treatment (but for sure no sooner than that, because DNA can persist up to that long even in cured patients).
2) You can be sure you don't have gonorrhea. No other testing is needed. However, since it is almost automatic that gonorrhea and chlamydia testing are done simultaneously, a follow-up test may include gonorrhea.
3) Four weeks is definitive for a 4th generation test. See http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/1704700
That should wind up this thread. Take care.
2) You can be sure you don't have gonorrhea. No other testing is needed. However, since it is almost automatic that gonorrhea and chlamydia testing are done simultaneously, a follow-up test may include gonorrhea.
3) Four weeks is definitive for a 4th generation test. See http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/1704700
That should wind up this thread. Take care.
Many thanks again doctor as I have much better clarity and understanding of my situation now.
Just to clarify on the testing -
1) Is a retest for chlamydia needed if the symptoms have cleared as i have read that some symptoms may clear without treatment but the bacteria remains active. I did have treatment and dont see any remaining symptoms.
2) Is it by any chance possible that a swab wont show another std like ghonorrea and test for this again?
3) Timing of Hiv testing. I have read about 4th generation testing. What is the soonest I can have this performed. It is now just over 3 weeks since the event.
Just to clarify on the testing -
1) Is a retest for chlamydia needed if the symptoms have cleared as i have read that some symptoms may clear without treatment but the bacteria remains active. I did have treatment and dont see any remaining symptoms.
2) Is it by any chance possible that a swab wont show another std like ghonorrea and test for this again?
3) Timing of Hiv testing. I have read about 4th generation testing. What is the soonest I can have this performed. It is now just over 3 weeks since the event.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
"I have felt a slight irritation/burning probably a day before I was with her but the more prominent symptoms developed closer to a week." OK, mixed messages about timing of the infection.
"Condom failure" doesn't only mean breakage or leaking, but potential misuse which can be unrecognized. I continue to believe your infection didn't come from hand-genital contact, although I cannot prove that such transmission never happens. Perhaps you were a one in a million case. And there still may be a possibility you had chlamydia before that event, and I don't know how to interpret "No sexual activity before that could have an impact". If you had unprotected sex at all, with any partner (regular or otherwise) in the few weeks before you were diagnosed, I would recommend that partner be informed and tested for chlamydia.
Your symptoms don't concern me with respect to HIV, and the chance you caught HIV from the event described remains extremely low, even if that's when you caught your chlamydial infection. And indeed chlamydia is far more readily transmitted than HIV is. But on that extremely low chance, it would not be unreasonable for your to have an HIV test in a few weeks.
"Condom failure" doesn't only mean breakage or leaking, but potential misuse which can be unrecognized. I continue to believe your infection didn't come from hand-genital contact, although I cannot prove that such transmission never happens. Perhaps you were a one in a million case. And there still may be a possibility you had chlamydia before that event, and I don't know how to interpret "No sexual activity before that could have an impact". If you had unprotected sex at all, with any partner (regular or otherwise) in the few weeks before you were diagnosed, I would recommend that partner be informed and tested for chlamydia.
Your symptoms don't concern me with respect to HIV, and the chance you caught HIV from the event described remains extremely low, even if that's when you caught your chlamydial infection. And indeed chlamydia is far more readily transmitted than HIV is. But on that extremely low chance, it would not be unreasonable for your to have an HIV test in a few weeks.
Dear Doctor,
May I please ad the following question. As said i did inspect the condom so if something did happen to it it must have been a very very tiny tear that may only be dedected with the water test.
My question is really if it is the case surely the risk of both std and hiv should be quite lower than a fully exposed penis?
And also the chlamydia if i understand correct is highly contagious compared to hiv?
Many thanks once again
May I please ad the following question. As said i did inspect the condom so if something did happen to it it must have been a very very tiny tear that may only be dedected with the water test.
My question is really if it is the case surely the risk of both std and hiv should be quite lower than a fully exposed penis?
And also the chlamydia if i understand correct is highly contagious compared to hiv?
Many thanks once again
Dear Doctor,
Thank you for your answer.
On the points you have raised:
Time of symptoms. I have felt a slight irritation/burning probably a day before I was with her but the more prominent symptoms developed closer to a week, i.e. red urethra, discharge. No sexual activity before that could have an impact.
Tests done. Urine test as well as swab was done for Chlamydia and Ghonorrea as well as blood test for Hepatitis, Hive and another one or two of which I am not too sure.
I am sure that there was no condom failure as I had to transport it for later disposal and inspected it.
Is it not possible for the disease to spread form vagina touching and immediate penis touching (especially tip area), or from rubbing bodies against each other maybe?
However of more concern to me are the following -
-From the details described is it needed to have an HIV test done again, and if so will it be accurate after 4 weeks? I would obvioulsy like to do this to put my mind at rest and stop the stress.
- As far as the slight headache, sore throat and swollen glands around throat, could this be due to all the stress about it and therefore my system not being so strong?
Would it be best to have a follow up Chlamydia test done?
I appreciate your assitance!
Thank you for your answer.
On the points you have raised:
Time of symptoms. I have felt a slight irritation/burning probably a day before I was with her but the more prominent symptoms developed closer to a week, i.e. red urethra, discharge. No sexual activity before that could have an impact.
Tests done. Urine test as well as swab was done for Chlamydia and Ghonorrea as well as blood test for Hepatitis, Hive and another one or two of which I am not too sure.
I am sure that there was no condom failure as I had to transport it for later disposal and inspected it.
Is it not possible for the disease to spread form vagina touching and immediate penis touching (especially tip area), or from rubbing bodies against each other maybe?
However of more concern to me are the following -
-From the details described is it needed to have an HIV test done again, and if so will it be accurate after 4 weeks? I would obvioulsy like to do this to put my mind at rest and stop the stress.
- As far as the slight headache, sore throat and swollen glands around throat, could this be due to all the stress about it and therefore my system not being so strong?
Would it be best to have a follow up Chlamydia test done?
I appreciate your assitance!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum. Thanks for your question.
You had an accurate reply on the community forum about the low risk of the sexual exposure described, but I think the person who responded missed that you had symptoms of urethritis and a positive chlamydia test. However, it is unlikely you acquired chlamydia from the exposure described; hand-genital contact is zero risk for chlamydia and other STDs. If you were infected during that exposure, there probably was an unrecognized condom failure.
Also, chlamydia rarely causes symptoms within 2-3 days; usually it's 7-10 days and 5 days probably is the minimum. So I have to suspect you may have acquired your infection elsewhere. Did you have any other sexual exposures in the month or so before the onset of your symptoms? And can you say more about exactly what tests were done? Some clinics in Europe have begun using chlamydia blood tests, but those are very inaccurate. But if the test was done on urine or a swab from the urethra, probably it is valid.
As for HIV, it's very unlikely in this situation. The risk probably is elevated following exposures that result in other STDs, but still it is statistically unlikely your partner had HIV, and if she did, the average HIV transmission risk through vaginal sex is in the range of 1 in 2,000 if the female is infected. Your symptoms really aren't consistent with chlamydia, either in timing or their nature. Still, everyone with a new STD of any kind should be tested for chlamydia. I would advise you to discuss it with the clinic where your chlamydia was diagnosed and treated. A single duo test (for HIV antibody plus p24 antigen) would be completely reliable 4 weeks or more after the sexual exposure.
I'll be interested in hearing more about other sexual exposures and the tests you had. In the meantime, as long as your chlamydia has been treated and your urethritis symptoms have cleared, you shouldn't have any major worries. You can definitely expect HIV testing to be negative.
Regards-- HHH, MD
You had an accurate reply on the community forum about the low risk of the sexual exposure described, but I think the person who responded missed that you had symptoms of urethritis and a positive chlamydia test. However, it is unlikely you acquired chlamydia from the exposure described; hand-genital contact is zero risk for chlamydia and other STDs. If you were infected during that exposure, there probably was an unrecognized condom failure.
Also, chlamydia rarely causes symptoms within 2-3 days; usually it's 7-10 days and 5 days probably is the minimum. So I have to suspect you may have acquired your infection elsewhere. Did you have any other sexual exposures in the month or so before the onset of your symptoms? And can you say more about exactly what tests were done? Some clinics in Europe have begun using chlamydia blood tests, but those are very inaccurate. But if the test was done on urine or a swab from the urethra, probably it is valid.
As for HIV, it's very unlikely in this situation. The risk probably is elevated following exposures that result in other STDs, but still it is statistically unlikely your partner had HIV, and if she did, the average HIV transmission risk through vaginal sex is in the range of 1 in 2,000 if the female is infected. Your symptoms really aren't consistent with chlamydia, either in timing or their nature. Still, everyone with a new STD of any kind should be tested for chlamydia. I would advise you to discuss it with the clinic where your chlamydia was diagnosed and treated. A single duo test (for HIV antibody plus p24 antigen) would be completely reliable 4 weeks or more after the sexual exposure.
I'll be interested in hearing more about other sexual exposures and the tests you had. In the meantime, as long as your chlamydia has been treated and your urethritis symptoms have cleared, you shouldn't have any major worries. You can definitely expect HIV testing to be negative.
Regards-- HHH, MD
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