Had oral and vaginal sex with a hooker in Amsterdam using a condom. What are chances of getting an STD?

[Dumbmistake210]

Hello,

I am 20 years old. I am studying abroad for a semester in Germany. This past weekend I was in Amsterdam and got really drunk and had sex with a hooker. I used a condom throughout and nothing seemed to be wrong with it. However, I still worry that I may have gotten an STD and/or HIV/AIDS in the process.

I am concerned that the condom broke without me knowing. She put the condom on me and took it off for me when I was done. I never looked to see if anything was wrong with it but everything seemed fine and she did not say anything about it.

Also, I was wondering if you could get any STDs from the testicles and groin touching her genitals from time to time? I know that the testicles and groin are not covered by any part of the condom and am concerned that I may have gotten something on them.

Am I worrying too much or was I safe enough with the use of a condom? Also, am I worrying too much about the condom breaking without me knowing? Please let me know as soon as possible and thank you in advance for your responses.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to the Forum.  You have little to worry about. Commercial sex workers in the Amsterdam red light district are licensed and as part of this, they are regularly checked for STDs, including HIV.  In addition, condom protected sex is safe sex and there is little risk of STD when you are wearing a condom. thus, this exposure was probably lower risk than if you had picked up a non-professional in a bar.

As for condom breakage, it sounds unlikely.  When condoms break, they break wide open and there is no doubt about what happened.  You would know it.

Finally, the incidental contact of the scrotum with your partners genitals during sex is unlikely to lead to an STD.

Bottom line, you have little reason to worry.  If you choose to get tested for your own peace of mind and to confirm what I have just told you, please commit to believing the test results you get.  Results at this time would be definitive for gonorrhea, chlamydia and NGU.  Testing for HIV should wait until about 6 weeks after exposure.    I hope this comment helps.  Take care. EWH

[Edward W Hook, MD]

I will briefly address your questions however, the Forum is not intended for us to work through your sexual history partner for partner.  This is really and unrelated question so there will not be follow-up answers after this.

You ahave had sex with more than one partner,.  In this situation we recommend STD and HIV "screening" (testing in the absence of symptoms) because you have had multiple partners since you wer last tested.  Because STDs and HIV can be present without symptoms and as a matter of personal protection, we recommend annual testing for anyone who has had two or more sex partners without testing or, optimally, for when persons are entering into new relationships (in this situation we suggest both members of the couple go for screening).   We consider this to be health maintenance- we also recommend you get your blood pressure and cholesterol checked regularly.  Screening for men typically involves testing for gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis and HIV.  

I hope this comment is helpful

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Questions have been answered.  I see no reason to worry about contact with your regular GF. EWH

[Dumbmistake210]

Hi again Dr. Hook,

I just want to let you know that I am going to go get tested on Friday morning just so I get a peace of mind and so I do not have to think about this anymore. I do not believe that I have anything but I want to be absolutely certain.

Thank you again for your responses and being so helpful. I will let you know how it goes.

Best,

[Dumbmistake210]

I got another question relating to another sexual encounter if you don't mind answering.

About 2 years ago I started to see this girl and we had protected sex. After a couple of months we started to have unprotected sex and everything seemed fine. After about 5 or 6 months we broke up and about 6 months later, we had unprotected sex again a couple of times. I have not had unprotected sex with her or anyone else for about a year now and I have had no symptoms of any STDs.

my main questions are:

1) I have never had any symptoms of any STDs or HIV/AIDS, does that mean I should not worry about what happened a year ago?

2) Should I go get tested or should I wait and see if there are any symptoms first?

Again thank you in advance for your time and responses and I hope to hear from you soon.

[Dumbmistake210]

Ignore the last comment I made. I did not see the thing you wrote earlier which has been very helpful. I trust you and this website and will move on from this concern I have had.

Thank you very much for your responses. I cannot tell you how much they mean to me.

[Dumbmistake210]

Great so does that mean I do not need to be tested for anything at all and I should just stop worrying about it?

Thank you in advance for your response.

[Dumbmistake210]

Hello Dr. Handsfield and Dr. Hook

That was the story. Let me give you some more specific questions to answer:

1) Am I worrying too much or was I safe enough with the use of a condom?

2) Could it have been possible for the condom to break without me knowing? (Remember she put it on for me and took it off for me. I never looked at it afterwards).

3) Could I have gotten any STDs on my testicles and groin because a condom does not cover that part?

4) Should I be tested at all for STDs or HIV/AIDS or am I worried about it too much?

5) I have a serious girlfriend. Should I be worried about having protected sex with her?

Thank you for taking the time to review these questions and I really appreciate your responses.