Aa
Concerned
I am a male and was in a monogomous relationship with a women from Feb, 2006 to Feb 2007. We had unprotected sex during that time. She had unprotected sex with several men before we got involved.
We were tested for HIV 3 months after being together and we both tested negative. However, we did not receive any other STD testing (she said that she had a blood test for STDs at free clinic in Jan 2006). However, she has had 1 paps smear in the last year. We have not been sexually involved since Feb 2007. I have been sexullay involved (no protection) with another woman since April 2007. She's had no symptoms of an STD but had been tested for them 3 months prior to our relationship. All ok. My questions are:
1.) Could I have contracted Chlamydia or Gonorrhera and still not have any symptoms whatsoever (20 months since first having intercourse, 10 months since last)?
2.) This would have been her 2nd. year (she was never treater or known to have an STD) of being infected with Chlamydia or Gonnorhea and she still has no symptoms. Is that a typical scenario?
3.) How likely is that her gyn doctor would have examined her and not realized that her vaginal area was infected?
4.) How likely is it that me, my last girlfriend and my current girlfriend all be infected with Chlamydia or Gonnorhea and not one of us has any symptoms this whole year?
Your indulgence is much appreciated.
We were tested for HIV 3 months after being together and we both tested negative. However, we did not receive any other STD testing (she said that she had a blood test for STDs at free clinic in Jan 2006). However, she has had 1 paps smear in the last year. We have not been sexually involved since Feb 2007. I have been sexullay involved (no protection) with another woman since April 2007. She's had no symptoms of an STD but had been tested for them 3 months prior to our relationship. All ok. My questions are:
1.) Could I have contracted Chlamydia or Gonorrhera and still not have any symptoms whatsoever (20 months since first having intercourse, 10 months since last)?
2.) This would have been her 2nd. year (she was never treater or known to have an STD) of being infected with Chlamydia or Gonnorhea and she still has no symptoms. Is that a typical scenario?
3.) How likely is that her gyn doctor would have examined her and not realized that her vaginal area was infected?
4.) How likely is it that me, my last girlfriend and my current girlfriend all be infected with Chlamydia or Gonnorhea and not one of us has any symptoms this whole year?
Your indulgence is much appreciated.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
This sounds like a low risk situation and you had negative tests for gonorrhea and chlamydia. I don't understand your concern. To your specific questions:
1) Almost all men with gonorrhea and at least half with chlamydia have symptoms. In any case, the modern tests are entirely reliable. Of course I cannot guarantee you haven't been infected since the earlier relationship ended, e.g. whether your new partner might be infected from a former partner.
2) I cannot comment on the likelihood your partner could have been infected in the past. If she was, it was gone by the time she was tested 3 months ago.
3) Physical exam itself misses most cases of chlamydia or gonorrhea. But that's irrelevant in the face of a negative test.
4) That scenario is unlikely, but not impossible. But like the others, this question seems irrelevant, because of the negative lab tests.
As I said, I don't understand your concern. But if for some reason you remain in doubt, you and your current partner can be tested--by your own health care provider(s), a family planning clinic (like Planned Parenthood), or your local health department STD clinic. You no longer have any responsibility with respect to your former partner and I see no reason for her to be retested.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
1) Almost all men with gonorrhea and at least half with chlamydia have symptoms. In any case, the modern tests are entirely reliable. Of course I cannot guarantee you haven't been infected since the earlier relationship ended, e.g. whether your new partner might be infected from a former partner.
2) I cannot comment on the likelihood your partner could have been infected in the past. If she was, it was gone by the time she was tested 3 months ago.
3) Physical exam itself misses most cases of chlamydia or gonorrhea. But that's irrelevant in the face of a negative test.
4) That scenario is unlikely, but not impossible. But like the others, this question seems irrelevant, because of the negative lab tests.
As I said, I don't understand your concern. But if for some reason you remain in doubt, you and your current partner can be tested--by your own health care provider(s), a family planning clinic (like Planned Parenthood), or your local health department STD clinic. You no longer have any responsibility with respect to your former partner and I see no reason for her to be retested.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
Received negative results for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea today. Thanks, much, for your time, Doctor.
I apologize if my writing is confusing. But, I wanted to clarify my situation:
My former gf says she was tested and cleared of most stds (Chlamydia, Gohnorrhea and Syphilis, other bacterial infections) shortly before we met and wasn't exposed to stds afterwards. Her testing comes into question because she claims to only remember a blood test ( and she's certain it wasn't for HIV).
My current gf was tested and cleared of all stds 3 months before we met and wasn't exposed to stds afterwards.
I tested earlier this week for Chlaymydia and Gonorrhea, but the results won't be available until next week.
I guess that you've already answered the my most pressing question, which is how likely we all could be infected for over a year with Chlamydia and/or Gonorrhea and not know it - no likely, but possible.
I just wanted to clarify our circumstances.
My former gf says she was tested and cleared of most stds (Chlamydia, Gohnorrhea and Syphilis, other bacterial infections) shortly before we met and wasn't exposed to stds afterwards. Her testing comes into question because she claims to only remember a blood test ( and she's certain it wasn't for HIV).
My current gf was tested and cleared of all stds 3 months before we met and wasn't exposed to stds afterwards.
I tested earlier this week for Chlaymydia and Gonorrhea, but the results won't be available until next week.
I guess that you've already answered the my most pressing question, which is how likely we all could be infected for over a year with Chlamydia and/or Gonorrhea and not know it - no likely, but possible.
I just wanted to clarify our circumstances.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
OK, now I understand.
Indeed, blood testing alone cannot detect gonorrhea or chlamydia. But I doubt that's all your former partner had. It is not logical that any clinic, free or otherwise, would not include standard gonorrhea and chlamydia tests when checking someone for STD during routine pelvic exams (ie, when she has had her pap tests). In any case, your negative test results are entirely reliable, and as I said, your former partner's sexual health no longer is your concern.
Indeed, blood testing alone cannot detect gonorrhea or chlamydia. But I doubt that's all your former partner had. It is not logical that any clinic, free or otherwise, would not include standard gonorrhea and chlamydia tests when checking someone for STD during routine pelvic exams (ie, when she has had her pap tests). In any case, your negative test results are entirely reliable, and as I said, your former partner's sexual health no longer is your concern.
Thank you, sir, for your reply. I was concerned about my former girlfriends STD "testing" because she said she only remembers taking a blood test for STDs at a free clinic (although,it doesn't seem logical that a free clinic in a major metro area would test for Syphilis via blood and not include tests for more common STDs). From prior posts here, it seems that blood tests aren't reliable indicators for Chlamydia infection.
BTW - was tested for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea at a free clinic, but results won't be availbable until a week later.
Also, I think your work is remarkable. Thanks, much. God bless you and the staff there, and Happy Holidays!
BTW - was tested for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea at a free clinic, but results won't be availbable until a week later.
Also, I think your work is remarkable. Thanks, much. God bless you and the staff there, and Happy Holidays!
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
