Aa
Does negative urine culture rule out STD?
60yo male with modestly enlarged prostate has clean STD panel 6 weeks ago.
5 weeks ago has unprotected sex one time.
4 days ago develops painful and frequent urination but no unusual discharge, low grade fever, mild lower back pain.
2 days ago visits urologist. White blood cells in urine found. Cipro prescribed.
Today urine culture results: "no infection found".
The 60yo male is now confused. Does this rule out a possible gonorrhea or chlamydia infection? Presumably the Cipro will kill it off and there will be no way to tell now. Should he warn his partner she should get tested anyway?
5 weeks ago has unprotected sex one time.
4 days ago develops painful and frequent urination but no unusual discharge, low grade fever, mild lower back pain.
2 days ago visits urologist. White blood cells in urine found. Cipro prescribed.
Today urine culture results: "no infection found".
The 60yo male is now confused. Does this rule out a possible gonorrhea or chlamydia infection? Presumably the Cipro will kill it off and there will be no way to tell now. Should he warn his partner she should get tested anyway?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum. I'll try to help.
It is rare for symptoms of urethral (lower urinary tract) STDs to start more than 10-14 days after a sexual exposure. And even in persons with relatively high risk exposures, STDs are quite uncommon in persons over 40 years old, even rarer at age 60. Further, non-STD urinary tract infections (UTI) are very frequent at that age and in the presence of an enlarged prostate. Finally, urethral STDs almost always cause discharge; painful or urgent urination, without discharge, usually indicates UTI, not an STD.
For those reasons, it is much more likely that your symptoms were due to a non-STD UTI, or directly to your prostate gland, than to anything you caught during the sexual exposure a few weeks earlier.
A standard urine culture does not pick up STD. For example, if someone with gonorrhea or chlamydia doesn't tell the doctor or clinic s/he is concerned about STDs, a standard urine culture will be negative. (My guess is you didn't tell your doctor about your sexual exposure, right?) Still, that doesn't mean you have an STD. Some UTI's are missed by standard culture, and prostate infections or inflammation usually have negative urine cultures as well.
If your symptoms clear up on ciprofloxacin, that should settle the issue; it's a good drug for those prostate problems caused by bacterial infection. However, it is not ideal for gonorrhea or chlamydia. While I still think those are unlikely, if your symptoms persist tell the urologist about the sexual exposure then follow his advice about possible additional testing and alternative antibiotics. For now, I do not think it is necessary to discuss this with your partner. It is unlikely your current problem has anything to do with the sexual exposure.
I hope this helps. Regards-- HHH, MD
It is rare for symptoms of urethral (lower urinary tract) STDs to start more than 10-14 days after a sexual exposure. And even in persons with relatively high risk exposures, STDs are quite uncommon in persons over 40 years old, even rarer at age 60. Further, non-STD urinary tract infections (UTI) are very frequent at that age and in the presence of an enlarged prostate. Finally, urethral STDs almost always cause discharge; painful or urgent urination, without discharge, usually indicates UTI, not an STD.
For those reasons, it is much more likely that your symptoms were due to a non-STD UTI, or directly to your prostate gland, than to anything you caught during the sexual exposure a few weeks earlier.
A standard urine culture does not pick up STD. For example, if someone with gonorrhea or chlamydia doesn't tell the doctor or clinic s/he is concerned about STDs, a standard urine culture will be negative. (My guess is you didn't tell your doctor about your sexual exposure, right?) Still, that doesn't mean you have an STD. Some UTI's are missed by standard culture, and prostate infections or inflammation usually have negative urine cultures as well.
If your symptoms clear up on ciprofloxacin, that should settle the issue; it's a good drug for those prostate problems caused by bacterial infection. However, it is not ideal for gonorrhea or chlamydia. While I still think those are unlikely, if your symptoms persist tell the urologist about the sexual exposure then follow his advice about possible additional testing and alternative antibiotics. For now, I do not think it is necessary to discuss this with your partner. It is unlikely your current problem has anything to do with the sexual exposure.
I hope this helps. Regards-- HHH, MD
Was he tested for trichomoniasis?
He was not, in fact he has never heard of trichomoniasis before.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Trichomonas is a very unlikely explanation for this problem.
Thank you for the very clear explanation.
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.
