Epididymitis and Negative on STD?

[Paranoidhypo]

Ok on Friday August 12 I went and was tested for all STD's including Herpes and HIV by blood and urethral swabs for the others including Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, Trich . Everything came back fine much to my relief, even though I was not that concerned. I was getting back with an ex-gf who had never been with anyone else and I had been so the last thing I wanted was to hurt her in anyway. Recently I had a pain every once in awhile in my right testicle. I went to the my doctor on Thursday September 1st and he said I had epididymitmis. He freaked me out by questioning me about sexual history and I told him that I had recently been tested and everything was negative. I told him that I have ALWAYS worn a condom. He gave me Cipro and Doxycycline for 10 days. He then told me that I did not need to tell my partner. So now after feeling relieved that I could get back to normal with my ex-girlfriend that feeling again is there and I'm extremely scared. I was trying to do the right thing by getting tested on August 12th. My doctor told me that in a person my age, 22,  doctors usually assume it is sexually transmitted. In your opinion do I need to go on feeling like chlamydia or gonnorrhea is the problem? I have not had any discharge or painful urination. The last time I had sex with someone other than my ex-girlfriend was around July 18th. I feel like I should maybe contact a urologist who specializes in these things but this being Labor Day Weekend I can not even call until Tuesday and then who knows when I will be able to get in. I have told my girlfriend about this and she thinks I'm just obsessing, I do have OCD. She thought that my negative test results and my doctor telling me I didn't need to tell her was enough for her. Thank God she is so supportive and understanding. I just need reassurance either way. Thanks.

[lockedup]

I'm 17 and I get the same exact thing in my right testicle. This started when I was 15 and I was still a virgin back then. So having sex has nothing to do with it. I haven't been to a doctor yet but I don't have an STD and i'm sure you don't either since all your test came back negative.

[dafee]

I have epididymitis. I'am being treated for it for the third time. The first two times they put me on dixocycline for 2 weeks and the pain and swelling went away. The doctor tested me for STD and found I was Negative, he put me on Dixocycline for 1 month then up it to Levaquin 500mg for 1 month and I still have it. He reffered me to a Urologist which I am Suppose to seen in a week. I dont know what he will do to make it go away. My left nut is barley swollen and only hurts once in awhile. Will I have to live with it for the rest of my life or are they going to take out my left epididymis.

[Paranoidhypo]

Dr. H,

    I'm not sure if you will get this but I did remember that after I left my appointment last Thursday, I took my Cipro and then a little while later I got a fever and my back, groin area, and legs hurt. I wasn't sure if whatever is wrong was further irritated while my doctor was checking what was going on.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

But the 20% risk applies only for unprotected sex and if your partner was infected--and she probably wasn't; and apparently you did use a condom.  You can rely 100% on the negative swab tests.  Your doctor should have tested you again when s/he diagnosed epididymitis.  (If s/he didn't, it increases my suspicion s/he isn't very familiar with epididymitis.)

HHH, MD

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

But the 20% risk applies only for unprotected sex and if your partner was infected--and she probably wasn't.  You can rely on the negative swab tests.  Your doctor should have tested you again when s/he diagnosed epididymitis.  (If s/he didn't, it increases my suspicion s/he isn't very familiar with epididymitis.)

HHH, MD

[Paranoidhypo]

Sorry I just read also that woman to man unprotected was around 20% that's why I'm having such a tough time with this. I have always worn a condom and I'm just so confused now with me having always worn a condom and the negative results.

[Paranoidhypo]

Do you mean on the diagnosis of epididymitis? Can I rely on those test results being negative on August 12th? They were urethral swabs. Thanks

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I can't second-guess your own provider, although I do wonder how reliable the diagnosis of epididymitis was.  Epididymitis generally doesn't start with hus a little pain "every once in a while" in the testicle; there is obvious swelling of the testicle with extreme tenderness to the touch.  There almost always are signs of infection in the urine; and in most (but not all) cases due to gonorrhea or chlamydia, there is discharge from the penis.

However, although chlamydia and gonorrhea are by far the most common causes of epididymitis in people your age, not all cases are due to those infections--and your doctor obviously understands that, since he didn't think it necessary to involve your partner or treat her.  But if your urine culture also is negative for other bacteria, ask your doctor how certain s/he was about the diagnosis.

Good luck--  HHH, MD