FURTHER TEST/ACTION

[NIB89]

Hello Doctors,

I'm happy to come across this website, I find a lot of misinformation out there. could you please tell me what you think about this situation?

last year before the holidays (about 3 monhts ago) I recieved unprotected oral sex and protected sex with a CSW, I didnt have any syntomps so I didnt test. Recently I felt very guilty and decided to take a urine test for Gonorrhea and Clamidya, this was negative but I read on your posts about Gonorrhea clearing up at the mens system in about 6 weeks, my questions are,

1)Is it possible for me to have aqcuired gonorrhea and not develop any syntomps and have infected my wife?
2) Is it possible that my infection cleared while hers still there?
3) Am I at risk of re-infection? Im very paranoid of waking up one morning and feel sytnomps.

What do you think I should do, If I tell my wife itll end my marriage, is it necesarry to notify her about a potential infection?

Thanks a lot for the help!!!

[Edward W Hook, MD]

If I were you, I would stop worrying about ancient history and move forward.  EWH

[NIB89]

Its been a while...would it make sense to do it now? If I don't treat it will I be in a health risk at the long road? And to finish this thread...what would you do in terms of tests etc to be extra sure you are ok if you were me? Thanks doctor.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Gonorrhea of the throat is typically asymptomatic. While your risk is low, if that is a concern,. the only way to know for sure if you ahve the infection (I doubt that you do) is to have a throat swab tested for gonorrhea.  Personally, i would not be worried. EWH

[NIB89]

I really don't mean to change the thread topic but I NEED to ask your opinion. The reason I asked about throat gonorrhea was because last year in July I met a CSW and engaged in deep cunnilingus....5 days later I developed the worse sickness i vehad in my life...a very bad case of pharyngitis, night sweats. I couldn't eat, very high fever, tookamoxacilyin and didn't seem to work and a week after I felt a bit better.

My question is. I know gonorrhea on the throat is not syntomayic almost. And also cunnilingus is rare but could transmit it. It is almost 8 months since. Does it make sense to test with a swab? If not treated would my health or my wife at long run would be jeoperdized?

Thanks and sorry to ask two different topics in a thread I really hope to hear what you have to say about this.

[NIB89]

Hello Dr. thanks for your response. In the clinic and online you will find a lot of people saying that STDs with no syntomps are very common so you can see where a lot of people worry but I trust you more than any other source, when you say 1/3 you mean 95plus% infections for gonorrhea show syntomps? Would I have recalled if I had even mild syntomps as many people seem to have also?,

You are right this was low risk to begin with and guilt plays a big role in this cases, I just don't want any surprises.

The last note I want to ask is, if someone had gonorrhea of the throat, and it seems like is asyntomatic in most cases, would that mean a potential risk for health if not treated? Does it have really bad outcomes if no antibiotics taken?

Thanks Doctor, I will try not to think of any improbable scenario where I or my wife would be infected since is not realistic concern.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to our Forum. I'll be pleased to comment.  We have recently gotten a lot of questions about the possibility of someone acquiring asymptomatic gonorrhea (which occurs only 1/3% of the time), self-curing over several weeks (which is also  not all that common) and transmitting infection to a partner.  And while such a series of events might happen from time to time, it is incredibly unusual- so unusual as to not be a meaningful concern.  I my more than 30 years of STI focused work I have never heard or seen such a case.  I would urge you not to worry about this possibility.

As for your specific questions:
1)Is it possible for me to have aqcuired gonorrhea and not develop any syntomps and have infected my wife?
Yes, it is possible but quite uncommon- see above.

2) Is it possible that my infection cleared while hers still there?
Still more uncommon and as noted above, the likelihood of your both having an asymptomatic infection, infecting your wife, and self-curing is vanishingly low- so low as to not be a realistic concern.

3) Am I at risk of re-infection? Im very paranoid of waking up one morning and feel sytnomps.
No, I would not worry.

At this time, with the low probability that you would be infected to start with, your absence of symptoms, and your negative test you really have no reason to worry.  I think your concerns are more some combination of mis-information (it is common) and guilt related to your dalliance.  I hope my comments are helpful and put your concerns to rest. There is no reason to worry further.  EWH