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Gonorrhea and other questions
Doctor thank you for taking the time to read this. I recently tested positive for gonorrhea. I started having dysuria on Friday night. Saturday morning when I woke up the pain had gotten worse and I now I had discharge. I was treated Monday for both gonorrhea and chylamedia. I believe the act that infected me happened on Tuesday. I had sex with a partner that I have had sex with many times unprotected.
Here is where I would like some clarification. Friday morning I had sex with my wife in the morning. Assuming I got infected on Tuesday but didn't have any symptoms until Friday evening, what are my chances of infecting her after that single encounter?? Also, just to mention......the day that I was treated (Monday) my wife had a bariatric surgery. That morning she had to take a pregnancy urine test. Now I do not know if they tested her for STDs (doubt it) but if she was infected would anything have shown up? Also, is it possible that any of the anesthesia or meds that they put her on could kill the infection if she did have gonorrhea?
Finally, I just want some clarification on a post I read earlier on this forum. I think someone asked you if gonorrhea can clear up on its on. If I am not mistaken I think you said it could. Am I correct? If this is possible, how long does it take? From everything I have read it says this is not possible but I would love to hear your thoughts.
Here is where I would like some clarification. Friday morning I had sex with my wife in the morning. Assuming I got infected on Tuesday but didn't have any symptoms until Friday evening, what are my chances of infecting her after that single encounter?? Also, just to mention......the day that I was treated (Monday) my wife had a bariatric surgery. That morning she had to take a pregnancy urine test. Now I do not know if they tested her for STDs (doubt it) but if she was infected would anything have shown up? Also, is it possible that any of the anesthesia or meds that they put her on could kill the infection if she did have gonorrhea?
Finally, I just want some clarification on a post I read earlier on this forum. I think someone asked you if gonorrhea can clear up on its on. If I am not mistaken I think you said it could. Am I correct? If this is possible, how long does it take? From everything I have read it says this is not possible but I would love to hear your thoughts.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Some gonorrhea strains are resisistant to ciprofloxacin, which is why it isn't recommended for routine treatment. However, in the southern US, inlcuding Louisiana, 95% of gonorrhea is susceptible to cipro. Almost certainly the 500 mg dose would have cured your partner. But to be maximally safe, she could consider visiting her doctor or an STD clinic for a quick urine gonorrhea test.
That will have to end this thread. Take care.
That will have to end this thread. Take care.
I just talked to the infected partner and it raised a concern. She told me she was prescribed 500 mg of cipro due to an allergy. Now she is heterosexual female who lives in Louisiana. However, I keep reading that cipro isn't effective. How long after taking a single dose would she not be infected? Also, how long do symptoms last after taking the single dose? It has been almost two months but I just want to be safe
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Gonorrhea testing usually would be positive within a couple days of being infected. Chlamydia might take longer, maybe 5 days. However, there has never been research on this.
One last question and I'm gone. After exposure how reliable are gonorrhea and chlymedia test? Thanks
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
You were very clear -- my fault -- I don't know why I didn't notice the opening sentence. Anyway, I'm glad all the circles have been closed. Take care -- and for the future, I hope you'll get in the condom habit for your non-marital sexual adventures!
I am sorry I was not clear. The first sentence in my last post was that everyone has been notified. All three of us have been treated as well. I apologize for not being clear.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I'm also skeptical about that partner's history. It is unlikely she acquired gonorrhea from a female partner.
You should also consider the possibility you were infected by your regular partner. When one member of a couple has a need for outside relationships, often the other has been doing the same. Of course you're a better judge of this possibiiity than I am. In any case, I'm not going to let you off the hook on notifying your regular partner. I won't have any more comments or advice until you confirm she has been notified, examined, tested and treated.
You should also consider the possibility you were infected by your regular partner. When one member of a couple has a need for outside relationships, often the other has been doing the same. Of course you're a better judge of this possibiiity than I am. In any case, I'm not going to let you off the hook on notifying your regular partner. I won't have any more comments or advice until you confirm she has been notified, examined, tested and treated.
Everyone has been notified.
The woman I contracted this from says that she has not had sex with a man (protected or unprotected) outside of me in a long time. So long ago that she can't remember. However, she said that about a month ago that she had sex with a girl. I will be honest I do not believe this. You can give me your thoughts but I assume that oral sex between two women is hard to transmit gonorrhea. Anyways, I did a full std panel and everything came back negative except the gonorrhea I told you about. I am going to get retested again in 6 months for HIV to make sure I am good. I made her take one of those OraQuick tests last week. It came back negative but since I don't trust her I don't know how accurate the test are.
The woman I contracted this from says that she has not had sex with a man (protected or unprotected) outside of me in a long time. So long ago that she can't remember. However, she said that about a month ago that she had sex with a girl. I will be honest I do not believe this. You can give me your thoughts but I assume that oral sex between two women is hard to transmit gonorrhea. Anyways, I did a full std panel and everything came back negative except the gonorrhea I told you about. I am going to get retested again in 6 months for HIV to make sure I am good. I made her take one of those OraQuick tests last week. It came back negative but since I don't trust her I don't know how accurate the test are.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
By the way, it also should be obvious that you need to assure your other partner also is informed, tested, and treated with drugs effective against both gonorrhea and chlamydia. And both you and she need to be tested for syphilis and HIV, if not already done. If you would like to say more about yourself and that partner, I could more reliably judge the risk for other STDs. Is she a sex worker? Do either of you use IV drugs? Where do you live (city, state) (your username may suggest Florida)? What are your and her race/ethnicity?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome back to the forum.
Your wife will need to be informed of your gonorrhea, tested, and treated for it. I'm sure this isn't what you are hoping to hear, but there is no way around it. She has been exposed and very likely infected. You were infectious for her within a few hours of catching it, even though it took a few days for your symptoms to appear. If her doctors did not specifically test her for STDs, gonorrhea or chlamydia would not have been detected. And even if those tests were done and negative, she still needs to be treated, because the tests miss some infections in women, especially if she was infected very recently.
The duration of untreated gonorrhea isn't really pertinent; it makes no difference in the need for you to inform your wife and assure she is treated. That said, in past decades, before antibiotics were available, almost all gonorrhea cleared with time, probably within 6 months. But of course before it clears, serious complications are possible.
I hope these comments are helpful. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
Your wife will need to be informed of your gonorrhea, tested, and treated for it. I'm sure this isn't what you are hoping to hear, but there is no way around it. She has been exposed and very likely infected. You were infectious for her within a few hours of catching it, even though it took a few days for your symptoms to appear. If her doctors did not specifically test her for STDs, gonorrhea or chlamydia would not have been detected. And even if those tests were done and negative, she still needs to be treated, because the tests miss some infections in women, especially if she was infected very recently.
The duration of untreated gonorrhea isn't really pertinent; it makes no difference in the need for you to inform your wife and assure she is treated. That said, in past decades, before antibiotics were available, almost all gonorrhea cleared with time, probably within 6 months. But of course before it clears, serious complications are possible.
I hope these comments are helpful. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
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