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STD Risk with a CSW
I had unprotected sex with a CSW-Asian escort in US/CA. It was probably 1-2 mins unprotected then went protected for a few more mins. Did not ejaculate in her. No cuts/visible outbreaks on her or I. Is it true CSW's might not have STDs and that a single encounter is really low if contracting something. Are there material that’s available for reference?
5 wks/35 days after possible exposure I took an 8 Test Panel from stdtestexpress.com and my results came back NEG. I haven't had any symptoms and I know some infections take up to 6-12 wks for detection, the more scary permanent ones of course. What's my overall risk is? I have no symptoms going into week 6 I plan on taking another test soon but would like your recommendation at what week 8 10 12?
I do have a small soft flesh colored pink tiny bump on the underside of penis just under the rim of my penis head. You can't even really see it at first glance until I stretch out the skin and look really hard. It's painless, hasn't changed in appearance and has been there for a few weeks-before my test. Maybe it's a pimple? HSV2? Genital Warts? I've been researching this and I don't think it's typical STD symptom, so maybe it's just a skin problem. I do have mod psoriasis which appears on the genital area a few times a year and I just put some prescribed foam on it.
Also, the HIV Antibody Test/WB, Hep B/C Surface Antigen/Antibody Tests and the HerpeSelect IgG tests for HSV 1/2 what is the statistical accuracy at 5 wks of testing for those STDs? Could the results be false-Neg b/c I tested too soon. I was on sexualhealth.com and they have a testing window section where HSV1/2 and the HIV Antibody Test have 3 wks of Possible Detection/4-6 weeks of Most Likely Detection. Should I rest a little bit easier knowing that at my 5 wk test I was neg? I've been so restless the past few wks and have no one to talk to. Any sensation I feel in my penis area I do a complete examination.
Thanks for all your help and advice!!
5 wks/35 days after possible exposure I took an 8 Test Panel from stdtestexpress.com and my results came back NEG. I haven't had any symptoms and I know some infections take up to 6-12 wks for detection, the more scary permanent ones of course. What's my overall risk is? I have no symptoms going into week 6 I plan on taking another test soon but would like your recommendation at what week 8 10 12?
I do have a small soft flesh colored pink tiny bump on the underside of penis just under the rim of my penis head. You can't even really see it at first glance until I stretch out the skin and look really hard. It's painless, hasn't changed in appearance and has been there for a few weeks-before my test. Maybe it's a pimple? HSV2? Genital Warts? I've been researching this and I don't think it's typical STD symptom, so maybe it's just a skin problem. I do have mod psoriasis which appears on the genital area a few times a year and I just put some prescribed foam on it.
Also, the HIV Antibody Test/WB, Hep B/C Surface Antigen/Antibody Tests and the HerpeSelect IgG tests for HSV 1/2 what is the statistical accuracy at 5 wks of testing for those STDs? Could the results be false-Neg b/c I tested too soon. I was on sexualhealth.com and they have a testing window section where HSV1/2 and the HIV Antibody Test have 3 wks of Possible Detection/4-6 weeks of Most Likely Detection. Should I rest a little bit easier knowing that at my 5 wk test I was neg? I've been so restless the past few wks and have no one to talk to. Any sensation I feel in my penis area I do a complete examination.
Thanks for all your help and advice!!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I would recommend waiting until the 3 month mark, if you get retested at all.
Hepatitis B and C virus (HBV, HCV) are no more common in heterosexual STD clinic patients than in the general population. While there are no per-exposure transmission data for HBV, it's obviously very low. HCV has an even more undeserved reputation as an STD than HBV does. The only proved sexual transmission occurs in gay men who participate in particularly traumatic (i.e. bloody) rectal sex practices. The heterosexual partners of HCV-infected persons have no higher infection rate than the general population. HSV-2 is more common, but the best data suggest under 1 transmission per 1,000 episodes of unprotected vaginal sex with a known-infected partner. And HIV is no measurable risk for any condom-protected vaginal sex event.
For those reasons, in my STD clinic we never test for any of these infections following single exposures, except sometimes if there has been an exposure to known-infected partners -- and often not even then.
LabCorp is highly reliable and uses state of the art methods for all tests offered.
Hepatitis B and C virus (HBV, HCV) are no more common in heterosexual STD clinic patients than in the general population. While there are no per-exposure transmission data for HBV, it's obviously very low. HCV has an even more undeserved reputation as an STD than HBV does. The only proved sexual transmission occurs in gay men who participate in particularly traumatic (i.e. bloody) rectal sex practices. The heterosexual partners of HCV-infected persons have no higher infection rate than the general population. HSV-2 is more common, but the best data suggest under 1 transmission per 1,000 episodes of unprotected vaginal sex with a known-infected partner. And HIV is no measurable risk for any condom-protected vaginal sex event.
For those reasons, in my STD clinic we never test for any of these infections following single exposures, except sometimes if there has been an exposure to known-infected partners -- and often not even then.
LabCorp is highly reliable and uses state of the art methods for all tests offered.
Thank you Dr HHH for your speedy reply. I was appreciative of Grace's response in the STD community forum that I posted the same questions, I actually thought I was posting in the Dr's forum that first time around. But thank you both! Your response has eased my mind a lot. 75-80% reliable for my other tests is high. I'll definitely get tested again. If I get tested at 10 weeks would my results be above 90% reliable? I think would be more comfortable with that. I'm just really anxious to be in the clear, and I should probably just wait for 12 weeks/3months.
Sorry I just have a few more follow up questions:
You said Hep B and HSV are low to warrant testing after exposure. What makes it "med" or "high" after exposure? Is it like repeated unprotected exposure? Cuts or sores? Visible infected area? If Hep B is a concern I should be concerned with Hep C as well right? Also what do you think my risk is with HIV given my encounter? I know this isn't the forum for HIV questions, but just thought I'd ask.
The 8 Test panel that took from stdtestexpress.com, are those online tests pretty accurate? I donated my samples through LapCorp. Also, are there tests for HPV/Genital Warts? I didn't see that test available through any online sites. I know you said risks are low but it'd be nice to just have confirmation through urine/blood work.
Meanwhile, I'll be sure to practice safe from now on.
Thank you again for your advice! I've read through a lot of your previous posts and found them to be informative and have eased my mind about a lot of things.
Sorry I just have a few more follow up questions:
You said Hep B and HSV are low to warrant testing after exposure. What makes it "med" or "high" after exposure? Is it like repeated unprotected exposure? Cuts or sores? Visible infected area? If Hep B is a concern I should be concerned with Hep C as well right? Also what do you think my risk is with HIV given my encounter? I know this isn't the forum for HIV questions, but just thought I'd ask.
The 8 Test panel that took from stdtestexpress.com, are those online tests pretty accurate? I donated my samples through LapCorp. Also, are there tests for HPV/Genital Warts? I didn't see that test available through any online sites. I know you said risks are low but it'd be nice to just have confirmation through urine/blood work.
Meanwhile, I'll be sure to practice safe from now on.
Thank you again for your advice! I've read through a lot of your previous posts and found them to be informative and have eased my mind about a lot of things.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum. I'm happy to help -- and to confirm the advice you received from Grace on the STD community forum.
It is indeed true that at any point in time, most CSWs in the US don't have STDs. It is also generally believed that high-priced CSWs (e.g., expensive escorts by appointment) often have excellent understanding of STD prevention, often require their clients to use condoms, and are tested frequently; so most likely their STD risk is especially low. However, there isn't very much good research on any of this; we're dealing mostly with expert opinion based on their professional experience.
But the level of STD risk at the time of exposure is pretty much irrelevant in view of your test results. As Grace said, at 5 weeks you can rely 100% on your negative gonorrhea and chlamydia test results, and probalby on syphilis (6 weeks would be ideal for syphilis, but 5 weeks comes close to 100%); and syphilis is especially unlikel in this situation anyway.) Your other tests may have been done too early, but you probably didn't need them anyway. The odds of things like hepatitis B and HSV are too low to ever warrant testing after any particular exposure. The negative results are probably 75-80% reliable, so they are reassuring -- but if you want more definitive reassuance about them, you can be retested at 3 months.
As for the appearance of your penis, in my experience the large majority of patients with things that are so subtle you can barely see them is that nothing in fact is wrong. It's usually the result of an anxious patient examining him/herself too closely and seeing minor normal variations in the skin. Certainly herpes doesn't cause anything like you describe; and genital warts typically take at least 2-3 months, and usually 6-12 months, to show up. If you are convinced something isn't right, or just not sure, see a health professional about it. But in the meantime, I don't see any cause for worry.
I hope this helps. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
It is indeed true that at any point in time, most CSWs in the US don't have STDs. It is also generally believed that high-priced CSWs (e.g., expensive escorts by appointment) often have excellent understanding of STD prevention, often require their clients to use condoms, and are tested frequently; so most likely their STD risk is especially low. However, there isn't very much good research on any of this; we're dealing mostly with expert opinion based on their professional experience.
But the level of STD risk at the time of exposure is pretty much irrelevant in view of your test results. As Grace said, at 5 weeks you can rely 100% on your negative gonorrhea and chlamydia test results, and probalby on syphilis (6 weeks would be ideal for syphilis, but 5 weeks comes close to 100%); and syphilis is especially unlikel in this situation anyway.) Your other tests may have been done too early, but you probably didn't need them anyway. The odds of things like hepatitis B and HSV are too low to ever warrant testing after any particular exposure. The negative results are probably 75-80% reliable, so they are reassuring -- but if you want more definitive reassuance about them, you can be retested at 3 months.
As for the appearance of your penis, in my experience the large majority of patients with things that are so subtle you can barely see them is that nothing in fact is wrong. It's usually the result of an anxious patient examining him/herself too closely and seeing minor normal variations in the skin. Certainly herpes doesn't cause anything like you describe; and genital warts typically take at least 2-3 months, and usually 6-12 months, to show up. If you are convinced something isn't right, or just not sure, see a health professional about it. But in the meantime, I don't see any cause for worry.
I hope this helps. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
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.
