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NGU / Possible Bacterial Infections
As many have said, thanks for providing the resource. I have spent a good deal of time reading this and have found a lot of good info. My story will not be very unique, I had a lapse in judgment and ended up receiving unprotected oral sex from a prostitute. The encounter was very brief, maybe 30-45 seconds. I ended up ejacualting before I reached a full erection. I have read on here that unprotected oral is relatively low risk, especially given the brief exposure. This act took place just over 5 weeks ago.
Just over two weeks after the episode (16 days to be exact), I went to my PCP and was tested for the usual things. Gonorrhea and Chlamydia by NAAT urine tests and blood test for Syphilis, all tests came back negative. As of today, I have no physical symptoms. I have no sores or redness on my penis and I do not have any burning during urination. My symptoms are an intermitent iritation in the center of my penis pretty close to wear the shaft meets the head. I have also head frequent urination at times, the urine seems to look normal. These sypmtoms seem to come and go. I will at times go for a full day and have nothing, sometimes I have this iritation for 3-4 hours. My questions are:
1) Would a bacterial infection such as NGU ( in this case, I have alredy tested negative for Chlamydia) show up in the NAAT urine test? I seem to find conflicting information. I met with my local PP office and they acted very unfamiliar with NGU.
2) Are symptoms usually pretty constant or is it common that this iritation would come and go? I took an at home test for UTI and it seemed to come back negative. My understanding is the UTI test is checking for white blood cells and that is the same thing test for NGU would look at.
3) If I had a bacterial infection that was not caused by Chlamydia, how infectious would this be to my partner? I am married and am also concerned about passing something to her.
4) Any reason I should re-test for basic STDs?
Just over two weeks after the episode (16 days to be exact), I went to my PCP and was tested for the usual things. Gonorrhea and Chlamydia by NAAT urine tests and blood test for Syphilis, all tests came back negative. As of today, I have no physical symptoms. I have no sores or redness on my penis and I do not have any burning during urination. My symptoms are an intermitent iritation in the center of my penis pretty close to wear the shaft meets the head. I have also head frequent urination at times, the urine seems to look normal. These sypmtoms seem to come and go. I will at times go for a full day and have nothing, sometimes I have this iritation for 3-4 hours. My questions are:
1) Would a bacterial infection such as NGU ( in this case, I have alredy tested negative for Chlamydia) show up in the NAAT urine test? I seem to find conflicting information. I met with my local PP office and they acted very unfamiliar with NGU.
2) Are symptoms usually pretty constant or is it common that this iritation would come and go? I took an at home test for UTI and it seemed to come back negative. My understanding is the UTI test is checking for white blood cells and that is the same thing test for NGU would look at.
3) If I had a bacterial infection that was not caused by Chlamydia, how infectious would this be to my partner? I am married and am also concerned about passing something to her.
4) Any reason I should re-test for basic STDs?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
1) Scant discharge that is entirely clear usually is normal; and if it is thin and water, I agree urine is most likely. Discharge eut to infeciton usually is thick and cloudy or with yellowish color.
2) Redness and irritation are usually not present except with gonorrhea.
3) Correct.
4) This based on both rationales: absence of chlamydia plus general information on "what the medical world knows" There indeed is conflicting information about the importance of treating female partners of men with NGU. This is normally done, but it is a precaution of unproved value -- especially for NGU acquired by oral sex. In any case, it is quite clear you do NOT have NGU, so it's a moot point in this case.
Trust me on this: If I somehow found myself in your situation, I would have not had any testing at all and would never have stopped having unprotected sex with my wife. And with the negative tests you have had, for sure you can safely resume relations with her without harm or worry.
That will be my last advice on this thread. Do your best to move on.
2) Redness and irritation are usually not present except with gonorrhea.
3) Correct.
4) This based on both rationales: absence of chlamydia plus general information on "what the medical world knows" There indeed is conflicting information about the importance of treating female partners of men with NGU. This is normally done, but it is a precaution of unproved value -- especially for NGU acquired by oral sex. In any case, it is quite clear you do NOT have NGU, so it's a moot point in this case.
Trust me on this: If I somehow found myself in your situation, I would have not had any testing at all and would never have stopped having unprotected sex with my wife. And with the negative tests you have had, for sure you can safely resume relations with her without harm or worry.
That will be my last advice on this thread. Do your best to move on.
Thank you for the very quick response a couple days ago. You are correct, I had a feeling what type of response I would get and that genitally focused anxiety may be part it. I have a few quick follow up questions:
1) You mentioned that discharge is the primary symptom, would the discharge normally be thick and with a slight color? I have at times thought I may have a slight discharge, but its always been the consistancy of urine or water. My rational side is telling me is most likely is urine as I have only seed in before or after using the bathroom. I have also not had any stains in my underwear to indicate discharge any other time of the day. I would think discharge would leave some spots from wearing underwear all day.
2) Would there normally be a burn or redness associated with discharge? As I mentioned, my penis and the meatus all look normal and I dont have any burning while urinating.
3) It sounds like if I had a bacterial infection, I would have tested for positive with my at home UTI test strips since it is checking for Leukocytes which are supposed to be white blood cells. Would a swab test chek for the same matter?
4) You mentioned that you do not believe any harm or infection would be aquired by my wife even if I had an infection, is this because Chlamydia has been ruled out? Or is this based on what the medical world now knows about these types of infection. I have also seemed to see some conflicting information on this as well.
I dont think I will have any other follow ups once you chime in on these questions. Thanks again for the answers and providing this valuable resource.
1) You mentioned that discharge is the primary symptom, would the discharge normally be thick and with a slight color? I have at times thought I may have a slight discharge, but its always been the consistancy of urine or water. My rational side is telling me is most likely is urine as I have only seed in before or after using the bathroom. I have also not had any stains in my underwear to indicate discharge any other time of the day. I would think discharge would leave some spots from wearing underwear all day.
2) Would there normally be a burn or redness associated with discharge? As I mentioned, my penis and the meatus all look normal and I dont have any burning while urinating.
3) It sounds like if I had a bacterial infection, I would have tested for positive with my at home UTI test strips since it is checking for Leukocytes which are supposed to be white blood cells. Would a swab test chek for the same matter?
4) You mentioned that you do not believe any harm or infection would be aquired by my wife even if I had an infection, is this because Chlamydia has been ruled out? Or is this based on what the medical world now knows about these types of infection. I have also seemed to see some conflicting information on this as well.
I dont think I will have any other follow ups once you chime in on these questions. Thanks again for the answers and providing this valuable resource.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum. Thanks for your question, your kind words about the forum, and for reading other threads with questions like your own.
Most likely you will have correctly predicted my replies. Basically, you have already done all you need to do. I recommend no further testing and that if you have a regular partner, you resume sex without worry about either your health or hers (or his). To your specific questions:
1,2) NAATs are only for gonorrhea and chlamydia. There is no lab test for nonchlamydial NGU. The closest is exactly what you have done, to check for excess WBCs in the urine, and your negative home UTI test is further reassurance you don't have it. The main symptom of NGU is discharge. On and off symptoms of the sort you describe is usually not due to any urethral infection; genitally focused anxiety is the most common explanation. Further, nonchlamydial NGU is generally harmless for both affected men and their partners. This appears to especially be true for NGU acquired by oral exposure.
3) I don't accept the premise; you probably have no infection, bacterial or otherwise. But if you did, as implied above I believe no harm would come to your partner through either vaginal or oral sex.
4) As implied above, I see no need for any other testing.
I hope this has been helpful. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
Most likely you will have correctly predicted my replies. Basically, you have already done all you need to do. I recommend no further testing and that if you have a regular partner, you resume sex without worry about either your health or hers (or his). To your specific questions:
1,2) NAATs are only for gonorrhea and chlamydia. There is no lab test for nonchlamydial NGU. The closest is exactly what you have done, to check for excess WBCs in the urine, and your negative home UTI test is further reassurance you don't have it. The main symptom of NGU is discharge. On and off symptoms of the sort you describe is usually not due to any urethral infection; genitally focused anxiety is the most common explanation. Further, nonchlamydial NGU is generally harmless for both affected men and their partners. This appears to especially be true for NGU acquired by oral exposure.
3) I don't accept the premise; you probably have no infection, bacterial or otherwise. But if you did, as implied above I believe no harm would come to your partner through either vaginal or oral sex.
4) As implied above, I see no need for any other testing.
I hope this has been helpful. 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.
