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Possibility of syphilis transmission after preventive therapiies
Hi, Doc
I had contact with female sex worker four weeks ago. I used condom and properly. There was no exchange of saliva, either. Two days later I got worried about STDs, especially about syphilis. So i went to see a doctor and got one shot of spectinomycin and received prescription of 14 day doxycycline. After taking doxy for ten days, I got a 2.4mg penicilin shot because I read that doxy is not so effective as penicilin. Also, I had an experience of taking 7 day doxycycline 9 months ago to cure ureaplasma (was cured after the treatment). I was afraid that mu body may have developed resistance against doxy because of this treatment in the past.After the penicilin shot, I still finished the remaining three days of doxycycline.
About week after the penicilin shot, I had sex with my wife thinking that the actions I have taken are enough to prevent contagion. The problem is that five days ago, I found a sore in the mouth. The location is the skin next to the top back cheek tooth. It looks like a simple canker that I spmetimes get when I am tired but the timing made me get worried again (it was about 23 days after the incident!). Before this sore, I had no symptom at all to suspect std. To make sure, I went to a clinic to take an STD test and am waiting for the results.
Questions
1. After preventive therapies, could I have been contagious if I had been infected with Syphilis.a month ago?
2. If I was infected by syphilis and got cured thanks to my preventive therapies, would still get reactive RPR test results because antibodies are already made in my body? I heard that syphilis leaves mark even if it was cured.
3. Can syphilis be transmitted through semen or saliva? Or is the direct contact with the sore the only transmission channel?
4. If I take doxy or penicilin when there was actually nothing in my body, would it have side effects?
5. Could getting the prnicilin shot while taking dixycycline may have weakend the effect of each other?
I had contact with female sex worker four weeks ago. I used condom and properly. There was no exchange of saliva, either. Two days later I got worried about STDs, especially about syphilis. So i went to see a doctor and got one shot of spectinomycin and received prescription of 14 day doxycycline. After taking doxy for ten days, I got a 2.4mg penicilin shot because I read that doxy is not so effective as penicilin. Also, I had an experience of taking 7 day doxycycline 9 months ago to cure ureaplasma (was cured after the treatment). I was afraid that mu body may have developed resistance against doxy because of this treatment in the past.After the penicilin shot, I still finished the remaining three days of doxycycline.
About week after the penicilin shot, I had sex with my wife thinking that the actions I have taken are enough to prevent contagion. The problem is that five days ago, I found a sore in the mouth. The location is the skin next to the top back cheek tooth. It looks like a simple canker that I spmetimes get when I am tired but the timing made me get worried again (it was about 23 days after the incident!). Before this sore, I had no symptom at all to suspect std. To make sure, I went to a clinic to take an STD test and am waiting for the results.
Questions
1. After preventive therapies, could I have been contagious if I had been infected with Syphilis.a month ago?
2. If I was infected by syphilis and got cured thanks to my preventive therapies, would still get reactive RPR test results because antibodies are already made in my body? I heard that syphilis leaves mark even if it was cured.
3. Can syphilis be transmitted through semen or saliva? Or is the direct contact with the sore the only transmission channel?
4. If I take doxy or penicilin when there was actually nothing in my body, would it have side effects?
5. Could getting the prnicilin shot while taking dixycycline may have weakend the effect of each other?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
.Welcome to our Forum. After the therapy you describe, taken as "preventative therapy" for a virtually no risk exposure, there is virtually no risk whatsoever that you could still have syphilis. the sore on your mouth is not due to syphilis. Thus, in answer to your specific questions:
1. After preventive therapies, could I have been contagious if I had been infected with Syphilis.a month ago?
No, you have had two different regimens of curative therapy. You would not be infectious. I say this categorically.
2. If I was infected by syphilis and got cured thanks to my preventive therapies, would still get reactive RPR test results because antibodies are already made in my body? I heard that syphilis leaves mark even if it was cured.
If you were infected your RPR would become positive.
3. Can syphilis be transmitted through semen or saliva? Or is the direct contact with the sore the only transmission channel?
Syphilis is transmitted by direct contact. The organism is not present is saliva of infected persons.
4. If I take doxy or penicilin when there was actually nothing in my body, would it have side effects?
Sure, any drug can have side effects. That is the reason we do not recommend therapy for persons not at risk. The side effects are due to the medication, not the infection or exposure.
5. Could getting the prnicilin shot while taking dixycycline may have weakend the effect of each other?
Absolutely not.
Bottom line- there is simply no plausible way that you could have syphilis related to the exposure you mention. you have been (over)treated for an infection that you almost certainly were not exposed to. Time for you to put your fears and anxiety aside. EWH
1. After preventive therapies, could I have been contagious if I had been infected with Syphilis.a month ago?
No, you have had two different regimens of curative therapy. You would not be infectious. I say this categorically.
2. If I was infected by syphilis and got cured thanks to my preventive therapies, would still get reactive RPR test results because antibodies are already made in my body? I heard that syphilis leaves mark even if it was cured.
If you were infected your RPR would become positive.
3. Can syphilis be transmitted through semen or saliva? Or is the direct contact with the sore the only transmission channel?
Syphilis is transmitted by direct contact. The organism is not present is saliva of infected persons.
4. If I take doxy or penicilin when there was actually nothing in my body, would it have side effects?
Sure, any drug can have side effects. That is the reason we do not recommend therapy for persons not at risk. The side effects are due to the medication, not the infection or exposure.
5. Could getting the prnicilin shot while taking dixycycline may have weakend the effect of each other?
Absolutely not.
Bottom line- there is simply no plausible way that you could have syphilis related to the exposure you mention. you have been (over)treated for an infection that you almost certainly were not exposed to. Time for you to put your fears and anxiety aside. EWH
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Glad to help. EWH
Many thanks for the responses. I feel so relieved.
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.
