Retest after results masked by Cipro treatment?

[TBoonedoggle]

Hello and thanks for maintaining this helpful and important site.

After decades of staying on the straight and narrow in a committed relationship, I scewed up and received protected oral sex from a csw.  The condom seemed fine afterward--but I've been plaqued by guilt since.  

In the past I've had non-std related irritation to my epididymus.  It seems to happen every couple of years--just some discomfort, but no swelling or discharge, and it goes away in a while.

The same irritation occured soon after my potential exposure.  I got a general urine test (not focussed on STDs--just looking for any bacteria) 2 weeks after exposure and it can back clean.  Since I've had the epididymitis before the doc thought it might be coliform bacteria (I'm over 40) and prescribed 500mg of Cipro 2x a day.  About 5 days into the 10 day course I went and got an panel test for 7 stds and all came back negative.  I later discovered that the Cipro can potentially mask Chlamydia or Gonorrhea (tests were Amplified Detection or APTIMA).  I was then concerned that I might still be infected, so after finishing the Cipro I waited an additional 11 days (this was about 6 weeks after exposure) and got retested for 7 STDs--again, all negative.

If it weren't for the minor epidydimal discomfort I could probably put this stupid mistake behind me, but I'm wondering if I didn't wait long enough, after finishing teh Cipro, to get retested.

Would the original urine test picked up something?  Can I be confident in the second set of STD test results (11 days after Cipro)?

Sorry for the long post. Thanks so much for your thoughtful reply.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

You did wait long enough.

There is no need for further testing, nor for further questions.  Take care.  EWH

[TBoonedoggle]

Sorry for being a pest, but did I wait long enough after the Cipro to get tested--I keep thinking I should have waited a full 2 weeks for an accurate test?  The lab said that Cipro can interfere with the results for 7-10 days.

The epididimytis is fading, or at least being kept at bay by NSAIDs--but i'm sill getting occasional creaky lower abdominal / bladder(?) aches as well as having a slight wet feeling at the tip of my penis.  I think these went along with my previous non-STD epididimytis. No discharge and no discomfort during urination.  I am totally nuts to even consider retesting?

Apologies and thanks for any thoughts.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Not for sure but, as I said, you can depend on the second set of results
EWH

[TBoonedoggle]

Thanks so much for the advice.  Would the initial urine test have found anything amiss--as one more nail to close the coffin on my fears?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

I can understand the origins of your concerns.  I cannot do much about your guilt over your mis-step but I can provide some information regarding the questions that you ask.  Before I do however, a comment or two about your situation.

1.  The risk of getting STD from receipt of oral sex is rather low and the risk from condom-protected sex is about as close to zero as one can get. thus your exposure was no risk and probably did not even require testing.  
2.  Having had epididymitis before, you are at increased risk for getting it again.  In my opinion, the irritation you had following your exposure was co-incidence, not a result of the exposure.

Now for answers to your direct questions.

The cipro could have masked the presence of gonorrhea or NGU following receipt of oral sex.  Thus I would not be overly assured based on your initial tests.

On the other hand, believe the tests that you got 11 days after completing the cipro.  If there were STD there, the tests should have detected it.  

Hope this comment is useful.  Time for you to move on.  EWH