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Risk Assessment
Hi Doctor. I had protected sex with a CSW I don't know very well on Friday night (both times protected). Yesterday I feel irritation on my penis and a slight discomfort when urinating, mostly at the beginning of the urination. I also noticed clear discharge following a bowel movement this morning. I saw a doctor this morning and was give the usual dose of meds for chlamydia and gonorrhea. The questions I have are: What are the chances I have picked up chlamydia from this exposure(s)? Would chlamydia symptoms show up this early? I thought your posts to other 'askers' said at least 7 days before anything manifests? Could something in the condom be irritating me even still? or should that have passed? If NGU (perhaps through a brief - very brief) oral exposure was the cause, would it's symptoms be showing already? Also, if I take the meds today, how long do I need them in my system before anything I did catch would be eradicated? 2 days? And one out of curiosity, if I take the meds on one day but have unprotected sex the next, do the meds protect me from infection while they 'are eradicating the infection' so to speak, ie, during the time period they are supposed to be in my system? Thank you.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
"Required" is a subjective issue -- it depends both on the medical/risk assessment (almost no chance you were infected) and on the emotional and psychological benefits, i.e. the reassurance value of negative test results. In general, when in doubt it's probably best to be tested.
Do you think testing was even required in the first place in light of the facts I presented above? I never know where to draw the line between investing the time and effort to do it and moving on so to speak.
Do you think testing was even required in the first place in light of the facts I presented above? I never know where to draw the line between investing the time and effort to do it and moving on so to speak.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
This information doesn't change my opinions or advice. Suprax is the trade name of cefixime, i.e. same thing. With azithromycin, treatment will be effective against either gonorrhea or chlamydia. However, for the reasons above I doubt you were infected with either one and I would indeed suggest wating for the test results.
Thanks. Appreciate the response.
To respond to you: I did get a test done this morning and haven't taken the meds yet. The meds -- are 1g azithromycin and 2X400 mg pills of Suprax or Cefixime, I can't remember which one. I haven't taken the pills yet and won't until the results of the tests are in.
Also, yes, you have it right, protection from infection from a new partner while on the meds in the 48 hour period, and 2 how long until I'm eradicated to infect someone new.
Does any of the above change any of your analysis? And thanks for your help.
To respond to you: I did get a test done this morning and haven't taken the meds yet. The meds -- are 1g azithromycin and 2X400 mg pills of Suprax or Cefixime, I can't remember which one. I haven't taken the pills yet and won't until the results of the tests are in.
Also, yes, you have it right, protection from infection from a new partner while on the meds in the 48 hour period, and 2 how long until I'm eradicated to infect someone new.
Does any of the above change any of your analysis? And thanks for your help.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome back to the forum. Thanks for your question.
There are many features of your question in common with the one you asked a little over a year ago. As Dr. Hook said then, discharge with bowel movements isn't rare -- here's the link to a thread that discusses this in detail, which contains a link to yet another thread:
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/Defecation--Semen-Sperm/show/1608008
As for the "irritated" feeling, in the absence of visible discharge (spontaneous, not with defecation) it is unlikely to reflect any STD; and in any case, it's a bit soon for symptoms related to an exposure only 2 days earlier. I have to suspect anxiety is contributing. Also, having had condom protected sex, the chance of any STD is obviously low -- and it's zero for most of the STDs that could cause urethral infection. Had you been my patient, I doubt I would have agreed to treat you with antibiotics. But at least I hope testing was done first. Once treatment is started, even if you were infected, you'll probably never know for sure.
To your specific questions:
1) Chlamydia chance etc? None; and symptoms definitely too soon. A week is probably the minimum. Same for nonchlamydial NGU.
2) Condom irritation? Maybe, especially if it contained an spermicide like nonoxynol-9.
3) Protection against new STDs while taking the antibiotics? Yes, for a few days, assuming you were given the right drugs. As for protecting a partner, in the event you in fact were infected, that's a little less certain. Maybe not until ~48 hr after starting treatment. What specifically were you prescribed? That said, it is unlikely you were infected with any STD, so these questions probably are moot.
I hope these comments have been useful. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
There are many features of your question in common with the one you asked a little over a year ago. As Dr. Hook said then, discharge with bowel movements isn't rare -- here's the link to a thread that discusses this in detail, which contains a link to yet another thread:
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/Defecation--Semen-Sperm/show/1608008
As for the "irritated" feeling, in the absence of visible discharge (spontaneous, not with defecation) it is unlikely to reflect any STD; and in any case, it's a bit soon for symptoms related to an exposure only 2 days earlier. I have to suspect anxiety is contributing. Also, having had condom protected sex, the chance of any STD is obviously low -- and it's zero for most of the STDs that could cause urethral infection. Had you been my patient, I doubt I would have agreed to treat you with antibiotics. But at least I hope testing was done first. Once treatment is started, even if you were infected, you'll probably never know for sure.
To your specific questions:
1) Chlamydia chance etc? None; and symptoms definitely too soon. A week is probably the minimum. Same for nonchlamydial NGU.
2) Condom irritation? Maybe, especially if it contained an spermicide like nonoxynol-9.
3) Protection against new STDs while taking the antibiotics? Yes, for a few days, assuming you were given the right drugs. As for protecting a partner, in the event you in fact were infected, that's a little less certain. Maybe not until ~48 hr after starting treatment. What specifically were you prescribed? That said, it is unlikely you were infected with any STD, so these questions probably are moot.
I hope these comments have been useful. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
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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.
