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STD Anxiety
Dear Drs -
30 days ago I had unprotected sex with a female - encounter was approximately 15 minutes and included oral and vaginal sex. About 4 days after I began to experience minor urethral discomfort esp after urination or ejaculation and when not well hydrated... On day 5 post exposure I had a NAAT Gonorrhea and Chlaymidia test - both negative. On day 6 pending results took prophylactic 2G single dose Azythromycin. Same symptoms persisted so day 11 post-exposure took standard 8 panel test with all negative. With symptoms still persisting and no Trich test took 2G single dose Flagyll day 17 post exposure. Same symptoms (no others) still persist - with associated anxiety as I am married. To ensure antibiotics did not contribute to yeast infection have had probiotic yogurt and garlic pills since last week. All empirical and scientific signs seem to be negative. The female involved has been very open saying she has limited safe sex history (she is late 40s and recently divorced) and has absolutely no history or current signs of any sexual health problem. What are your thoughts? Thank you
30 days ago I had unprotected sex with a female - encounter was approximately 15 minutes and included oral and vaginal sex. About 4 days after I began to experience minor urethral discomfort esp after urination or ejaculation and when not well hydrated... On day 5 post exposure I had a NAAT Gonorrhea and Chlaymidia test - both negative. On day 6 pending results took prophylactic 2G single dose Azythromycin. Same symptoms persisted so day 11 post-exposure took standard 8 panel test with all negative. With symptoms still persisting and no Trich test took 2G single dose Flagyll day 17 post exposure. Same symptoms (no others) still persist - with associated anxiety as I am married. To ensure antibiotics did not contribute to yeast infection have had probiotic yogurt and garlic pills since last week. All empirical and scientific signs seem to be negative. The female involved has been very open saying she has limited safe sex history (she is late 40s and recently divorced) and has absolutely no history or current signs of any sexual health problem. What are your thoughts? Thank you
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum. Thanks for your question.
It is doubtful you have any STD, and probably never did. Although the sort of symptoms you describe could be due to a urethral infection, usually they are not. The gonorrhea and chlamydia test results show for sure you had neither of those; and in the off chance you had one of them, or NGU, the azithromycin treatment would have cured you. Trichomonas usually causes no symptoms in men, but if you had that, you can be sure it is now gone following metronidazole (Flagyl). I see you also posted this question on the herpes community forum, but herpes doesn't behave at all like this and there is no chance it explains your symptoms. Finally, you describe a partner who, statistically speaking, is at very low risk for these and other STDs.
So the overwhelming weight of evidence is that you acquired no STD, and no other infection, from your sexual encounter a few weeks ago. What IS going on, then? Genitally focused anxiety is the best bet. The timing and the nature of your symptoms, including their continuation despite the various treatment you tried, are typical for this. Alternatively, if you have been repeatedly squeezing your penis to look for abnormal discharge (as do many men with symptoms like yours), you might have symptoms of ongoing urethral irritation from the repeated manipulation.
FYI, neither garlic nor yogurt has any effect whatsoever in treating or preventing yeast or any other infection. I would advise you to not spend good money on such nonsense in the future!
My advice is to stop worrying, don't have any further STD testing, stop treating yourself, and if you are repeatedly examining yourself, stop. If you have a regular sex partner, continue or resume unprotected sex with that person; you have nothing that could harm her (or him). My prediction is that once your mind is off all this, the symptoms will fade.
I hope this helps. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
It is doubtful you have any STD, and probably never did. Although the sort of symptoms you describe could be due to a urethral infection, usually they are not. The gonorrhea and chlamydia test results show for sure you had neither of those; and in the off chance you had one of them, or NGU, the azithromycin treatment would have cured you. Trichomonas usually causes no symptoms in men, but if you had that, you can be sure it is now gone following metronidazole (Flagyl). I see you also posted this question on the herpes community forum, but herpes doesn't behave at all like this and there is no chance it explains your symptoms. Finally, you describe a partner who, statistically speaking, is at very low risk for these and other STDs.
So the overwhelming weight of evidence is that you acquired no STD, and no other infection, from your sexual encounter a few weeks ago. What IS going on, then? Genitally focused anxiety is the best bet. The timing and the nature of your symptoms, including their continuation despite the various treatment you tried, are typical for this. Alternatively, if you have been repeatedly squeezing your penis to look for abnormal discharge (as do many men with symptoms like yours), you might have symptoms of ongoing urethral irritation from the repeated manipulation.
FYI, neither garlic nor yogurt has any effect whatsoever in treating or preventing yeast or any other infection. I would advise you to not spend good money on such nonsense in the future!
My advice is to stop worrying, don't have any further STD testing, stop treating yourself, and if you are repeatedly examining yourself, stop. If you have a regular sex partner, continue or resume unprotected sex with that person; you have nothing that could harm her (or him). My prediction is that once your mind is off all this, the symptoms will fade.
I hope this helps. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Congratulations on the negative test results, which of course were not surprising. I have no additional comments about the CPPS/prostatitis issue, except to advise you do follow your urologist's advice about it. Best wishes.
Dr Handfield -
Since our last communication I have repeated at 7.5 weeks post-exposure 8 panel test to include HIV antibody and all results negative. As I had not had a physical/visual examination by a healthcare provide I initially saw a NP at PP clinic and then a PA at urology clinic. Neither saw any concerning issues - a slight reddening/irritation of meatus but with all test results negative neither inclined to think STD. The irritation along with slight tingling/burn post urination and ejaculation continues along with some associated prostrate discomfort. Urology PA dx prostatitis with 2x daily Cipro x 30 days - at day 20 no noticeable affect. With all that said and done - have mostly moved on to this is not STD and perhaps bout with prostatitis or CPPS but still have just a little thought in back of my head that is nagged by the daily symptoms. Do you have any additional thoughts? Thank you
Since our last communication I have repeated at 7.5 weeks post-exposure 8 panel test to include HIV antibody and all results negative. As I had not had a physical/visual examination by a healthcare provide I initially saw a NP at PP clinic and then a PA at urology clinic. Neither saw any concerning issues - a slight reddening/irritation of meatus but with all test results negative neither inclined to think STD. The irritation along with slight tingling/burn post urination and ejaculation continues along with some associated prostrate discomfort. Urology PA dx prostatitis with 2x daily Cipro x 30 days - at day 20 no noticeable affect. With all that said and done - have mostly moved on to this is not STD and perhaps bout with prostatitis or CPPS but still have just a little thought in back of my head that is nagged by the daily symptoms. Do you have any additional thoughts? Thank you
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
From a risk assessment standpoint, you don't need HIV testing. But it's up to you whether you would gain additional reassurance from a negative test result. If you do so, there is no need to wait 3 months and certainly not 6 months. You're far enough along for a 100% reliable duo test (for both HIV antibody and p24 antigen) and at 6 weeks you'll reach the 100% reliability mark for a standalone antibody test. For more information about test timing read the thread linked below:
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/1704700
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/1704700
Thanks Dr H - I did waste additional money on one more test at 25 day post-encounter that was negative so I will stop now. Would you recommend an HIV test 3 or 6 months out? I will take your advice to attempt to stop worrying and just resume normalcy and hope for symptoms to fade over time.
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.
