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Treatment / possible Mycoplasma or UU?
Hello, and thanks for your time...
First off, my story...
While my girlfriend and I were on a 2-month break, I had a thing with another girl. I wanted to be safe so I used a condom, but I used a lambskin condom which I didn't realize at the time doesn't protect against STIs. After pulling out, I went to the bathroom and washed my penis with a bar of soap. The next morning I had a big (non-itchy) rash where I had used the soap...Mostly above the penis. I used cortisone in that area for the next few days, and it went away. Well that was the last time me and that girl had intercourse, because soon after (a week later) I got back with my girlfriend (who I believe remained abstinent). We had unprotected sex...
Ejaculation with my girlfriend was painful, so I got paranoid the next day, learned of the lambskin issue, and then went immediately to a general practice. G/C test came back negative. Throughout the next week I felt a slight tingle at the end of my penis, and some slight testicular pain. Urinating frequently. Masturbation hurt and was weird. No itch. No discharge, other than late one evening some clear stuff that I had to squeeze to get out. It just felt sick down below. Now as I'm writing 2 weeks later, I'm on my second day of Bactrim. I have no pain or tingle in the penis area, but a constant dull pain in my lower back. So a few questions...
1.) With G/C negative, I'm reading about Mycoplasma G. and UU. But I'm afraid I don't understand fully. Is treatment necessary for these or do symptoms subside in time?
2.) Since both are part of the "natural" flora (?), would I need to tell my girlfriend she might be infected or would she be fine?
3.) If I take antibiotics, and then have unprotected sex with my girlfriend, will I be exposed to the possible MG/UU “diseases” I may have passed (and get symptoms again) or just the "natural flora," which would not be infectious?
Thank you!
First off, my story...
While my girlfriend and I were on a 2-month break, I had a thing with another girl. I wanted to be safe so I used a condom, but I used a lambskin condom which I didn't realize at the time doesn't protect against STIs. After pulling out, I went to the bathroom and washed my penis with a bar of soap. The next morning I had a big (non-itchy) rash where I had used the soap...Mostly above the penis. I used cortisone in that area for the next few days, and it went away. Well that was the last time me and that girl had intercourse, because soon after (a week later) I got back with my girlfriend (who I believe remained abstinent). We had unprotected sex...
Ejaculation with my girlfriend was painful, so I got paranoid the next day, learned of the lambskin issue, and then went immediately to a general practice. G/C test came back negative. Throughout the next week I felt a slight tingle at the end of my penis, and some slight testicular pain. Urinating frequently. Masturbation hurt and was weird. No itch. No discharge, other than late one evening some clear stuff that I had to squeeze to get out. It just felt sick down below. Now as I'm writing 2 weeks later, I'm on my second day of Bactrim. I have no pain or tingle in the penis area, but a constant dull pain in my lower back. So a few questions...
1.) With G/C negative, I'm reading about Mycoplasma G. and UU. But I'm afraid I don't understand fully. Is treatment necessary for these or do symptoms subside in time?
2.) Since both are part of the "natural" flora (?), would I need to tell my girlfriend she might be infected or would she be fine?
3.) If I take antibiotics, and then have unprotected sex with my girlfriend, will I be exposed to the possible MG/UU “diseases” I may have passed (and get symptoms again) or just the "natural flora," which would not be infectious?
Thank you!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
No offense taken at all. But in any case, I do not accept the premise:
I am not personally aware of any online sources that list those symptoms as indicating NGU. If you stick with professionally reliable sources -- CDC, the American Sexual Health Assocation (ASHA), and so on -- you are unlikely to see such symptoms listed.
You may well have prostatitis; or more likely the chonic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) -- you can google that term for more information. But these are not STDs. Most likely, however, your symptoms are due to genitally focused anxiety, nothing more.
I am not personally aware of any online sources that list those symptoms as indicating NGU. If you stick with professionally reliable sources -- CDC, the American Sexual Health Assocation (ASHA), and so on -- you are unlikely to see such symptoms listed.
You may well have prostatitis; or more likely the chonic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) -- you can google that term for more information. But these are not STDs. Most likely, however, your symptoms are due to genitally focused anxiety, nothing more.
Ok, I understand. But please, one last question and I promise to complete this thread. (And yes, I know this feeds my anxiety...) But why is it so widespread all over legitimate sources that NGU and STDs can cause back pain, painful ejaculation, and similar prostatis symptoms? I'm not questioning you, I promise. You're the doc (and I've read your biographies outside of MedHelp). But there has to be some disconnect between your 30+ years of STD research and study and these other sources. It's just baffling to be honest. Please don't take that offensively. I'd just like to know. I want you to be right.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
No, I think that is not a logical course. Do not have a urethral swab test for WBCs. Entirely normal men have WBCs in the urethra from time to time. In the absence of symptoms -- i.e. without discharge of pus or mucus from your urethra -- you can be confident that you don't have NGU or any other infection. And if you did, the Bactrim would probably have cleared it up.
Don't do any more testing; you're just asking for trouble if you do. Suck it up, move on, and stop worrying about any of this.
Don't do any more testing; you're just asking for trouble if you do. Suck it up, move on, and stop worrying about any of this.
That quote speaks to me, thank you. I hope you are right, and I trust your expertise.
To quell my anxiety, I will go to the clinic today to get a swab done for WBCs. Does that sound like a logical course of action to find out any NGU? Will antibiotics (Bactrim) that I took (but stopped taking early because of side effects two days ago) alter the swab test?
Thank you!
To quell my anxiety, I will go to the clinic today to get a swab done for WBCs. Does that sound like a logical course of action to find out any NGU? Will antibiotics (Bactrim) that I took (but stopped taking early because of side effects two days ago) alter the swab test?
Thank you!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Unprotected oral sex is relatively safe, with virtually no risk for some STDs (including HIV, HSV-2, HPV, trichomonas, chlamydia, for example and also for UU and MG). There is low to modest risk for other STDs, but much less than for vaginal or anal sex. (It's easy to find online information that is scary about oral sex. Most of it highly exaggerates the risk and doesn't understand the zero risk for many STDs.)
The intermittent mild burning also isn't a concern -- not a likely STD symptom.
As I said, see a doctor if your symptoms worse or they continue to bug you. But I remain confident no STD is likely to be found. In the meantime, I suggest you stop searching the internet about your exposure and symptoms. You're obviously being drawn to information that inflames your anxieties and missing the reassuring bits.
Here is a warning about the internet that I have posted in some other answers from time to time. I think it bears repeating:
"Nate Silver is the recently famous statistician (because of his successes in predicting election results) who writes the NY Times' FiveThirtyEight political blog. In his book 'The Signal and the Noise', Silver writes of a hypothetical hypochondriac with an Internet connection: 'The more time that you give him, the more information he has at his disposal, the more ridiculous the self-diagnosis he'll come up with; before long he'll be mistaking a common cold for the bubonic plague.'"
Sound familiar?
The intermittent mild burning also isn't a concern -- not a likely STD symptom.
As I said, see a doctor if your symptoms worse or they continue to bug you. But I remain confident no STD is likely to be found. In the meantime, I suggest you stop searching the internet about your exposure and symptoms. You're obviously being drawn to information that inflames your anxieties and missing the reassuring bits.
Here is a warning about the internet that I have posted in some other answers from time to time. I think it bears repeating:
"Nate Silver is the recently famous statistician (because of his successes in predicting election results) who writes the NY Times' FiveThirtyEight political blog. In his book 'The Signal and the Noise', Silver writes of a hypothetical hypochondriac with an Internet connection: 'The more time that you give him, the more information he has at his disposal, the more ridiculous the self-diagnosis he'll come up with; before long he'll be mistaking a common cold for the bubonic plague.'"
Sound familiar?
And I also left out slight burning during urination, sometimes - about half the time. (Sorry, I just now remembered as I went to the restroom.)
I didn't forget anything else...
I didn't forget anything else...
Thanks for responding so quickly! That's good to know about the lambskin...great actually. However, in all my efforts to craft a perfect post on here, I left out that I received unprotected oral from the girl as well. Would that make a difference in my situation?
(P.S. - I feel really dumb about receiving unprotected oral...I've learned a lot by researching this stuff the past several weeks.)
(P.S. - I feel really dumb about receiving unprotected oral...I've learned a lot by researching this stuff the past several weeks.)
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum. Thanks for your question.
My first comment is that natural ("lambskin") condoms do protect against STDs. Theoretically, they are more porous than latex -- but in fact protection is almost always complete.
Second, there are no STDs that cause the sort of symptoms you have described. And the immediate rash started too soon; as you suspected, I agree it is likely due to a physical or chemical irritation, or allergy -- but not an infection from your partner. Your other symptoms -- back pain, discomfort with ejaculation, etc -- are not caused by any known STD. I'm pretty sure these are just anxiety, magnifying normal body sensations or minor symptoms that you otherwise wouldn't even notice.
Third, neither Ureaplasma nor Mycoplasma genitalium is known to cause the sorts of symptoms you describe. These really are not a serious consideration in this circumstance.
Those comments cover some of your specific questions, but to be sure there is no misunderstanding:
1) Your symptoms are not due to either MG or UU. They will subside with time -- because most likely they are not due to any infection at all. As discussed above, you condom protected you.
2) You need not say anything to your regular partner. I am confident you are not putting her at risk for anything.
3) Do not take antibiotics. If you need further reassurance, or if any symptoms persist that you are concerned about, visit a doctor or clinic (preferably one with lots of STD knowledge and experience) for professional evaluation and follow their advice. But truly, I see no cause for concern.
I hope this has helped. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
My first comment is that natural ("lambskin") condoms do protect against STDs. Theoretically, they are more porous than latex -- but in fact protection is almost always complete.
Second, there are no STDs that cause the sort of symptoms you have described. And the immediate rash started too soon; as you suspected, I agree it is likely due to a physical or chemical irritation, or allergy -- but not an infection from your partner. Your other symptoms -- back pain, discomfort with ejaculation, etc -- are not caused by any known STD. I'm pretty sure these are just anxiety, magnifying normal body sensations or minor symptoms that you otherwise wouldn't even notice.
Third, neither Ureaplasma nor Mycoplasma genitalium is known to cause the sorts of symptoms you describe. These really are not a serious consideration in this circumstance.
Those comments cover some of your specific questions, but to be sure there is no misunderstanding:
1) Your symptoms are not due to either MG or UU. They will subside with time -- because most likely they are not due to any infection at all. As discussed above, you condom protected you.
2) You need not say anything to your regular partner. I am confident you are not putting her at risk for anything.
3) Do not take antibiotics. If you need further reassurance, or if any symptoms persist that you are concerned about, visit a doctor or clinic (preferably one with lots of STD knowledge and experience) for professional evaluation and follow their advice. But truly, I see no cause for concern.
I hope this has helped. 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.
