Do I need to be worried I have an STD?

[djs860]

Hello Doctor,

About 60 days ago, I had a sexual encounter with a prostitie ( I regret it to this day).  The encounter consisted of a short time of oral, then protected sex with a condom.  A few days after this encounter, I began to feel a burning sensation on the right side of my pubic region and on the upper part of my thigh where it connects to my pelvis.  I went to a doctor 7 days after the encounter and he said it was jock itch.  He gave me a single antibiotic pill and an ointment.  This didnt seem to help as the burning continued.  A few more days went on and I began to notice small red bumps on my leg and the right side of my genital area.  I sent some photos to a doctor on another online forum and he said it was folliculits.  So I went to the doctor again and they gave me a 30day prescription to cure folliculitis and ketoconazole 2% shampoo to help heal.  The burning sensations didn't seem to go away and my skin began to feel dry.  The online doctor said that ketoconazole could possibly irritate the skin and cause dryness.  I asked if he thought my symptoms could be STD related and he said definately not since there were no ulcers or discharge from the penis.  About a day after he said this, I noticed some small bumps on the inside of my thigh one evening.  By morning they were not there, they never burst or crusted over.  I'm just wondering if it is my mind playing tricks on me.  I've had a few encounters with my girlfriend over the past 60 days and am totally paranoid that we both now have an STD.  I don't believe she had any symptoms in her genital area, but one day she had a cold sore that was only there for about a day or so.  12 days ago now she performed oral sex on me and I know she had a single  "cankre sore" in her mouth which was located on the inside of her lip near the gum line.  It has been 12 days now since she performed oral, and I get "off and on" feelings that the tip of my penis is getting warm.  It appears to be red only at times.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

There are no data on what the precise risk is.  Most people do not have STDs and of those who do, most do not have oral infection. OF persons exposed (in any way) to a partner with an STD, most do not become infected.  Putting these figures together, I would expect your risk of having an STD to be less than 1%.  

As I said, use of a condom is safe sex and the symptoms you describe are not suggestive of an STD.  EWH  

[djs860]

You say the chances of getting an STD from unprotected oral sex is low risk....  what is low in percentage terms?  Also, even though a condom was present in genital sex,  what are the chances of getting an STD from skin contact from this "one" encounter?  

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to our Forum..  I'll try to help.  I suspect that you do not need to worry further.

At this time you've been treated on several occasions with different drugs but you i not mention testing.  Genital symptoms are not always due to STDs.  Further, your exposure, unprotected oral sex is relatively low risk for STDs (you should not get an STD with condom protected genital sex).  At this time, I urge you do seek testing for STDs at a time when you have not taken any antibiotics for at least 2 weeks.  If the tests are negative, you should believe them. If they are positive you will know what you have and can get it treated.   Any other course of action is guesswork an more likely than not to be quite frustrating.

I hope you fin this comment helpful.  EWH