gonorrhea scare

[learning2]

dear doctor,

I'm male, last month I had gonorrhea although it was protected oral and vaginal sex. I had no symptom whatsoever, but my doctor send me to the lab anyway just to be sure. the outcome was positive.

I was treated for 10 days with antibiotics. after that 10 days, I was checked and result is negative. at the end of the month, I was rechecked and still negative.

however, in my country, only urethra swab method available for gonorrhea testing. is it accurate ? the result came from 2 different lab.

could the bacteria undetected by this test ? could it be hiding probably in the testicle or somewhere along the urinary tract ?

I'm very worried I might pass this disease to my partner.

do you have any suggestion ? at the moment I also had no symptom whatsoever. but this question is very bothering me. and I had what you probably call heightened sensation due to my fear.

thank you for your answer.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

I agree with your docotor. There isno suggestion of STD in these results. Take care. EWH

[learning2]

dear doctor,

my doctor advised me to take another swab test to ease my paranoia. just came back with this result :

coccus gram positive : 3 (few)
diplococcus gram neg (extra) : not found
diplococcus gram neg (intra) : not found

my doctor told me nothing to worry about the coccus gram positive. do you have 2nd opinion to this matter ?

it's been a 8 weeks since last time I had sex and I have no problem while urinating.

thank you for your time and reply.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Yes it might. EWH

[learning2]

dear doctor,

could amoxicillin made the gonorrhea asymptomatic ? I was taking amoxicillin for 5 days for my sore throat after the csw contact. I think it was 250mg 3x daily.

thank you

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Thanks for the clarification.  You are correct that there is no risk at all from receipt of masturbation or showering together.  When condoms are used consistently and correctly throughout sex they are also close to 100% effective but occasionally fail.  At the same time, the asymptomatic nature of your infection makes me wonder if you were truly infected or not. Either way, if you did not have unprotected sex with your regular partner in the interval between sex with the CSW and treatment, your partner does not need treatment.  EWH

[learning2]

doctor, thank you for answering my question

I have been in a monogamous relationship for 10 years. I had 2 episode of csw contact. the first only includes showering together and she gave me hand job. the other is protected oral and vaginal.

from what I know, hand job and showering together and being naked without genital contact will not pass gonorrhea.

and from what I know, condom will not give you 100% protection.

after my contact with csw, I have not had sex with my partner. or should she be checked also ?

this is very confusing situation also for me. unless hand job could pass gonorrhea

again, thank you for the explanation concerning the swab test result.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to the Forum.  Your situation is a bit peculiar.  I am surprised to hear that gonorrhea was identified in you following receipt of condom protected sex.  If the test was correct (very rarely they give false positive results) it may be that you were infected at some time before the exposure you mention and were asymptomatically carrying the infection until it was discovered.  Either way, you have now had 3 tests for gonorrhea which are negative- believe them.  Very, very rarely a single swab test from the penis might miss and infection but certainly not 3 times- you are cured.

As far as your other questions, swabs are the preferred test for being sure that a person does not have gonorrhea.  No reason for you to worry that the bacteria is now "hiding" somewhere in you.

Finally, from your post it sounds as though you have a regular partner who may not have been treated for infection.   If that is the case, she needs to be treated.  As I said above, you may have had asymptomatic infection before your encounter of concern.  If you were treated, anyone you have had unprotected sex with in the 30 days before your diagnosis, at least, should be treated

Hope this helps.  Take care.  EWH