STD or Anxiety?

[lookingforanswers82]

I am a 28 year old male. Nearly 6 weeks ago, I had an episode of unprotected sex with an old friend whom I hadn't seen in many years. As this encounter was induced by heavy drinking, the stress and anxiety that followed have been more than I can handle. This has been exasperated by the fact that I am in a rarely new relationshp after 8 years of marriage. Shortly after the encounter, my mind began to spin and I immediately became concerned about STD contraction. 9 days after the encounter, I received a STD Panel and everything was negative. I have been dealing with odd sensations since the thought of STD's entered my mind. Of all the "symptoms" I have had, I am having a dull shooting pain to the tip of my penis intermittenly and a frequent desire to urinate. There has also been a numb feeling in my groin area (penis and perenium) that I previously would have associated with arousal or a need to ejaculate. There has not seemed to be any burning before or after urination, discharge, or itchiness. Just all around discomfort. I am concerned that this is herpes, as I was tested rather early after the possible exposure. While I have no logical reason to suspect this, I can't get the thought out of my head. I questioned the female I had intercourse with and she stated she had had 3 sexual partners in the last 3 years, and was last tested for STD's in November 2010. Am I blowing this out of proportion and having "genitally focused anxiety"? I just "feel" like something is wrong. Everything in that region is very sensitive right now and I just can't make out if they are psychosymatic or real symptoms.  Any advice is greatly appreciated.

[lookingforanswers82]

Thank you for a quick response. It is odd that we ask questions to which we already know the answer, but it is a relief to hear it from a trained professional. I am nearly confident that my "symptoms" will subside as the guilt and fear do the same. As you have stated in previous responses to members, scouring the web for answers is single handedly the worst thing to do in these situations. Thank you.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Welcome to the forum.

Whenever someone suspects his or her own symptoms have an emotional/psychological origin, usually s/he is correct.  So before even reading the question, the title you chose for this thread ("STD or Anxiety?") favors the latter.  And in reading your question carefully, that remains the only realistic explanation.  There are no STDs that cause the diffuse sort of gential area discomfort or "sensations" you describe, but genitally focused anxiety often does.  Your partner's belief she is free of STDs probably is valid; most people don't lie about it when asked directly.

Your "STD panel" 9 days after the exposure probably included urine tests for gonorrhea and chlamydia, which are highly reliable; for sure you have neither of them.  However, all blood tests require several weeks to become positive.  If having definitive laboratory confirmation against STDs would help convince you all is well, you could have accurate blood tests for syphilis and HIV 6-8 weeks after the exposure (i.e., any time now) and for herpes at 3 months.  In addition, I recommend you see an STD knowledgeable provider in person for examination; if not confident in the expertise of your primary care provider, your local health department STD clinic or a Planned Parenthood clinic (or their equivalents in countries other than the US) would be excellent choices.

In summary, it seems quite likely you are indeed "blowing this out of proportion", i.e. reacting emotionally to a sexual encounter you regret -- and nothing more.  If I were in your situation, I would not feel a need for further testing and I would continue unprotected sex with my wife, with no fear for her health or safety.

I hope this helps.  Best wishes--  HHH, MD