[Question #10079] Possible STI Exposure
 |
26 months ago
|
I had an exposure; I want to assess it to any possible STI; specifically HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and gonorrhea. I went to massage parlor, where I met a woman, I do not know her STI status. I did the following activities: 1- Deep Kissing 2- I sucked her breasts 3- I fingered her vagina, I checked if I have any cuts in my fingers but there is no cuts 4- She gave me unprotected oral sex, for maximum 10-15 seconds (receiver only) 5- No vaginal or anal sex at all.
Second day after the exposure, I had sore throat which lasted for 3-4 days. Could this be a symptom of catching any STD specifically HIV and gonorrhea (throat gonorrhea) since I read that sore throat could be a symptom of infection for both of them
 |
H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
26 months ago
|
Welcome back to the forum. Thanks for your continued confidence in our services.
Scanning your question three years ago, some aspects of this question were discussed at that time. As Dr. Hook advised then, kissing is no risk for any STI. Mouth contact is never a risk except for genital contact, i.e. oral sex, and even then is low risk; there is no chance of any STD from your mouth contacting any other body area, including breasts and nipples. STIs also are not transmitted by fingering or other hand-genital contact.
So the only aspect of this event that carried any STI risk at all was the brief oral sex you received. And that was risk free for many infections, including HIV and chlamydia. There are small risks for gonorrhea, syphilis and nongonococcal urethritis (NGU). You don't say anything about your partner to judge the likelihood she was infected. But even if she is at very high risk for STIs, you were not at high risk from this event.
Your symptoms are not suggestive of gonorrhea or any other STI. Despite what you read online, gonorrhea is a very rare cause of sore throat, and you were not at risk for oral gonorrhea. And you were at no risk of HIV, and HIV cannot cause symptoms sooner than 8-10 days after exposure. Almost certainly your sore throat was a minor viral infection -- which perhaps you caught from your sex partner a couple days previously, or from anyone else in your environment in the days before it started.
What to do now? If I were in your situation, I would not be tested for anything and I would continue unprotected sex with my wife without any worry of giving any STI. However, if you would like to be tested for reassurance, you could do that. If so, I would suggest only a urine gonorrhea test, which is valid any time more than 3-4 days after exposure; and blood tests for HIV and syphilis after 6 weeks. But really, this event was entirely safe and nothing to worry about.
I hope these comments are helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear.
HHH, MD
--- |
25 months ago
|
Dear Dr. Handsfield,
Thank you for your reply, can you tell me what are the symptoms that I should not neglect and go for testing immediately, for example that I do not have any discharge from my penis, but sometimes I can smell a pungent smell for my urine. could this be a sign of any infection?
Regards,
|
H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
25 months ago
|
Urine odor results entirely from diet and fluid intake and does not suggest any infection.
Up til now, the main symptoms that would indicate an STD were discharge of pus or mucus from your penis, painful urination, or penile blister or sore. With none of these by now (about 3 weeks since exposure?), almost certainly you acquired no STD. If you would like additional reassurance, you could have a urine gonorrhea test now and blood tests for HIV and syphilis when you reach the 6 week mark. However, if I were in your situation, I wouldn't be tested at all. There is almost no chance you acquired any STD.
---