[Question #10232] Symptoms Lingering After Exposure and Negative Test

24 months ago

Good Afternoon Doctor,So on May 23 I(male) went to a massage parlor where the massuese gave me a hand job till I finished, oil was used for this. About 15 minutes later she provided me with a condom for sexual intercourse. The condom seemed intact after sex was completed. About 1 week later I started to feel a hot/burning sensation on my pubic area and was urinating very frequently. COncerned about these symptoms I went to my health department where they checked me for STDs, pricked my finger to test for HIV and Syphilis and took my urine sample. I got the results about 1 week later and all came back negative, mind you I'm still having the symptoms I mentioned earlier. Since my symptoms would not stop I ended up going to my GP and I told him what was going on and he prescribed doxy antibiotics for 14 days. That did not seem to help at all as the symptoms proceeded after finishing all my antibiotics. 30 days later I went for another STD panel test, this time they drew blood from my vein to check for HIV1/2, syphilis, HSV1/2 , HEPA/B/C and also took a urine sample. I got my results back 3 days later and tested positive for HSV1, I wasnt really surprised there since I sometimes get a cold sore on my lip. Not satisfied with the test results I ended up taking an HIV RNA test 40 days after exposure and it came back negative. I am really at a loss right now because the symptoms I have now have to be a result of the exposure I had. I have never had these symptoms before. The symptoms still persist and I opted to get another full panel STD test at 60 days, which all came back negative except for HSV1.

24 months ago

Sorry I have to double post but needed to add the rest of this information.

I've gone to a urologist and they stated everything came back normal on all their tests. Oh and 30 days after the exposure my tongue turned white, I am really at a loss of ideas on how to proceed here. The feeling of having to pee frequently hasnt gone away, the burning sensation comes and goes on different days and my stomach is making very loud noises, seems I have lost 8 pounds as well in the last 2 months. These STD test results should be conclusive that I dont have any STDs except for hsv1, correct? Any suggestions on what I can do to get these symptoms resolved as I still have them.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

24 months ago

Welcome to the forum. Thanks for your question.

It is clear you acquired no STI from the exposure described. The exposure was very low risk -- zero risk from the hand-genital contact, and very low risk from condom protected vaginal sex. Your negative test results all are conclusive. lack of improvement on doxycycline rules out most bacterial infections.

I am confident that no infection of any kind explains the symptoms you describe. HIV is impossible based on your test results. The symptoms you describe are not those expected for any infection you could have acquired that event. They are, however, very typical for anxiety magnifying trivial symptoms, or even normal body sensations, either of which otherwise would not be bothersome and perhaps not even noticed. I would advise you to discuss this possibility with your doctor. I have no advice about any other STD or HIV testing that could possibly explain what you are describing.

I hope these comments are at least somewhat helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear.

HHH, MD

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24 months ago

Thank you for the reply Doctor Handsfield. I forgot to mention, I also have a lot of small ball pen bumps towards the bottom of my shaft, close to my testicle sack. I had these when I took my STD test, not sure if these bumps are new or not. Could these be herpes or HPV? Not sure the test I took tested for HPV. I know it tested for HSv2 and that came back negative.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

24 months ago

This doesn't sound like genital warts, and for sure not herpes. My guess is you're looking at normal skin glands, but bring them to your doctor's attention if you remain concerned about them.---