[Question #10275] Chances of having Syphilis
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24 months ago
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Hey doc. so about 9 days ago, i had protected sex at a massage parlor followed by protected oral. After i finished, i saw the semen inside of the condom. after removal of the condom i saw it did not rip as i inspected it. Of course, my thoughts started getting to me and 3 days later i got tester for gonorrhea and chlamydia. Negative was the result of that test. My nerves calmed, however for some reason syphilis popped into my head. what if i got that through body-body contact? i did not see any chancre on her pelvic area or any on her mouth. this is just me needing a peace of mind.
1. Any chance i could get syphilis from body to body contact? my pelvic area touching the chancre if there was one i did not see for some reason? i dont have any cuts on my body or anything.
2. Is syphilis mainly in male to male sexual encounters? i am a male and received oral from a female.
3. can i just carry on with my life or any recommendation to get tested 22-26 days after my encounter?
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
24 months ago
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Welcome to our Forum. Thanks for your questions. I'll be glad to comment. Let me first congratulate you on your practice of safe, condom protected sex. This will do much to protect you. Condoms, as long as they are worn throughout the encounter and do not break (yours did not) provide excellent protection from STIs, reducing the risk for gonorrhea, chlamydia and HIV to virtually zero and reducing the rather small chance of other STIs such as syphilis or herpes more than 50%. Your risk for syphilis is very very small. While testing a few weeks after an encounter is always a good idea, the chances you acquired syphilis are close to zero.
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Regarding the specific questions you ask:
1. Any chance i could get syphilis from body to body contact? my pelvic area touching the chancre if there was one i did not see for some reason? i dont have any cuts on my body or anything.
Very unlikely. While in medicine and science we can never say never, your risk for syphilis is tiny. Most syphilis is transmitted through genital or anal contact and the important areas were condom protected. The skin on other parts of the body is more resistant to syphilis infection than the skin in the genital area.
2. Is syphilis mainly in male to male sexual encounters? i am a male and received oral from a female.
You are correct. Most syphilis (about 60% at present) is acquired through male-male contact. Syphilis is actually rare among commercial sex workers.
3. can i just carry on with my life or any recommendation to get tested 22-26 days after my encounter?
Testing is always a personal choice. I do not feel strongly that that you need testing.
I hope this information is helpful. EWH
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24 months ago
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Thank you so much for your responses! 1 more question that came to mind.
What is the penis shaft touched a chancre hypothetically ? Any chance this would cause me to get syphilis? Or is it strictly through any openings such as the tip, cuts, or anal?
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
24 months ago
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A simple touch really does not increase the risk. Friction ( rubbing back and forth) over a syphilis sore would increase risk. Still, regarding the encounter you described, I would really not be worried. EWH ---
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24 months ago
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Thanks for your help. The reason I asked the last question was the condom did roll up a bit so I’m not sure if my shaft made any contact with any of her vagina. Didn’t roll up too high, maybe 1 inch from its maximum roll down limit
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
24 months ago
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We provide up to three responses to each client's questions. As this is the 3rd response, this thread will be closed shortly without further answers.
I would not worry that the condom rolled up a little. EWH
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