[Question #10573] STI risk
21 months ago
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I received unprotected oral sex from a female. I tested at 1,4, and 9 weeks. Tests included syphilis rpr, HIV ag/ab, HSV 1,2 igg, and urine test for chlamydia, ghonnorhea, and trich. The female who gave me the bj was also tested at 4 and 9 weeks with the same tests. All our tests were negative. About 4 weeks after the event I was diagnosed at a clinic with oral thrush. This concerned me about HIV. I am currently at 11 weeks post event and the only concerning symptoms are the thrush and some sweating at night, which could be due to my anti depressants. I was also diagnosed with rocky mountain spotted fever years ago and told that It could effect my immune system. Do you feel my tests are conclusive considering all these circumstances? I am married and have been delaying intimacy with my wife. The clinic dr advised testing at 6 months, bc she said it was the "gold standard". Is this necessary? My main concerns are HIV, syphilis, and herpes 1,2.Thank you.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
21 months ago
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Welcome to our Forum. Thanks for your questions. Thanks as well for your confidence in our service. I'll be glad to comment. The exposure you describe was low risk. Few STIs are transmitted through receipt of oral sex. The main STI acquired from receipt of oral sex is penile gonorrhea. There are no proven cases of HIV which have ever been acquired from receipt of oral sex.
Your testing proves that you did not acquire an STI from the encounter you have described. Results of tests for gonorrhea, chlamydia and trich are reliable any time more than 3-5 days after an exposure and tests for syphilis and HIV are reliable after 6 weeks following exposure. You can be confident in the test results. As for herpes, we typically do not recommend blood tests for HSV following an encounter such as the one you describe but the absence of an outbreak and the test results you have indicate that you did not get HSV either.
I see no need for further testing and no need to abstain from unprotected sex with a regular partner. The doctor who suggested testing at 6 months is being overly conservative. You are in the clear.
I hope this information is helpful. EWH
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21 months ago
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Thank you so much for your response. Why do so many online resources recommend 12 weeks for syphilis and hiv testing? Thank you again for your reassurance.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
21 months ago
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These estimates are overly conservative. The estimates for syphilis were derived over 50 years ago. The estimates for HIV have been continually revised downward as the tests have gotten better and better. At this time there widespread agreement that results of 4th generation, combination HIV antigen/antibody tests are conclusive six weeks after an exposure to an untreated infected sex partner.
Your experience is why we urge clients not to go to the internet for information. All too much of what it there is either out of date, taken out of context, or just plain wrong and it is difficult to determine the accuracy of what is said there. EWH
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21 months ago
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Thank you for the information. I feel much better. The only concerning thing is the thrush I am dealing with. I have been through two rounds of treatment with antifungal and it just keeps coming back. Of course every online article mentions HIV as an underlying cause of this. Regardless of this as a symptom the negative HIV test at 9 weeks conclusively shows that I am HIV negative correct? Does this recurrent issue with thrush change your advice about not needing any more tests? Is HIV for sure excluded at this point?
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
21 months ago
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You have experienced the downside of the internet. Your recurring thrush does not change my assessment. Your tests are still conclusive.
Most people with thrush to not have HIV. It is more common in persons who are diabetic, who have recently taken antibiotics, and on some occasions is a chance occurrence. You may need treatment with a different kind of antibiotic.
This completes this thread. Please don't worry. EWH
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