[Question #10791] NGU/NSU transmission

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19 months ago
Hi Doc,

Happy New Year and hope all is well.

2 weeks ago, I received unprotected oral sex from a sex worker. No pain or discharge for a week, just some infrequent slight burning at the tip when going about my day but no pain or burning during urination. 3 days ago, I received unprotected oral sex from another sex worker. 
Now I am beginning to wonder if I did get some kind of NSU/NGU from my encounter 2 weeks ago and, if true, that I passed something on to the sex worker from 2 days ago. One part of me wants to call her right away and tell her to get tested and other part of me wants to get tested first and then call her if the lab does find something. no need to get her panicked unreasonaably. I will get tested tomorrow.

1) How easy is it to transmit NGU/NSU to a person performing unprotected oral on me?
2) if she did get NGU/NSU from me, what would her symptoms be? some kind of throat irritation? pharnygitis?

Thanks.


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Edward W. Hook M.D.
19 months ago
Welcome to our Forum and thanks for your questions.  You're good to be worried about your partner's health.  I'll be glad to provide details below but I would not be worried about NGU from the exposure you describe and would not bother to even test.  My thinking on this recommendation is outlined below:

1) How easy is it to transmit NGU/NSU to a person performing unprotected oral on me?
NGU following oral sex occurs when unfamiliar bacteria from a partner's mouth get into the penile urethra and, because they are unfamiliar, cause irritation.  Most experts feel this form of NGU is not transmissible or a danger to sex partners.  When it occurs, this sort of NGU typically goes away without treatment.  When it occurs, symptoms are typically present. The fact that you have no signs or symptoms suggests you did not get NGU from this exposure.

2) if she did get NGU/NSU from me, what would her symptoms be? some kind of throat irritation? pharnygitis?
Oral infections are typi9cally asymptomatic and do not cause sore throat or irritation.

I hope this information is helpful.  As I said, you are good to think of your partners but I would not be worried that you got NGU from your exposure two weeks ago, nor would I worry about transmitting it if you did.  EWH
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