[Question #1181] Worried exposer

103 months ago

Help

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

103 months ago

It would appear you mistakenly submitted this before completing your question. You can continue with your question in a follow-up window. Just don't exceed the limit of 1,500 characters, about 300 words.

HHH, MD

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103 months ago

Thank Doc Hansfield! I was recently with a female sex worker. We had protected everything. I was a little tipsy and I'm pretty sure that the protection didn't rupture. I emailed her later and she confirmed that everything was good no rupture and to not worry. I'm pretty sure that I would have known if the condom ruptured. I'm still worried! I took 1 gram of Zithromax and 5 hours later took another gram of Zithromax. Would this dosage be considered a two gram dose in case I did contract an STD. Should I not have sex with my girlfriend right now. I'm having a little tingling feeling and going to the bathroom a lot. There's no other stmptoms. Could this be anxiety. Thanks for your help.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

103 months ago

Welcome to the forum. Thanks for your question.

Congratulations for the wisdom of having safe sex in this situation. After that, however, you overreacted -- as I think you know without my saying it. You correctly analyzed the situation intellectually, then let your emotions take over! Taking azithromycin wasn't necessary and was a mistake. Probably not a serious one, but since there was virtually no chance of any infection you took a higher risk of side effects and of potentially interfering with future diagnosis of an STD that would have beeen prevented by the treatment.

2 grams of azithro ideally should be taken at once, not split into two doses several hours apart. However, most likely that made no difference, and this dose would effectively prevent gonorrhea, chlamydia, and probably syphilis. (Some syphilis strains are entirely resistant to azithromycin.) Your tingling is indeed typical for anxiety, magnifying trivial symptoms or normal body sensations that you otherwise would not notice or would ignore.

At this point, you can safely resume sex at home without putting your partner at risk. If you want to take an additional protection step, wait for 10-12 days before sex with your partner; at that time, absence of symptoms will further assure you weren't infected. (Howver, this may be overkill. If somehow I were in your situation, I would not have taken azithro at all and would not stop having unprotected sex with my wife.) You do not need any testing for any STD.

I hope this has helped. Best wishes and stay safe-- HHH, MD

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103 months ago

I forgot to tell you one very important detail. I did perform oral on her that was not protected. Thank you so much.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

103 months ago

Oral sex is safe sex, cunnilingus (oral-vaginal) particularly so. Vaginal to oral transmnission is rare for all STDs and virtually absent for some. This doesn't change my assessment or advice. ---

103 months ago

Thank you for your expert opinion and you help!