[Question #11827] Possible oral Sti

12 months ago

I performed oral sex to the anus of this person, everything looked healthy and clean. I also did a lot of deep kissing. 2 days later I started with a sore throat and 3rd day I have swollen lymph nodes ( around neck), stiff neck but able to move without pain, my throat is swollen red and with white spots but no discharge, I got tested for strep but it was negative. Is it possible I got infected with gonorrhea or chlamydia and should I test? I’m taking 2 100mg doxycycline

For 7 days ( I also was doing doxycycline pep when I had this encounter) thank you.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

12 months ago

Welcome. Thanks for your question.

The timing of your exposure and symptoms certainly suggests they are connected. A non-STD respiratory infection (from kissing) is most likely. Strep would be possible, but your negative strep test rules that out. Could it be gonorrhea? Yes -- from either the anal exposure or kissing. Chlamydia is not known to cause these symptoms, and chlamydial oral infection is rare. Gonorrhea is often resistant to doxycycline, and it would be reasonable to be tested for it. If possible, you also should contact your partner (if you know him) and suggest he get tested for both oral and anal gonorrhea. You also should have a throat swab test for gonorrhea. However, the most likely explanation is a non-STD viral infection.

I hope these comments are helpful. Let me know if you still have questions about it.

HHH, MD

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12 months ago

That was very helpful. I will get tested next week for oral Gonorrhea just to be safe and get the right treatment. Thank you very much.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

12 months ago

Don't wait a week; get tested ASAP. Doxycycline will cure ~50% of oral gonorrhea; the test can remain positive for a few days even with effective treatment, but not much longer. A negative test now would be pretty reliable for gonorrhea; the longer you delay, there will be increasing likelihood that a negative test result won't be helpful.---