[Question #12650] Chlamydia/Gonnorhea

6 months ago

Hi.

I’m a 31F and tested positive for chlamydia and negative for Gonorrhea back in July last year. I got treated with Doxycycline and tested negative for both 3weeks after treatment. I’m in a monogamous relationship. I shared the news with my partner( Male). He got tested in August (abt 4 weeks after I was tested) and tested negative from all three sources anus, urine and throat; so he never got treated since he was negative for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea. We continued to have sex , and beginning of December I started having symptoms so I went and got tested. Oddly enough I tested positive for Gonorrhea and Negative for Chlamydia this time around. I got a shot of Rocephin and tested negative for cure 4 weeks later. My partner waited a month and got tested (again all three sources) end of January and tested negative for both Chlamydia and Gonorrhea and may I add he is not having any symptoms. In resume he’s transmitting it to me but test negative each time. I’m afraid to engage in any sexual activity with him. What should I do?

Edward W. Hook M.D.

6 months ago

Welcome to our Forum. Thanks for your questions. There is something strange going on here. Possibilities include falsely positive tests or that your partner has other partners and is getting treated before he tests. I’ll comment, both asking questions and making comments.

Could the tests be wrong? I presume you are in North America. Some of the home tests sold over the internet have given falsely positive results. OTOH, if you are being tested in a clinic or doctor’s office with one of the major manufacturers tests, typically the test performance is excellent and both false positive and false negative tests are quite unusual. Results from these settings should be believed.

Why did you get tested? Was this a routine check up or were you symptomatic?

Do you have any reason to doubt that your partner is monogamous as you are? Are you confident he is tested when he says he has been? Why has he waited so long to get tested? Waiting to seek evaluation so long after you told him of your infection, as well as not being treated immediately after reporting contact to your infection are both quite unusual. The standard of care is to treat persons who report contact with an infected partner immediately, irrespective of the presence or absence of symptoms.

I’ll wait for your reply before making further comment. I would suggest going forward however that if your situation has been to test and wait for test results, I would confirm the positive test with a repeat test at the time you go for treatment. While some infections do clear without treatment, if the initial test is correct and it has not been a week sine your initial test, you are still likely to have a positive test at the time you return for treatment.

I look forward to your further comments. EWH

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6 months ago

I do not think the tests are wrong . We both got tested at the clinic through Quest and I have gone both times with him to get tested. He waited because we were trying to avoid a false result by doing too soon before the incubation period. Both times I got tested I was having symptoms and they disappeared upon being treated which makes me believe I was really infected.

Do you think he should get treated regardless if his results are negative since he’s been in contact with me?

Edward W. Hook M.D.

6 months ago

Thank your for the additional information. The Quest laboratories are highly reliable and use state of the art technologies for their testing. Their results should be believed. Thus you should believe the results which show that you have two different STIs several months apart and that each infection was successfully treated as indicated both by your subsequent testing and the resolution of your symptoms. FYI, the incubation period between exposure and positive tests is just 3-5 days so there is no need to delay testing. Further, in your case, the purpose of his testing was to determine if he had the same infection (each time) that you did.

He should have been treated ASAP following your positive tests with the same therapy that you received. There is no need to wait for his test results. If he has not been treated for your positive gonorrhea test in December, he certainly should be. If you and he have had sexual contact since your treatment, I would suggest that you both go together for testing soon. He then should be treated with the same regimen that you were treated with. You need to get ahead of this once and for all. EWH

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6 months ago

I know o only have one FU question left. The main reason why I reached out to you guys was to really get some clarity. Let’s assume the we both are monogamous and the tests are accurate ,and he is not being treated before getting tested. What could explain the fact that I test positive each time and he doesn’t when we have been having sexual contact this entire time?

Edward W. Hook M.D.

6 months ago

I’m sorry I can’t offer more clarity other than what I’ve already said in this final response. The test you have had are very reliable and very helpful. I will point out, however that persons can on rare occasions carry both gonorrhea and chlamydia for long periods of time asymptomatically. If your partner was not tested earlier, perhaps that’s part of the answer.

Sorry, I don’t have better answers for you. EWH.

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