[Question #12978] Question regarding risk even while practicing "safe" sex
 |
3 months ago
|
I'm looking for some guidance and assessment of the risk I've undertaken, primarily related to potential exposure to my partner. I try to be safe, but my anxiety is taking strong hold.
Over the course of 10 days, I received unprotected oral sex and had protected intercourse with 4 "high end" CSWs who claim to be regularly tested. This is in an east Asian country. Three of them I only had one encounter with, the other I saw three total times. All condom use was consistent and complete.
Additionally, I met a young woman aged 22 whom I went on a couple dates with and also had sex with, four times in total but all over the course of a single evening. She asked how many partners I had ever had, and I asked in return to which she replied 9. We had unprotected oral sex, but the vaginal sex was with a condom.
I suppose this means that the total times I had protected sex was around 10 times with 5 total women.
78 hours after my last encounter (the 22 year old woman) I took doxypep. I understand this is outside the 72 hour window.
This was two weeks ago - I have had no symptoms, but I know symptoms are not always present. I was going to test this week before engaging in any activity with my partner, but heat of the moment got the better of me and we engaged in unprotected sex 12 days after my return. I am very concerned that this act may have passed something to her and I am anxious about it.
I tell myself that I was as safe as possible and have little reason to worry. That I would have symptoms if I'd contracted gonorrhea. Or HSV2. That even if I did contract chlamydia or trichomanas that this one act with my partner would be unlikely to transmit. Am I correct? What should I do next, if anything?
Over the course of 10 days, I received unprotected oral sex and had protected intercourse with 4 "high end" CSWs who claim to be regularly tested. This is in an east Asian country. Three of them I only had one encounter with, the other I saw three total times. All condom use was consistent and complete.
Additionally, I met a young woman aged 22 whom I went on a couple dates with and also had sex with, four times in total but all over the course of a single evening. She asked how many partners I had ever had, and I asked in return to which she replied 9. We had unprotected oral sex, but the vaginal sex was with a condom.
I suppose this means that the total times I had protected sex was around 10 times with 5 total women.
78 hours after my last encounter (the 22 year old woman) I took doxypep. I understand this is outside the 72 hour window.
This was two weeks ago - I have had no symptoms, but I know symptoms are not always present. I was going to test this week before engaging in any activity with my partner, but heat of the moment got the better of me and we engaged in unprotected sex 12 days after my return. I am very concerned that this act may have passed something to her and I am anxious about it.
I tell myself that I was as safe as possible and have little reason to worry. That I would have symptoms if I'd contracted gonorrhea. Or HSV2. That even if I did contract chlamydia or trichomanas that this one act with my partner would be unlikely to transmit. Am I correct? What should I do next, if anything?
 |
H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
3 months ago
|
Welcome back to the forum. Thank you for your continued confidence in our services.
The types of sex partners you describe and the exposures themselves are no different than those you asked about in your previous question six months ago. I really have nothing more to say that wasn't discussed that time. I suggest you re-read that discussion (question no. 12192).
I would have advised against doxy-PEP, which is recommended only for exposures with much higher risk than yours (the main use is in men having unprotected anal sex with other men). But having had doxy-PEP and no symptoms after 12 days, there is almost no chance you had a transmissible STD that would have put your new partner at risk. In other words, your own assumptions are correct and there is nothing more you need to do at this time.
I hope these comments are helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear.
HHH, MD
--- |
3 months ago
|
Dr. Handsfield,
Thank you for your response, and apologies if I've overstepped with a similar question.
For me, the major concern and difference between my previous question is that last time I chose to self-treat and took a swath of antibiotics as a result of my actions. This time, I've taken doxyPEP, but only at the very last moment, and 1.5 week+ after some of my sexual encounters, which I assume were not affected by this treatment.
As you know, nearly every part of the internet tells me I am at serious risk. But can one be reasonably sure that with consistent condom use that they're safe to continue typical sexual practices, while getting tested like once a year or so? If I were in my dating years, I would definitely not have tested after using condoms with 5 different partners.
The internet strongly highlights risks and the dangers that makes every kind of sex feel like walking through a minefield, and it's easy to be scared after trying to find basic information.
As I've not tested and only had doxyPEP covering maybe 2 of of my encounters, i just want to confirm I'm practicing safe sex and not placing others at risk. Since I am symptomless, I suppose chlamydia is my biggest concern as I've read half of cases are asymptomatic.
I appreciate your time.
|
H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
3 months ago
|
You describe an inherently low risk sexual lifestyle and partnerships that do not warrant doxy-PEP or any other treatment. A smarter approach is exactly the one you suggest yourself, periodic testing (gonorrhea, chlamydia, HIV, syphilis -- nothing else) from time to time, disregarding individual safe exposures if you have no symptoms.
You're being misled by the internet. If you insist on searching about STD risks, stick with professional or professionally moderated sites and avoid those by and for people with the problem or at risk for it (like Reddit, for example). Anybody can write anything they want and anxious persons tend to be drawn to information that magnifies rather than mollifying their fears. And by now it seems certain you already have the needed "basic information", so I see no need for continued online investigation. Indeed you are "practicing safe sex and not placing others at risk".
---