[Question #13214] STI testing
 |
1 months ago
|
I am a male and have had multiple sexual partners over the last 4-5 years. Including engaging in oral anal and vaginal sex.
The most recent was 7 weeks ago with a female CSW. I had a full negative urine and blood screen 6 weeks post encounter and have no symptoms. I have previously had full screens about oncer a year and never tested positive for anything.
I am wondering if it is possible for me to have contracted any STD orally or anally which would have not shown up in my urine test, say oral or anal chlamydia for example. Is this how it works? If so would I have been able to pass it on even with negative urine tests? Not sure how this works etc - would you advise any testing? Very confused.
Many thanks
 |
H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
1 months ago
|
Welcome back. I have read your previous discussion with Dr. Hook, closed just a few hours ago, and I agree with his evaluation and advice.
Urine testing only evaluates STDs involving the genital tract, not oral or rectal infections. However, you describe no oral or anal exposure that could have resulted in infection of those sites and therefore no testing is needed. However, if you remain concerned and would be able to move on without worry, you are free to seek testing with swabs from your rectum and throat to check for gonorrhea and chlamydia. (No other STDs are reliably tested at these sites.) I am NOT recommending such testing -- I suggest it strictly for the reassurance you would gain from the negative test results, not because I believe there is a chance you were infected.
I hope these comments are helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear.
HHH, MD
--- |
1 months ago
|
I did a rectal and oral test and everything came back negative.
I know this may be repetitive - purely for peace of mind.
Given my encounter and Now that I have had full negative results all 6 weeks post exposure, am I 100% clear of any chance of any std. can I completely forget and move on? Should I do anymore testing for syphillis or herpes at 12 weeks.
Is it completely impossible for me to have a chancre in my mouth given the nature of my exposure described in previous thread? Alongside a 6 weeks negative TPPA and rpr test does this conclusively rule out syphillis?
|
H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
1 months ago
|
"I did a rectal and oral test..." Why? "...and everything came back negative." Of course.
"am I 100% clear of any chance of any std". Yes. "...can I completely forget and move on?" Yes. "Should I do anymore testing for syphillis or herpes at 12 weeks." No.
Yes it is "completely impossible for me to have a chancre in my mouth"? Yes, because of your test results, regardless of the exposure details. Yes, these tests conclusively rule out syphilis.
--- |
1 months ago
|
Okay got it thank you.
I keep having new small ulcers appearing in my mouth - I don’t know if I am just paranoid. Even if I did have syphillis (which I know you are saying I do not) would it be possible for a chancre to appear 8.5 weeks after exposure? If not, why does all the guidance online say 10-90 days for symptoms to appear.
Also, is it completely impossible to get syphillis from fingering someone’s anus and touching my own mouth (if the person was positive for syphillis). Say I had gotten syphilis through my genital… would it not be possible for a chancre to appear in my mouth? How does this work - is it always the site which bacteria entered
While I know that these questions are not logical - I would just want them answered for my own peace of mind. I understand that my testing at 6 weeks rules out syphilis - but I am finding it hard to get over symptoms and health paranoia - mainly due to the stuff I see online about a 90 day testing window etc
|
H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
1 months ago
|
If you really have open sores in your mouth, see a doctor. It would have to be something other than syphilis or any other STI. On the other hand, if you're not even certain they are ulcers ("I don't know if I am just paranoid") then probably nothing is wrong. If you google "chancre" or "syphilis symptoms", you can see typical photos -- and you would then agree there is no chance you would miss a real chancre.
---
Different symptoms appear at different times. Chancres rarely take more than 2 weeks to begin. Syphilis is a complex medical problem and no single list of symptoms or timing can cover all the possibilities. For example, some people can have no recognized chancre and the first symptom can be signs of secondary syphilis (usually a skin rash) that occurs at 90 days, or even as long as a year later.
Yes chancres can appear in the mouth. And some new syphilis infections cause no symptoms at all. That's one reason why a blood test is almost always necessary. But since the blood tests always are positive within 6 weeks, your negative result proves tow things: 1) you did not catch syphilis at your most recent sexual exposure and 2) any symptoms you have now or at any time in the future cannot possibly be due to syphilis (assuming you do not have another sexual exposure).
That completes the two follow-up comments and replies included with each question and so ends this thread. Please note that repeated questions are not permitted. This being your second, it must be your last forum question on these topics. Such repeated questions receive no reply and the posting fee is not refunded. This policy is based on compassion, not criticism, and is intended to reduce temptation to repeatedly pay for questions with obvious answers. In addition, experience shows that continued answers tend to prolong users' anxieties rather than reducing them. Finally, such questions have little educational value for other users, one of the forum's main purposes. Thank you for your understanding.
I hope the two discussions have been helpful. Do your best to just stop thinking about these issues and accept the reasoned, science based advice you have had. Best wishes and stay safe.