[Question #13383] Syphillis through licking

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3 days ago
Hello doc 

Exposure  transgender in a state with highest syphillis cases 

Licking of head of penis and shaft unprotected for about 5-10 seconds max before noticing and telling sex worker to stop no sex at all, possibly lips wrapped around penis but no insertion of penis in mouth at all. What are chances this event infected me ? 


Week later decided to take doxycycline just in case she was infected, no sex with regular partner between time of exposure and start of doxy. 

However I had sex with my regular partner at day 9 and day 11 post exposure which is day 2 and 4 of doxy no symptoms noticed , also had sex with my partner 18 days post exposure which is day 11 of doxy no symptoms noticed, What are my chances I have passed the infection to my regular partner in the unlikely event I had got infected ? How soon does doxycycline start to kill syphillis? 

No signs of chancre, or anything unusual worried about infecting my partner during incubation before the bacteria was eradicated by the doxy. No bumps or chancre been looking closely each day. Could I pass syphillis without a sore ? 
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
3 days ago
Welcome back to the Forum. Thanks for your continuing confidence in our service.  

Despite the fact that you are in a state where syphilis rates are high, most transgender persons do not have syphilis.  Further, licking a penis in the absence of any visible lesions is very low risk for syphilis acquistion.  Further, the doxycycline you took would have reliably prevented syphilis and chlamydia, as well as much gonorrhea if you had been exposed.  

I would be confident that you did not put your partner at risk.  EWH
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3 days ago
Hello I think you misunderstood my exposure 


The transgender sex work licked my penis for about 5-10 seconds before I told her to stop. Maybe wrapped her lips around it, however my penis did not go inside her mouth fully just tip of it, 


My concern is what are chances she could have passed infection to my penis? I didn’t see any sores on her lips however I couldn’t see inside her mouth if she had any on her tongue or roof of her mouth, 


My other concern is, The doxy i started 7 days after exposure, which on day 2 and 4 of doxy and 9 and 11 days post exposure i had unprotected sex with my partner, as well as day 11 of doxy day 18 post exposure what are chances I could have infected my partner during the time I been taking the doxycycline? Let’s say it was too early for the doxycycline to kill the bacteria at the time I had unprotected sex with my partner. 


I am worried cause I realize now that I might never have a positive blood test since I took doxycycline, But scared I could have infected my regular partner during the days I started doxycycline and was on the meds. Do you think my regular partner needs to be tested ? I never developed any sores, However I read online that syphillis can still be contagious without any sores or symptoms. 
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
3 days ago
I understood your exposure.  There was little chance of infection and if you were exposed the doxycycline would have prevented infection.  These are facts.  While persons who are unaware of lesions can transmit syphilis, you could not have transmitted syphilis to your partner while taking doxycycline.  

One follow up remaining.  EWH
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3 days ago
Thank for reply 


1. So what your saying is that even if I had incubating syphillis  ( no visible sores at all or bumps) when I had sex with my regular partner on day 9 of exposure which was my 2 day on doxycycline, and had sex again on day 11 of exposure which was day 4th day doxycycline  and again had sex on day 18 post exposure which was day 11 on doxycycline I couldn’t have transmitted syphillis my partner ? Does my partner need to test in 6 weeks? 



2. What are chances from of getting syphillis from getting tip of  my penis licked on for 5-10 max seconds without the entire penis entering the mouth no fellatio what do you estimate the percentage ? How often do you see tongue chancres on lip chancres? 


3. Already tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia, Both negative 7 days post exposure can I trust result any other std/Sti I need to test for ? Is it safe to continue unprotected sex with my partner?  


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Edward W. Hook M.D.
2 days ago
Repetitive- final responses.  Then the thread will be closed.  There should be no need for further questions.

1.  You could not transmit syphilis while taking doxycycline.  There is no reason related to the exposure you describe for your partner to test.  

2.  Few transexual sex workers have syphilis  Oral syphilis is relative rare among persons with syphilis.  Considering these factors, your risk of have been exposed to syphilis is less than 1-2% 

3.  At 7 days your tests for gonorrhea and chlamydia are conclusive.  There is no medical or scientific reason for further testing.  Similarly, there is no reason to abstain from unprotected sexual contact with your regular partner.

End of thread.  Please don't worry.  EWH
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