[Question #13961] STI Risk From One Time Encounter With Sex Worker
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1 months ago
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Last Wednesday I was staying out of town. I had to much and made a mistake. I had unprotected oral sex (giving & receiving) from a stripper, as well as protected vaginal sex. Ive been freaking out since because I'm married and I love my wife. I've never done something this stupid before. One thing I won't do is pass something to her. I researched and took doxypep the next day. I know it's early but I went got a full panel test done from std check yesterday. So far all clear. However my penis has been itchy since the following day. No other symptoms have followed. I did use wipes on my genitals after the incident. So my question is, how likely is it that I caught something. Am I making myself itch due to constant thoughts and focus on it or is it a true symptom? How much stress should, separate from the guilt I already feel should I be under?
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
1 months ago
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Welcome to the forum. I'll try to help.
This was a very low risk exposure. Oral sex is inherently low risk, both giving and receiving; and you were wise to use a condom for vaginal sex, which was highly protective. You really didn't need doxyPEP, although it did you no harm. Having taken it, I would not advise any need for testing for chlamydia or syphilis or gonorrhea. Itching isn't a symptom of any STI; you might have irritated yourself with the wipes (or perhaps aggressive washing?)
If you would like extra (largely unnecessary) reassurance, you could have a urine gonorrhea/chlamydia test at any time; and blood tests for HIV and syphilis after a few weeks. You can expect all results to be negative. I would advise you to continue your usual sexual practices with your wife, at least after you have received your negative gonorrhea/chlamydia results. The possibility you have HIV or syphilis is far too low to be at all worried about injecting your wife in the meantime.
I hope these comments are helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear.
HHH, MD
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1 months ago
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Thanks doctor Handsfield. That is reassuring. My biggest concerns were syphilis because of the long wait for accurate testing, and herpes. You mentioned the syphilis, what about herpes cause again I dont want to pass anything to her. Obviously I don't want to blow up my life for a drunken mistake, but beyond that and more importantly don't want to give her a lifelong disease because I was stupid.
Secondly to just follow up on your response, you said "I would advise you to continue your usual sexual practices with your wife, at least after you have received your negative gonorrhea/chlamydia results." So are you saying that one i get those two test back, assuming theyre negative, I can have unprotected sec with my wife without worrying about passing something like syphilis on to her?
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
1 months ago
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The chance of herpes from any single one-off encounter, even with unprotected vaginal sex to completion, is probably under one chance in 10,000. With oral plus condom protected vagina, maybe one in a million? The tests for HSV are not accurate enough to recommend their use in this situation. With no symptoms to suggest herpes, you shouldn't be worried about it. Syphilis was little or no risk to begin with and has been 100% prevented by the doxycycline. You're definitely home free for both.
"I can have unprotected sec with my wife without worrying about passing something like syphilis on to her?" Yes.
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1 months ago
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One in a million really? It just seems like everything I've read makes it seem like the chances are much higher. Of course that could be paranoia causing biases. That said the itch hasn't gone away, but you're saying that I can have confidence that whatever that itch is, it's not the prodormal symptoms of impending breakout and I won't risk giving it to my wife?
I look forward to your response here and can tell you that overall you've made me feel much better. So thank you for taking the time to answer.
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
1 months ago
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There are no solid data, but I would stand by one in a million in your situation. (Searching online about health issues, stick with professional or professionally moderated sites and especially avoid sites by and for people with the problem or worried about the problem you are searching. Like reddit for example. Anyone can write whatever they want.) Herpes is not a likely case of itching with no other symptoms. I still see no risk for your wife.
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That completes the two follow-up comments and replies included with each question and so ends this thread. I hope the discussion has been helpful. Best wishes and stay safe.
