[Question #1446] Kinda worried

99 months ago

Hello once again dr's I have an issue approximately on October 22 of this year I was evolved is some sexual contact with a female I am a male and 3 weeks later I seemed to develop some swollen lymph nodes in the neck area and they went away about a week later right before I got tested on the 23rd of November I received a syphilis chlamydia gonorrhea and a 4th Gen hiv and rna test all was negative during this time when I got tested and still now I have a massive burning sensaton when I urinate and the swollen lymph in the neck came back do I take all my tests conclusive and can I resume unprotected sex with my partner.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

99 months ago

Welcome back to the forum. Apparently this is a new sexual exposure, not the one discussed in your two threads a couple of months ago.

You don't say the nature of the sexual contact you had October 22. Please tell me more about it. As discussed in both your other threads 2 months ago, if it was just oral sex, mutual masturbation, etc -- and no unprotected intercourse -- then you were not at riskf or HIV or other STDs.

Regardless of the risk, your negative tests for gonorrhea, chlamydia, and HIV are conclusive; they prove for sure you did not catch any of those STDs. Syphilis blood tests take 6 weeks to become positive, so that result is only about 90% reliable. However, the large majroty of syphilis these days (in the US) is in gay men, so you probably were not at risk. But if you want 100% security about syphilis, have another blood test in a couple of weeks.

As for your syptoms, self-diagnosis of enlarged lymph nodes is very unreliable. If you also had a sore throat, I would suspect you might have had a garden variety cold virus.

Burning on urination is generally not an STD symptom unless there also is abnormal discharge or pus dripping from the penis. But if the burning truly has continued and occurs every time you urinate, you should see a doctor to check for a non-STD urinary tract infection. But whatever the causes of your symptoms, they are not an STD or HIV from your exposure in October.

Can you resume sex with your regular partner? If I were in your situation, I would do so without fear; the chance you actually caught syphilis is extremely low. But as I said, if you want conclusive reassurance, you'll need the additional syphilis test I mentioned above.

I may have more to say if you would like to fill in the details of your recent sexual exposure. In addition, let me know where you are (country, city) and the nature of your partner (sex worker, co-worker, etc). If there was insertive sex, was a condom used? But in the meantime, you really need not be worried about having an STD.

Best wishes and stay safe-- HHH, MD

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99 months ago

Asian masseuse mutual masturbation I rubbed outside of her vagina no hands inside she masturbatiTed me with lube until ejaculated no sex or oral I guess I'm just paranoid I guess would u say everything is good even with the syphilis

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

99 months ago

Yes, "everything is good". You didn't need STD testing at all, and there's no need for a later syphilis test. This was a zero risk event in regard to all STDs. None are transmitted by hand-genital contact, fingering, etc.

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99 months ago

Once again I appreciate your time doctor