[Question #2422] STD Exposure and Testing
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97 months ago
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Hello Doctor,
I wanted to hear your recommendations for STD testing as well as when to test after possible exposure. I've done research elsewhere, but continue to hear different things.
First, I was previously tested 12 months ago using a 10 panel test (HIV Type 1 & 2, Herpes 1 & 2, Hepatitis A, B, & C, Chlamydia, Gonnorrhea, and Syphillis) through STD check.com. All results came back negative. Since then, I have had two sexual partners. Do you think these are all the tests I should check for? Is there any way to check for HPV? I just want to make sure I am being safe and checked regularly as I've read STDs can lay dormant.
Also, what are the chances of getting an STD through hand contact/grinding (no penetration or oral)? Can an STD be passed if someone touches themself and then touches the other person? Could an STD be passed by a hand job? Could I get an STD through kissing, but with no tongue involved?
How long would be necessary to wait to get tested in order to make sure I have the most accurate results from my STD panel test? Thank you.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
97 months ago
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Welcome to our Forum. I will congratulate you on your apparent commitment to staying sexually healthy. Your questions are a bit general and you do not provide a lot of information on who your sexual partners were, whether the encounters were casual or not, whether you used condoms or not or how many exposures there were. As a result, my answers will be rather general as well.
You did a good thing by being screened for STIs and it is good that your tests were negative. Recommendations vary from expert to expert but most would agree that, because some STIs can be asymptomatic, periodic testing is a good idea for persons who have unprotected sex with new or multiple sex partners. In general I suggest that such persons have testing for the most common STIs every six to 12 months. Testing should at least include urine testing for Gonorrhea and Chlamydia and perhaps blood tests for HIV and syphilis.
In addition, to preserve your sexual health, in addition to periodic screening, we would recommend regular condom use with new or casual sex partners and we would suggest being vaccinated for hepatic B and, if you are less than 26, the HPV viruses.
There are no currently recommended tests for HPV in men.
STIs are NOT acquired by receipt of masturbatin, "grinding", touching or kissing and no testing for any STI is recommended following encounters which consist only of these activities. Similarly, no STIs are transmitted by transfer of genital secretions from person to person on someone 's hands.
I hope this is the sort of information you are looking for. If you have specific, detailed followup questions please feel free to ask. EWH
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