[Question #3185] Trying to rule out STI

92 months ago

Hello, I am a 36 yr old male. Three months ago I stupidly had unprotected vaginal and oral sex with an associate on a business trip. This was the first time I’ve had sex in 10 months and first unprotected in 2 years. Several days before the incident I had been urinating quite frequently but hadn’t thought much about it. The days following saw more frequency with increase in pain to my Genital area. Also I was just feeling bad. I went to the local clinic where I was tested for goneria and chlamidia both neg. Told they thought I had prostatits due to lack of discharge. Given 2 weeks of bactrim. Symptoms persisted.

At 33 days went to urologist and local lab and had 10 panel std test done. HIV 4th gen duo, HSV2,gon/chlam, hep abc, Syphlis all negative. Urologist said urine showed nothing but I was not emptying my bladder completely. Prescribed beta blocker which cleared my urinary symptoms temporarily. I was still having back and gut pains and realized I had constipation.

Now I go from one symptom to the next. Urgency and occasional discomfort in penis then I’ll be fine for a few days. Indigestion ,back pain, gas, upper abdominal pain, small rashes that appear and are gone the next day on chest(could be sensitive skin?)Seems one symptom is always present. NEVER any sores or discharge that I’m aware of. Getting my bowels regular and daily exercise have helped but I’m still not right. One month reurned to urologist and told urine still shows nothing and I was emptying my bladder 100%. Went to primary Dr. who did blood work which was normal. Going to GI Dr. next month. I am going crazy afraid to begin dating again for the fear of what is wrong. I want to rule out the possibility of an STI.

What tests I have already taken would you recommend retesting for?

My biggest concern now is trick or mg(which I was unaware of until doing some research)

Do mg and Trich symptoms come and go?

Any advice appreciated!

Edward W. Hook M.D.

92 months ago

Welcome to the Forum. I'll do my best to help. There is no reason to think that you acquired any STI from the encounter you have described. let me list the reasons.

1. Most people do not have STIs. You have not said anything to suggest that your recent partner might have had an STI

2. Even if infected, most exposures to infected partners do not lead to infection.

3. The symptoms you describe are not symptoms of STI. STIs do not cause urinary frequency, indigestion, back pain, etc. In addition, STI symptoms do not come and go. On most occasions when symptoms come and go, the symptoms are related to hyper-vigilance in looking for symptoms and/or anxiety or guilt related to a sexual encounter.

4. You have been tested and currently available tests are amongst the most reliable tests in all of medicine. Your test results prove that you were not infected.

While my personal bias is that you do not need further testing, testing for trichamonas and Mycoplasma genitalium are both available from most commercial laboratories. Your doctor may need to call to request the tests but they can be done. If you choose to test (as i said, I do not think it is necessary), testing can be performed for both organisms using a urine specimen collected at least an hour after you have last urinated and by collecting the first part of the urine stream.

I hope these comments are helpful to you. Please don't worry. EWH

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92 months ago

Thank you for the fast reply Dr. Hook. Your and Dr. Handsfield’s answers on this forum have been a great help to me. If you don’t recommend further testing I will accept your opinion. I believe I will try to follow your advise and try to put all of this behind me and stay off of the internet! My biggest fear would be to transfer something to someone else. I definitely have something going on but I believe it is coming from on up the digestive track or possible prostatitis. I can live with either as long as I’m not carrying something that is a threat to someone else.

Thanks

Edward W. Hook M.D.

92 months ago

Thanks for your thanks. I believe you have made the right decisions.m EWH---