[Question #529] STD risk assessment
105 months ago
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
105 months ago
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The encounters you describe are quite low risk. Most people, even CSWs do not have STIs and when they do, the risk for acquiring infection from any single exposure is always less than 1 in 3 and for some STIs (like herpes) substantially lower. Further, different sorts of sexual exposures have different risks of infection. Receipt of oral sex is a very low risk event since throat infections are rare and transmission from the throat to the genitals is likewise biologically "inefficient". Receipt of condom protected oral sex is a virtually zero risk exposure which should not worry you. Similarly, neither vaginal touching (masturbation) or kissing carry any meaningful risk for STI.
You have effectively ruled out the most common STIs with your testing by the doctors you saw about a month ago. I would believe them and your test results.
Finally your exposure on January 18 was the highest risk exposure you have mentioned, in large part because you had unprotected vaginal sex with a new partner. Even this however was a relatively low risk event because it was statically unlikely that your partner was infected and most exposures do not lead to infection. That she indicated she had been tested and reported negative test results makes infection still less likely. The absence of symptoms since that time is likewise in your favor. Personally, I would not worry further but, if you wish to be tested, at this time, given your lack of symptoms, Your test results for most STIs would be conclusive. We typically do not recommend testing for herpes following exposures such as the ones you report- testing in this situation is more likely to lead to a falsely positive result than to detect a recent infection.
I hope these comments are helpful to you. EWH
105 months ago
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