[Question #6042] Syphilis
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71 months ago
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Hello, so six months ago I received a blowjob from a female stripper. I used a condom that was provided by and put on by her. After I ejaculated she used gloves to remove the condom. I then two weeks after got tested for chlamydia, gonnorhea, and syphilis. All of my results were negative and I was told that I required no further testing and I was clean. So I resumed normal unprotected sex practices with my girlfriend. I have never noticed a chancre or anything out of the ordinary on my penis. However, today I developed what looks like to be two canker sores on the inside of the bottom of my lip. Could this be a sign of syphilis as I could have potentially gave my girlfriend syphilis and then by me performing oral sex on her I got a chancre in my mouth? I feel like it doesnt work like that and im just overthinking but I would love to hear what you have to say doctor.
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
71 months ago
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Welcome back to the forum. Thanks for your continuing confidence in our services. I happened to log in soon after you posted your question: most users should not expect nearly real-time replies!
The timing suggests the exposure is the same one you asked about 5 months ago. As we discussed then, the chance of syphilis from this encounter was exceedingly low, especially consdering it was condom protected. But I also advised testing 6 weeks after the exposure to completely certain, mostly for reassurance. Did you do that? Your negative test at 2 weeks was meaningless; it takes at least 3 weeks (up to 6 weeks) for positive blood test results. This doesn't mean I think you have syphilis. As discussed last time, had you acquired syphilis, you probably would have had an obvious penile sore within 2-3 weeks of exposure.
Although syphilis could cause canker-like sores, the vast majority of such symptoms of course are not syphilis. Syphilitic chancre cannot appear 6 months after exposure. Also, canker sores usually are painful; chancres are painless.
Since you apparently have not yet had a conclusive blood test, you could do that now. I recommend it strictly for reassurance; I am 100% confident you do not have syphilis. But some anxious persons are more reassured by negative test results than by professional opinion, no matter how expert. If you do it, you definitely can expect a negative result.
I hope these comments are helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear.
HHH, MD
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71 months ago
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I appreciate your response doctor. I am just a little scared because the sores in my mouth do not really hurt. However, wouldnt I have gotten sores on my penis and not my mouth since I received a blowjob. I am just concerned that maybe I gave it to my girlfriend and now I got syphilis in my mouth because I gave oral to my girlfriend.
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
71 months ago
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Secondary syphilis, which occurs 3-12 months after initial infection, can cause sores at non-exposed sites. From that standpoint, I cannot say with 100% certainty that your oral sores are not syphilis. However, if they were, you also would have a generalized skin rash and likely several other symptoms as well. (Feel free to google something like "secondary syphilis symptoms".) And there still are innumerable possible causes of oral sores more common than syphilis.
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Could you have infected your girlfriend and now caught syphilis again? No, not possible. If you had untreated syphilis from 6 months ago, you would be immune (or at least highly resistant) to a new infection, especially with the same syphilis strain you already have.
---Don't overthink this. This is a straightforward situation and the truth is clear. From my 40 years experience in the STD business, I can assure you that you don't have syphilis. Go ahead and have a blood test to prove it to yourself. But please no more questions until and unless you return to post a test result. Before that, there is sinmply no information you can provide, or other quesations that might enter your mind, that could possibly change my opinion and advice. Anything other than a test result will not be answered and the thead will be closed.
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