[Question #6671] Please help me figure out my chances
13 months ago
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13 months ago
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
13 months ago
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Welcome to the Forum and thanks for your question. I'll do my best to help but you may never have a 100% clear answer to your questions as the doxycycline you took has obscured the chances of finding an answer. From a statistical point of view you are more likely to have acquired non-chlamydial NGU from the exposure you describe than either chlamydia or gonorrhea. The timeline you describe is also more consistent with NGU than with gonorrhea, as is your response to therapy (only about half of gonorrhea is cured with doxycycline at present).
As I read your question however, I sense that your major concern is whether or not you may have transmitted anything to your wife. Non-chlamydial NGU following receipt of oral sex appears to result from the introduction of another person's throat bacteria into the urethra and while acquired through sexual activity is not readily transmitted to others to cause problems for them. Some experts argue that there is no need to treat it. Irrespective of what it is however, given your wife's normal examination, your own normal urinalysis, and your lack of recurrent symptoms, this all suggests that whatever was going on was not transmitted to your wife and has not been back to you. You cannot be 100% sure however as women can remain asymptomatic for long periods of time. A urine test for gonorrhea and chlamydia would add to the likelihood that neither you nor your wife is currently infected.
otherwise there's not too much to do. I hope these comments are helpful to you. EWH
13 months ago
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13 months ago
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13 months ago
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
13 months ago
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Your follow-up questions are indicative of your concern over the tiny chance that you acquired an STI and then transmitted it to your wife. The information i provide below is estimates since there are no scientific studies to provide answers (it would be unethical to follow portions who are known to have infection and not treat them).
At least 90-95% of men with gonorrhea will develop symptoms of an obvious discharge, most typically in 3-5 days after acquisition of infection. Asymptomatic infections certainly do occur and can certainly persist for weeks. Whether they might persist for months is not known.
For women the majority of women will be asymptotic or have entirely non-specific symptoms. We know for a fact that gonorrhea can persist in a women for several months.
In the unlikely circumstance that you had gonorrhea and transmitted it to your wife, it is highly probably (>90%) that you would have required infection and become symptomatic again.
Finally, regarding non-chlamydial NGU following oral sex, since there is no indication that something is transmitted or if transmitted does any harm, there has been little research. Its a non-issue.
I wish I could provide absolutes for you. I cannot. I can tell you that it is most unlikely that you transmitted anything to your wife. As I said above "A urine test for gonorrhea and chlamydia would add to the likelihood that neither you nor your wife is currently infected." I do not think you are infected, nor do I think you transmitted anything to your wife as a result of your misstep. EWH