[Question #8022] 4 weeks valid for gonorrhoea/chlamydia? FU 7972

49 months ago

Dear Drs,

Hopefully this is my last question here. This is a follow-up to question 7972.

Deep kissing and protected oral (her giving oral to me) from a Brazilian TS (MTF) escort.

No penile symptoms.

Throat swab negative at 27 days

All STDS negative at 26 days (urine and blood).

However, what worries me is that I have read from you that chlamydia and or gonorrhoea can self-cure, in some cases within weeks.

1) Therefore, is there a realistic risk that my throat swab at 27 days post exposure MISSED an infection as it may have spontaneously healed?

2) Is 4 weeks a good time to test for gonorrhoea and chlamydia (both genital and oral)? Or would some infections be missed by then.

3) How quickly would a genital infection self-heal?

I am worried I may have contracted oral gonorrhoea via kissing, then infected my wife via cunnilinguis, then subsequently contracted it genitally from penile-vaginal intercourse.

I am also worried that if I decide to test for genital infections like gonnorhoea or chlamydia in a couple of weeks, they will appear negative as they have cleared themselves and it is too late.

Please can you advise Drs. As you can see, I am worried sick that I will put this all behind me then get a very nasty surprise at my wife's next pregnancy check-up. I have spent a lot of money and testing and questions and would like to put this horrible and stupid mistake to bed once and for all.

God bless you

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

49 months ago

I'm sorry you're back and remain so concerned after the reasoned, science-based reassurance you had from Dr. Hook. I agree with all he said, including the zero-risk nature of the exposure you have described.

1-3) The swab almost never misses an active infection. The immune system clears gonorrhea within several weeks and chlamydia after a few months; 4 weeks probably is too soon (although there has been no research on this for oral infection). But even active oral infection is almost never transmitted to partners by kissing or oral sex. In particular, Dr. Hook has researched gonorrhea transmission by cunnilingus and found it almost never occurs. Either way, your wife has not been at risk.

It really isn't normal to remain so concerned after hearing the scientific facts and the advice you have had both on this forum and perhaps from your own doctors. It's time to suck it up and move on without worry. If you cannot, professional counseling would be a logical next step.

HHH, MD

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49 months ago

Thank you doctor HHH. You and Dr Hook are right of course, but anxiety and guilt is a tough enemy.

Finally -

I had blood tests for HIV, Hep B &C and Syphilis at 37 days (5 weeks and two days).

Shall I forgot about all this now and move on confidently that I didnt contract anything via kissing (HIV etc)?

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

49 months ago

No STDs, including HIV, are transmitted by.kissing. You didn't need those tests, but I'm glad the results were negative. Indeed you should "forget about all this now and move on confidently that [you] didn't contract anything".---

49 months ago

I had finally put this nightmare behind me, and then on day 42, exactly week 6, I today woke up with what I think is a chancre forming.

It is right at the base of my penis on the anterior side (facing up), pretty much in a similar position to the bump I described to Dr Hook (which turned out to be an ingrown hair).

Yesterday I tried to pop it as I thought I found another ingrown hair, and today, the skin on top is glossy and moist and it LOOKS like it's forming a round ulcer. I don't know if this is due to trauma or what, why would the skin be moist and glossy on top.

I can't take this cycle of worry and testing anymore.

As I said, I had protected oral and I don't remember her deep throating me, but maybe she did come into contact with the base of my penis on occasion.

1) I had a negative test at 5 weeks and two days, does this mean anything?

2) how feasible is it for a chancre to start at 6 weeks?

Please advise Dr.. I hate myself and really can't take this anymore.

49 months ago

Sorry for the additional comment.

The reason I am alarmed is because it was very white in the center.

After a few hours this returned to a normal skin colour and just looked like a healing scan lesion.

After scrubbing it in the shower again, it is again white in the center and looks like an ulcer with a border around it.

Is this normal behaviour for a chancre. The glossiness/moistness is gone

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

49 months ago

As already discussed, you were not at risk for any STD, and as you already understand, it is unlikely the area of your new penile lesion was directly contacted during the oral sex event. That's a requirement for most chancres (also for initial herpes): the organism must be massaged into the tissues for infection to take hold; simple brief contact is not sufficient. In any case, your description doesn't sound at all like a chancre, and . That said, it was not smart to keep rubbing or scrubbing it. That's a great way to make it undiagnosable if it persists and you seek medical care.

This being your second question about this exposure and your anxieties about it, it will have to be your last. Repeated anxiety driven questions are strongly discouraged (and are subject to being deleted without reply, and without refund of the posting fee). You can't go through life attributing every twitch, tingle, or pimple to a regretted sexual decision. But I do hope the discussions have been helpful. Best wishes and stay safe.

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