[Question #8094] Sti

48 months ago

I know it sounds crazy . But I feel like I got an std from a hand job with a trans sex worker. ( it was curiosity ).

It happened on June 22nd. Doctor gave me cipro June 27th . Which I know was a terrible idea to take without guaranteed results .

On the 28th I started having sore testicles so I went back to the doctor and he sent me for an ultra sound on the 30th .

Tests came back with having a hydrocele of 9mm/22mm . Everything else was normal.

I was tested 3 weeks after exposure and everything came back normal as well . But my scrotum got larger . So was sent for another ultrasound and it came back now larger at 22/24mm .

I was tested again 30 days after but will not receive these results till this coming Monday .

My testicles also almost constantly have a tingling sensation .

Can you please help with if this could be an std . I have incredible anxiety over this to the point it’s almost unbearable .

I have a girlfriend and she has been experiencing very bad headaches.

Thank you for your time . I appreciate it more then you’d think

Girlfriend has also been feeling unwell . Headache /migraines mixed with vomiting.

I was tested again today . 35 days after sais exposure . Is that sufficient enough time ?

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

48 months ago

Welcome to the forum. Thanks for your confidence in our services.

Holy cow! Everything you describe indicates no STD, and everything done has been wrong. For example, ciprofloxacin is exactly the wrong antibiotic for any and all STDs: it reliably treats none! But that probably made no difference: as I think you know, hand-genital contact is risk free in regard to all STDs. In addition, none of your symptoms fits with any known STD. Most of this sounds like anxiety making you more sensitive to trivial symptoms or even normal body sensations that you otherwise would ignore or not notice. I very much doubt your scrotum has changed in size. Tingling is only an anxiety/emotional symptom, not a physical one. your own anxiety certainly could lead to headaches in your partner.

You don't say what you were tested for today, but it really doesn't matter. Any positive results a) will not explain your symptoms; and b) could not have been acquired from the contact with the sex worker last June. I strongly suggest you stop testing and move along with confidence that you have no infection from the event described, and that no symptoms you have now (or might develop in the future) are possibly related to that event.

I hope these comments help. Let me know if anything isn't clear.

HHH, MD

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48 months ago

Thank you for the detailed reply . I’m literally losing my mind . I was tested for hiv , chlamydia , trich, ghonorhea , and syphillis . I’m mostly scared about syph , and I know you think I sound crazy . But 35 days post exposure . Would they show up on a test ? Is that a fair timeline to get a conclusive result ? Thanks

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

48 months ago

Your fears are irrational and suggest an underlying mental health issue. That you "feel" you were infected by hand-job is irrational. You were not. It is likely you are reacting emotionally to a sexual choice you regret -- that's all. People with non-emotional, rational thought processes do not have such concerns. And anyone who writes "I'm literally losing my mind" clearly needs professional mental health care. I suggest it from compassion, not criticism.

Gonorrhea, chlamydia and trichomonas testing are conclusive any time more than 4-5 days after exposure. The standard HIV and syphilis tests become conclusive at 6 weeks (42 days). Most infections are detected by 35 days, however. If you really were at risk, I would recommend retesting after 6 weeks. In your case, however, I suggest you just drop it.

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48 months ago

I understand that . But it is the pain in my testicles that happens everyday . Almost all day long . It’s not as painful as it was the first couple weeks after the “exposure”. But I definitely still feel it , constantly having to move around . And my white tongue which I see online “syphillis tongue” and it looks exactly the same . I have been taking oral liquid medication to help with thrush , if that’s what it is . But it hasn’t changed a thing . I have also read about syph / herpes being able to spread by hand to genital . I don’t know how clean her hands were , being a cut / warts / or herpes . It’s comforting to hear your outlook as you sound fairly certain I do not have anything . But my mind is not at ease . Strictly because of my testicles and tongue . I have thought maybe some kind of torsion in scrotum but the ultrasound verified two time that there is not . And also no varicocele , or epididymitis problems . So I’m having a hard thinking it’s not an sti . I’m going to have my results tomorrow . Hopefully everything being negative . But I think my mind will not be at ease until the 3 month mark where you say everything would be 100% conclusive . And the tingle sensation . All day , everyday . It really sucks and I hope you understand all my questions and feeling toward this .

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

48 months ago

All this information strongly reinforces an emotional, non-infectious origin of your symptoms. No STI causes such testicular pain -- and genitally focused anxiety probably is the most common cause. (Of course the ultrasound was normal!) White coated tongue is a normal human experience from time to time and not the same as thrush; and also can be related to anxiety and stress. I don't care "how clean her hands were": imagine the dirtiest possible and there still would be no significant risk of STD or any other infection. That your "mind is not at ease" is another cry for mental health care.

And indeed, I definitely "understand all [your] questions and feeling[s] toward this." Dr. Hook and I have dealt with at least 1,000 and maybe nearly 2,000 men with similar problems and symptoms in this and our preceding forum, over 17 years. All or nearly all followed a regretted or anxiety-producing sexual exposure. Not one such questioner returned with a follow-up comment or repeat question to say that an STI had been diagnosed to explain his symptoms. We call it genitally focused anxiety, and this thread -- with many others -- could be used to teach medical students and residents about it. So do your best to believe and act on the reasoned, science based analysis and advice I have tried to convey.

That completes the two follow-up exchanges included with each question and so ends this thread. I hope you find it helpful -- and that you will be able to successfully submerge your natural tendency to disbelieve the emotional explanation of almost everything you describe. Good luck with it.

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