[Question #8211] STI Concerns and Confusion - MSM
47 months ago
|
Hi Doctors,
I want to provide a timeline for better explanation.
August 17th - Received oral sex from another male for about 30 seconds in the gym shower.
August 20th - Receive Penicillin G Benzathine 2, 400, 000unit/4 mL syringe shot and started Doxycycline Hyclate 100mg tablet (twice daily)
August 31st- Have sex with my usual partner who I very much don't want to expose to any STI.
September 2nd - Finished Doxy medication.
September 4-7th - Developed itch in penis head and constant urination with slight burn. (Was not sure if it was anxiety)
September 7th - Return to urgent care. Found bacteria in UTI test. Receive a shot of Azithromycin for empiric treatment of chlamydia/non-gonococcal urethritis. (Doctor suggested as a precautionary method...I didn't think I needed it based of understanding of previous treatment but very confused with Dr.) Doctor seemed very rushed to leave hospital and not very involved with conversation. Also told to -Start and COMPLETE the antibiotic Doxycycline, as prescribed, for the suspected UTI.
September 7th - I also got more lab work for Chlamydial/Gonorrhea putting me at about three weeks from exposure.
My question is am I to have been positive for anything at any point and the test simply did not pick it up? Do I need to get tested more after these results return and for what? Do you believe I should be concerned for syphilis since the window period is longer but did receive the penicillin shot. The doctors at the urgent care have all been saying different things and trust this forum Doctors much more. She stated that UTIs in young males are majority related to STIs but all the tests have come back negative, no oozing liquid from penis head.
THank you for your time.
![]() |
H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
47 months ago
|
Welcome back -- but I'm sorry you requested deletion of your previous thread. Answering this one would be easier and perhaps more accurate if that discussion were available.
My first comment is that you had a low risk exposure that really did not warrant the treatments you received. Oral sex is safe sex -- not completely free of HIV/STD risk, but far lower risk than unprotected vaginal or anal sex. However, the penicillin plus doxycycline would have eradicated most conceivable bacterial infections from that event, including syphilis. Some gonorrhea would be resistant, but absence of painful urination and penile discharge are, by themselves, strong evidence against gonorrhea. So there is little likelihood you could have exposed your partner to any bacterial STD. The penile itching etc indeed sounds like anxiety -- no STD causes such symptoms. (And whenever someone suspects his or her own symptoms have a psychological origin, usually that is exactly the case.)
It's hard to interpret what is meant by "found bacteria in urine". Urinary tract infections are rare in males, and are not acquired by oral sex. And if that was a dipstick test in a standard urinalysis, it was a meaningless result anyway. I cannot imagine why any physician would prescribe azihromycin in that circumstance.
In response to your closing quesiton, syphilis is impossible: had you been exposed, the penicillin shot was 100% reliable in aborting the infetion before it became active and before it could be transmitted.
All is well here -- no worries for your health or your partner's.
I hope these comments are helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear.
HHH, MD
---
47 months ago
|
Hi Dr. Handsfield,
I appreciate your very detailed response and reassurance of my concerns. My apologies for the deletion of the last question! I'll keep this one posted.
The lab reached out and let me know that the Dr. misdiagnosed me with a UTI and that everything that was found in my sample was normal. The chlamydia and gonorrhea exams came back as negative as well as of Sept 10th.
Once again, thank you for sharing your knowledge and for operating this website.
![]() |
H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
47 months ago
|
Thanks for clarifying the UTI business. It sounds like your doctor over-interpreted the report of bacteria in the urinalysis and I'm glad to hear the lab recognized the error. In addition, it he unlikely chance you did have a UTI, the doxycycline almost certainly would have been effective treatment. (I assume they also sent a note of correct to your doctor!)
Thanks for your kind words. I'm glad to have helped. Best wishes and stay safe.
---