[Question #8344] HTLV

45 months ago

Male here. I received oral and also received a handjob at a massage parlour. This was located in South east Asia. I know that there is no risk of acquiring HIV from this encounter, but is this the same for HTLV and also hepatitis A-> E? After this encounter, I started to have nerve pain on the lower half of my body. Been going on for 1 year now. Very very anxious about these STDs and am considering getting tested now. I have had a standard STD screening already for the conventional STDS and all have come back negative.

Thanks

45 months ago

Might have had a cut on genitals but don't remember that well.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

45 months ago

Welcome to the forum. Thanks for your confidence in it.

There has been almost no research on sexual transmission of the HTLV viruses, but it's a rare infection and any single sexual exposure of any kind always is very low risk. And there is no reason to suspect that these viruses are transmitted by oral sex. Oral sex also is little or no risk for any hepatitis virus. And whether or not you had a "cut" on your penis makes no difference. For sure no risk for the hepatitis C virus (HCV), and probably little or none for HBV. In any case, almost all SE Asians are vaccinated against HBV in childhood, so the chance your massage worker has that virus probably is zero.

As for your symptoms, "nerve pain" (whatever you mean by that) is not suggestive of these or any other viruses or other infections from your massage parlor experience. I recommend against any further testing of any kind.

Really, stop worrying. See a doctor if you continue to be concerned about your symptoms. But they have nothing to do with the sexual event you have described.

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

HHH, MD

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45 months ago

Thank you very much.
At the end of this encounter, a tissue or cloth was used to wipe my genitals to clean myself up. Is it possible for any STD to be transmitted in this way if the cloth/tissue was used on an infected person and their fluids, skin etc. touched it?

When I say nerve pain, it feels like a burning pain. I really hope these sensations are psychological in origin and not from this encounter.

Thank you

45 months ago

So far I have been tested for hepatitis b,c, HIV, syphillis, gonnorhea, chlymdia and also HSV. All have come back negative.
Q3. Are there any other STDs that I haven't been tested for besides HTLV ?

45 months ago

I believe my test was a very extensive STD test as my doctor said

45 months ago

Q4. Also are CMV and EBV considered to be STDS? Should I get tested for this?

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

45 months ago

You're overthinking all this. How wiping and cleaning are done after sex make no difference in HIV/STD risk. You really didn't need STD testing at all, and certainly don't need any more tests.

CMV and EBV can be sexually transmitted, but if you're beyond your teen years, you can safely assume you are already infected with both these viruses (almost everybody gets them during childhood) and immune to new infection. Testing for either one is never recommended on account of sexual risks or as part of an STD test panel. And for goodness' sake, don't be tested for HTLV either! Nobody recommends such testing on account of sexual risks.

That completes the two follow-up exchanges included with each question and so ends this thread. I hope the discussion has been helpful and that you now better understand the risks for STDs and HIV. Best wishes and stay safe.

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