[Question #8432] STI Exposure Risk

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44 months ago
Hello, 

I recently had an encounter with an anonymous male (not a sex worker) and he performed very brief oral sex on me. He put my flaccid penis in his mouth for approximately 5 seconds, when I decided that I didn’t want to continue with the encounter. 

I don’t have any symptoms, but my anxiety and paranoia are at extreme levels (I’m married). I have my annual wellness visit coming up next week, but I am generally concerned about my exposure risks. Thank you!
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
44 months ago
Welcome to our Forum and thanks for your questions.  I’ll be glad to comment.  The brief exposure you describe was a no risk event for acquisition of HIV.  No one has ever acquired HIV from receipt of oral sex.  There is no need for concern or testing.

Gonorrhea and, very, very rarely, chlamydia is occasionally acquired through receipt of oral sex,  Given we brevity of your exposure, your risk of acquiring these STI‘s is very low but to be entirely confident you were not infected, a urine test for gonorrhea and chlamydia taken any time more than 3 to 5 days following the exposure will conclusively prove whether you were infected or not. If your partner did not have oral lesions there is no meaningful risk for acquisition of Syphilis. 

I hope this response is helpful.  If a part is unclear or further clarification is needed, please don’t hesitate to use your up to two follow up questions for clarification. EWH 
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44 months ago
 Thank you for your quick response, Doctor! I still have no discharge, testicular pain, fever, or pain during urination or sex, but something feels off. Like a very slight discomfort in the lymph nodes in my groin.

I'll know definitively after my wellness visit next week (although, I'm thinking of getting tested today to calm my nerves a bit), but could there be non STI explanation for the discomfort? Feel free to tell me that my paranoia is driving me crazy!
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44 months ago
I should also add, that this has happened to me once before. I had unprotected vaginal sex with a new partner and developed pain in my groin and painful urination. All of my test came back negative. I  was tested in 2019 after this incident and again in 2020 as part of a wellness visit. Both negative. 
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
44 months ago
Thanks for your thoughtful follow up.  I agree with your plan to get tested but I anticipate that the test will be negative.  We have regularly found that anxiety can lead to a state of hyper awareness in which we note that out focus on possible symptoms leads to noting normal sensations which would otherwise be overlooked.  I say this not to talk you out of testing but to provide an explanation if your tests are negative which I anticipate will be the case.  EWH ---
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44 months ago
Thank you, Dr.Hook! This was very helpful. I’m a very laid back person by nature, so stress and anxiety tend to do a number on me physically.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
44 months ago
Please feel free to let us know your test results. EWH ---
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44 months ago
All tests came back negative. I still have some general discomfort in and around my groin/urinary tract, but it seems to be slowly getting better. 

Thanks again for all of the help!
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
44 months ago
Thank you for the follow up. Will be closing this thread now. Take care. EWH ---