First of all I have severe anxiety and OCD about STDs and it can be very debilitating.  I am a male 56 years old with BPH and urine retention as I have trouble emptying my bladder.  Tonight for the first time I got symptoms of stinging urine with even less  stream than normal.  I also then started getting aching pain so my doctor told me to get a UTI test kit which I did and I tested positive for Luekocytes and negative for Nitrite - my Dr. prescribed Sulfameth/Trimethoprim.  My question is could it be possible that this is from a dormant STD like Chlamydia or Gonorrhea that would be from 10-15 years ago.  I was very sexually active before I met my wife, always used a condom, but was never tested for the above STDs - could it be possible all those years later for this to be from that or is this most likely a UTI from the bladder as my dr suggests.  Should I get tested for these STDs or is this just my OCD and severe anxiety getting the better of me.  I read that these diseases don't go away on their own, and it got my scared that maybe I had one of these stds and just never knew it and now 15 years later it is causing my issues instead of the UTI.  Thanks for your answer in advance.....

Welcome to our Forum.  Thanks for your question.  I'll do my best to help.  You don't mention recent sex partners so I'll assume there have been none.  If that is the case, I see little reason to worry about STIs.  Your urinary symptoms are not those typically associated with STIs but are suggestive of problems related to your prostate gland.  While STIs such as gonorrhea a and chlamydia may be asymptomatic, this is relatively uncommon. Further and perhaps more importantly, as you mention, over time STIs clear over time without therapy making it unlikely that this an STI which was acquired years ago and remained asymptomatic until now.  I really see little reason for concern from the information you provide- there are better alternatives (such as non-STI prostate problems).  I see no clinical reason for STI testing here.---

Thank you so much Dr. Hook, I have had terrible anxiety about STDs for years and both you and Dr. Handsfield have helped so many people understand STDs better and have less fear or get treatment.  I just had few followups, numbered below.  I read that Gonorrhea does not go away on its own - rarely it can cause a major issue (disseminated Gonorrhea).......so I infer from your response (1) that it is probably very unlikely that I ever had Gonorrhea because if I did I would have had symptoms - or that it burned out is this true?  (2)  Also if I did have it and didn't know it, that it is very unlikely I got disseminated Gonorrhea because if you have that you almost always have symptoms correct? (3) Also from what you are saying in many cases dormant STDs like Chlamydia and Gonorrhea do actually burn out that they do in-fact go away on their own or stay dormant and are irrelevant is that also an accurate statement?  Lastly (this is my OCD) -(4) that worrying about encounters 10-15 years ago is unnecessary as the chance that I had these two STDs is low (bc I would have eventually had symptoms) or that if I did have them, they burned out are not an issue for me - that I can't pass it on to my wife?  Thanks again Doc - really appreciate what you do.

It sounds to me like you may be getting information from the internet- PLEASE DON'T.  It is full of misinformation and will mislead you- not the thing for a person with OCD.---

sorry one last question (5) I have ideopathic chronic uritcaria - that wouldnt be a sign of disseminated Gonarrhea would it?

Absolutely not! ---

Thanks a lot Doctor - I really appreciate your timely answers

sorry I had just one more question - I hope you will make an exception - it would be very appreciated - if not I will buy another question.  My last question is would anything you wrote below change if I mentioned that the reason for my OTC with stds is that for a period in my life 10-15 years ago I frequented female prostitutes - would that change your assesment in any way.  Thank you so much for what you do Dr. Hook - I promise this is last question - my OCD sometimes just won't let me alone

No, my assessment would not change in any manner shaper form because your partners in the distant past or commercial sex workers. This completes this thread. I trust you will not return with further anxiety driven questions. Take care. Address your OCD. EWH---