[Question #8714] My Fault

40 months ago

Exposure csw worker brothel Australia. Feb last year. Condom broke exposed for like 10-30 seconds. Changed Condom continued stopped after 2 min guilt and anxiety took over was on drink and drugs and came to my senses. called the next day to ask sti status they said clean but go to hospital if i was worried I took that as they weren’t clean and went to the emergency room and started Pep was told hiv risk was almost 0 with long term partner so def wanted pep. Finished pep 4 week. baseline test negative.Penile symptoms redness, frequent urination cloudy urine. dr looked said it looked normal penis that is. Said to look for lesions herpes never had any. took thrush pill and cream as thought that was causing the redness. Had one spot which popped like a pimple could it be cancre sore? Pubic hair area not on penis went after a few days.Tested negative for chyl and gon

Day 3

Day 8

Day 15 all negative

Day 26 tested - for all again including hiv hep a b c syphillis

negative

Tested 1.5 months after exposure negative for trich gon chly hiv hep syphiliis cmia test

Body issue frequent flushing when in sunlight very red all over my body and face read this is sign of hiv syphills and hep c. Rashes on ankle. folliculitis 1 episode cleared without drugs. 1 wart on hand 1 bacterial foot blister popped and resolved itself. 6 month test hiv hep a b c syphillis cmia test all negative Still flushing in heat such as warm bath and sunlight very bizarre never had this before or maybe did but didn’t pay attention to it .Now sure I have a new pathogen or virus that no one else has in the world?

Urine culture and hep test again all negative 8 months after no wbc no growths.

1 year on all tests again negative hiv gon chly hep a b c syphills cmia test

Partner is pregnant all her test come back negative hiv syphillis cmia hep a b c urine culture no wbc and no growth. Scan of baby no heart beat so effective miscarriage.

Could this my my fault, miccariag?

could I have a new virus?

Could all the test missed

40 months ago

contiuned.

Could this be my fault?

What other sti could this be?

Never took any antibiotics ever could I have cleared any sti and given it to my parnter? she had no wbc in culture and no growth.

Could tests have missed infection?

Also tested negative for mgen.

whats wrong with me? I have so manys test.

Thanks

40 months ago

Forgot to say tested 3 months after exposure negative hiv. 6 weeks after finishing pep and tested negative for htlv 1 and 2 after a year.

Masisve blaming myself

Edward W. Hook M.D.

40 months ago

Welcome to the Forum and thanks for your questions. I'm sorry for your loss. I'll be glad to comment and hope that my comments will help to eliminate your concerns. Let me start by pointing out that the exposure you describe was low risk-most commercial sex workers do not have STIs, including HIV and most exposures to infected partners do not lead to transmission of infection. Had you approached my for PEP,I would have declined to provide it given the very, very low risk for infection. Irrespective however, your multiple tests completely and absolutely rule out the possibility of infection,

I would add that the symptoms, rashes you describe raise no concerns for STI.

While STIs can cause miscarriages', many miscarriages' are caused by other, non-infectious abnormalities.

I see no reason for you to think your exposure long ago led to infection o your partner's recent miscarriage. EWH

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40 months ago

1. Would pep have affected the accuracy of other tests? Mainly Syphillis cmia test as I’ve read of false negatives been tested 3 times. All over the space of a year. Same with hep a b c and hiv are these conclusive?

2. The multiple gon and chly testing in the first 6 weeks and the fact I had no treatment (antibiotics) and still tested negative 6 months and 12 months does this mean I never had the infection in the first place and never gave it to my partner who has never tested? Only urine which showed no wbc no growth. I recently tested negative again 1 month ago.

3. Could I have a new virus or pathogen or am I simply going down a rabbit hole with this.

4. Trich was tested 6 weeks and 6 months partner never had any symptoms of it such as fishy smell of green discharge and is apparently quite rare in australia. Can I rule this out? Same with mgen only tested 6 months and was negative.

5. In your opinion does it look like I was never infected and my anxiety and guilt has led me to these conclusions and hyper vigilance and associating it all with that regrettable incident?

6. Partner did have thrush from early pregnancy 2 weeks ago we did have sex. A week later I noticed after masturbation I had some red spots on penis they went after an hour or 2 sti or balanitius?

7. Had some cloudy urine again but did the vinegar test which turned it clear instantly. Would they just be harmless Phosphate crystals!

8 do you see any reasons why I shouldn’t continue to try for a baby with my partner.

9 can an sti hide out in semen or testes and not be detected in urine Pcr test. Should I get a semen culture or analysis?

10. Should I accept I am sti free and move on, or should I have follow up testing on anything specific?

Thanks for your service and kind words.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

40 months ago

Straight to your follow up questions:

1. No, taking PEP would in no way impact your other tests for STI’s, including syphilis. Your results are conclusive. Believe them.

2. Correct, your test results prove that you were never infected and could not have transmitted infection you did not have to do your partner.

3. You are going down a rabbit hole. Please stop trying to blame yourself.

4. Yes, like other STI’s, be confident you did not acquire trichomoniasis or MYCOPLASMA GENITALIUM.

5. Correct. There is no evidence you were ever infected and your anxiety and guilt is in overdrive. These overreactions likely interfere with your ability to be supportive for your partner.

6. Please stop trying to attribute every blemish spot you notice to an STI that you don’t have.

7. Yes

8. No

9. No. Believe your test results.

10. Please

Please understand, I am sorry for your loss. That said, your misstep is not the cause the miscarriage and for you to continue to anguish over the possibility that you acquire an STI and transmitted it to your partner causing the miscarriage is not only non-productive but may be interfering with your ability to provide the support that she would most benefit from. Please get over this guilt. EWH

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40 months ago

Right I’ve taken the weekend to support my partner and process what you’ve said to me.

It’s just hard to believe when I’ve told myself for a year I’ve got a disease and something science doesn’t recognise yet.

I’ve put every bump rash feeling down to either hiv or a new virus.

Just three more questions it is anxiety driven.

With all my testing and time that has passed from exposure I should 100% move on and put this all behind me and trust my results and that I was never infected and all symptoms and everything else I’ve told myself should be forgotten as the test 100% prove regardless of any symptoms I’ve had that I did not catch anything from this 30 seconds exposure?

I could have every symptom under the sun but testing overrules all of them?

I can continue to try for a child.

If this is true I will 100 percent move on and not be back here.

I will support my partner and work thru my guilt and anxiety.

Thanks again dr hook

40 months ago

And I 100% need no further testing?

40 months ago

Sorry I was also only tested with urine analysis and culture twice within 6 months both times no WBC no anything. I had no really pus or discharge that I noticed and no pain during urinating I presume I never had an NGU either?

If I did have an untreated ngu which was never picked up would that pose a risk or no risk to my partner. Again I presume I never had it. Would you say that’s accurate I never had one?

Partner tested urine analysis no wbc.

This will end my questions.

Thanks for your time and help with the I hope I get the closure I need to move on.

Thanks again

Edward W. Hook M.D.

40 months ago

Final Responses. This thread will be closed shortly after the responses are posted.

Clearly your sadness over your recent loss, combined with your guilt over your misstep are making it hard for you to move forward. Current tests for STIs are among the most sensitive and reliable tests in all of medicine. You believe them. Your multiple negative tests absolutely overrule any symptoms you may experience.

There is certainly no need for further testing.

You have nothing to suggest NGU that had been missed. Even if you had NGU with negative tests, this would NOT place your partner at risk for infection or miscarriage.

I would suggest that perhaps you and your partner should speak with her obstetrician regarding the miscarriage. I am confident that she/he will tell you that many miscarriages' are unexplained and that there is no reason for you not to work to become pregnant again. Take care. Please, no more worries about a missed STI. EWH

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