[Question #8741] Quick onset syphilis, is it a thing?

40 months ago

Hi doctors.

Firstly thanks for the service, I acknowledge the need for a in person consultation and I will do that but unfortunately I am currently on holiday. And won’t be able to get free healthcare for a while, also been on holiday with my wife going to get healthcare abroad for this issue will surely cause suspicion.

So I’ll do my best to explain my predicament and hopefully you can do your best to help. But don’t feel responsible if you can’t.

So about a week ago, just before going on holiday I had a msm exposure the exposure was mutual masterbation we stroked each other’s penis. I think we swapped hands and I may have touched my self with the hand I touched him I’m not sure. I purposely kept my penis away from his as I have deep anxieties about STI been married I need to keep her safe.

He touched me with his hand briefly again not sure if he used this on himself or not but probably he did. He only really stroked the end and not for long. It was mainly me pleasuring the both of us.

So about 5 after exposure I noticed a spot on my penis base. Just maybe a CM up from the pubic area. It’s not really painful but tender in touch. I squeezed it thinking it was a spot and it did release some pus. It then got red and scabbed over today this morning in the shower cleaning the scab came off and it’s now a pink shallow mark. Still not painful. I am trying to keep my hands off this to avoid confusing matters.

I’m normally laid back but seen as this should be a relaxing holiday and every time I see this mark it’s a reminder and a worry.

Googling STI the closest this I can find that looks anything like is a syphilis sore. But as far as I can read onset at 5 days after doesn't happen? Is this true?

So I guess my questions.

1) what’s my risks

2) is this syphilis or does 5 day onset rule this out conclusively. I guess I’m asking has it ever been heard of that someone gets a sore before the quotes 10 days.

3) do I need to find medical care.

40 months ago

4) also does the sore show up at points of contact or just the near the point of contact. I’m not sure the part that spot is is a point of contact I’m not saying it’s not for definite but I like to masterbate at the end I don’t usually touch the whole penis. Would you imagine if I was going to get a sore it would most likely be on the end of my penis where it’s touched the most?

40 months ago

I’m freaking out here. I feel sick, I was so so careful how can I be so stupid.

I’m in Scotland so here is my go to site

https://www.sexualhealthscotland.co.uk/the-clinic/stis/syphilis

It says it’s spread via mutual masterbation. I’m in trouble here.

I don’t know what to do.

I’m so stupid!!

Edward W. Hook M.D.

40 months ago

Welcome to our Forum and thanks for your questions. I'll be glad to provide some perspective and hope that it will provide you with some comfort. While mutual masturbation might rarely transmit STIs, this occurs so rarely that consensus amongst experts is that by and large, mutual masturbation is safe, no risk sex. I am confident that the lesion you have described is not syphilis. Syphilis is relatively rare and while theoretically, you might acquire syphilis from mutual masturbation, the likelihood of acquiring it this way is about the same as your risk of being struck by lightening. It is just not something to worry about. Further, it typically takes about three weeks for a syphilis lesion to appear and when it dose it is typically painless and does not contain pus. The lesion you describe, as well as its location is a great description of a problem called folliculitis in which hair follicles get blocked and normal skin bacteria cause a pus-filled pimple.

The website you found correctly lists the theoretical ways in which a person can get syphilis but provides no context. Thus, in context to your specific questions:

1) what’s my risks

Very, very low and not a realistic concern

2) is this syphilis or does 5 day onset rule this out conclusively. I guess I’m asking has it ever been heard of that someone gets a sore before the quotes 10 days.

See my comments above. Five days is much to quick to be typical syphilis

3) do I need to find medical care.

You do not need evaluation for syphilis. If the sore spot is getting better with soap and water, that is probably sufficient, OTOH, if it is still red and tender, you might want to see a health care professional to evaluate whether or not antibiotics are needed. Please cease squeezing or scratching the area, this greatly increases the likelihood of skin infection.

Typically initial syphilis lesions appear at sites of direct contact.

I hope this information is helpful. I really would not worry about syphilis. I hope that this comment is helpful. EWH

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40 months ago

Yes doctor that is very helpful to add some context.

I was hoping you was going to say that it was a no risk encounter but reading between the lines you have almost said that.

Your right it’s rare where I live too even in msm but it just seemed a massive coincidence that this appeared so close to the encounter but I guess that’s a good this! As it’s just too soon to be a syphilis concern.

I’ll try and enjoy rest of my holiday.

Can you just do me one last comment.

I know because it’s theoretical that it’s possible to acquire syphilis hand genital. I am right in saying that this lesion is not syphilis it’s too soon.

In short I’m wanting to know if it’s a 1000% ok to sleep with my wife tonight while this thing is showing. (Apart from the potential of aggravating it)

40 months ago

Also is the risk so minute I can ignore the “recent exposure” and if the doctor asks me if I have had recent sex I can say no. I know this is not ideal but I would love to avoid the embarrassment.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

40 months ago

In science one can never say never- strange things do happen. for instance, people get hit by meteorites falling from space, but not often enough to worry about it. your risk of syphilis is of that magnitude and is something I urge you not to worry about. Any doctor who is doing his/her job properly would ask about recent sexual exposures when evaluating a genital lesion and you should tell the truth. This lesion appeared too soon aftern your close to no risk encounter and your description sounds nothing like syphilis. EWH. ---

40 months ago

Thank you I was off the deep end. I’ll go an join my family for a drink now. It’s lovely wether here and I have been hiding away all day sick with worry.

I haven’t entirely washed my anxiety away. But I think it’s safe to go on without worrying about it and I bet it will be cleared by time I get home anyway so probably won’t even speak to a doctor.

Thanks a million.

I can’t stop crying.

40 months ago

Hey,

Thanks for your help and sorry for my anxiousness as I have calmed down somewhat reading your comments are way more reassuring than they was when I first resieved them.

I’m due back home next week.

In the mean time my sore has become a pinky white raised mark this part is about 1cm in diameter and in the middle is a tiny scab about 2mm - 3mm mark unfortunately this scab is easy picked when washing and reopens to bleed.

I assume this doesn't worry you about syphilis?

Is the risk low enough to not even worry about screening remember this stated 5 days after (not the normal 10 days)

Sorry to ask probably the same questions but the only thing that has changed is the appearance of the sore.

Thanks

Edward W. Hook M.D.

40 months ago

My opinion on your exposure and risk is unchanged. I note that you continue to pick at the area, causing bleeding. Please stop. EWH ---