[Question #8915] A Series of Clarifications and a Farewell to Ask The Experts!

38 months ago

Hey Docs, I typed out something longer, but it wouldn't take so, I'm going to give you the short version, and please ask if you need clarification! My Partner and I are going to go Mono for the foreseeable future. We have tests scheduled but since I trust you guys over the years, It's worth asking you about my last encounters and their risks.

Mid March I reconnected with an old friend who long story short, had a dry spell, and 2 separate encounters about 3 days apart from each other performed unprotected oral sex and swallowed. He by coincidence had a full panel scheduled that week and his results came back negative. Didn't mind until I got a weird ..sore? I'm not 100% sure what it was but it was near my wisdom tooth and took about a week to heal, I tried getting a picture but no avail. I noticed NOTHING on his genitals and do take my time inspecting (disguised as admiration to not kill the mood! lol!) What are the risks in this encounter? I know Gonno and Chly are low, and rarely come up in the throat, Herpes is low as well because of what HSV2 prefers...my concern really is Syphllis, I can't seem to find concrete information, how does it spread? Fluids? Skin? Does the cancre need to be around? It's almost july, would I have gotten Secondary by now if he was? It's all so confusing

Then a couple weeks later another encounter happened (Question 8744) which was answered so thank you!

Then around the 3rd week of May I had another encounter (different guy) where we both mutually masturbated and had a good time until he came a little bit. (Not precum) and within a split second proceeded to take that and rub it all over my genitals and I KNOW some got in the meatus. Then as one point he got on top of me for about 10-15 seconds to kiss my neck , and did my best to avoid genitals touching as I did not want that at ALL. I assume from Doc's answer from 8744 I would be low risk even if they did touch.. but what about the fluids situation?

38 months ago

Because either I ran out of space, or the text box kept crashing, I wanted to also ask some simple questions, because they would not fit with my initial post.

Gono/Chly is it true it can ONLY be transferred (realistically that is) with INSERTIVE sex? Can a throat infection go to the genitals or would it stay localized?

HIV I had 0 issues with, you guys taught me how crazy hard it is to transfer!

Herpes can be transferred without penetration but still would need a lot of friction to establish an infection, do I understand that correctly? Also if I were to have gotten a new infection, chances it would have appeared 2 weeks or so after the initial encounter?

Aaaaannddd I've asked my Syphllis concerns in my previous post.

I'm honestly asking for clarification because I won't have the need to ask anymore because of how my relationship status will be changing.

I am also aware my partner and I test results are the only thing that matters.

I just want to also thank all the doctors that have been so good in calming my nerves over the years and helping me with my own personal questions or learning from others.

Thanks again for everything, hope to never post again here beyond replying to this thread!

Edward W. Hook M.D.

38 months ago

Welcome to the Forum and thanks for your questions. Thanks as well for your commitment to safe sex. It will go a long, long way towards keeping you uninfected. Before I get to specifics, let me provide a few generalities which I hope you will find helpful. First. most person, even those with multiple partners do not have STIs. Further, even when they do, there is a hierarchy of risks with mutual masturbation being essentially no risk events, oral sex being low risk (for a complex variety of reasons transmission and acquisition of STIs through oral sex is uncommon. After that, penetrative genital or rectal exposures are higher risk but even in that circumstance, most exposures do not result in acquisition of infection. Finally, if you have sex with a partner who is tested soon after the encounter and they do not have a positive test, then your risk for acquiring infection is virtually zero as well and no something to worry about. If you and your partner are going to be monogamous, then for some getting tested together is a great way to have a strong, reassured foundation for your future sexual activities. With that, I'll address your specific questions

1. Syphilis risk from the oral encounter you describe. The risk here is tiny, if not zero. The location you describe is more consistent with a dental problem than syphilis. When syphilis occurs in the mouth (which is very, very rare), then it is usually on the tongue or lips, not the mouth.

2. Gono/Chly is it true it can ONLY be transferred (realistically that is) with INSERTIVE sex?

Correct.

3. Can a throat infection go to the genitals or would it stay localized?

Infections cannot spread within your body from the throat to the genitals. Direct contact is required.

4 HIV I had 0 issues with, you guys taught me how crazy hard it is to transfer!

Great, thanks

5. Herpes can be transferred without penetration but still would need a lot of friction to establish an infection, do I understand that correctly? Also if I were to have gotten a new infection, chances it would have appeared 2 weeks or so after the initial encounter?

Correct BUT, transmission without penetration is quite rare. It is not something I would worry about.

6. Aaaaannddd I've asked my Syphllis concerns in my previous post.

See no. 1 above

7. I'm honestly asking for clarification because I won't have the need to ask anymore because of how my relationship status will be changing.

I am also aware my partner and I test results are the only thing that matters.

Good approach

I hope this addresses your questions. If anything is unclear, you have up to two follow-ups for clarification. EWH

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38 months ago

Holy crap Doc Hook what a fast response!

Last responses I had to wait nearly a week for, thanks for making my day much much better.

I guess the only thing I'd really ask at this point since you pretty much nailed everything would be ..

Syphllis tongue Ulcer, (the Canchre or how ever it's spelled) would be a single ulcer correct?

I didn't mention (I forgot lol) that I had 2 tiny holes (honestly more cuts , as they stung a bit when I ate certain foods and moved it around) that eventually healed within the week , it's actually what jump started my anxiety again. Though it really did look like an inflamed taste bud or something , plus that ulcer is supposed to be painless so that would rule it out yeah?

Beyond that, Thank you for everything Doc. It's been real.

I hope my question and your generalization can help people like me in the future, as tons of people have hyper specific situations that have a lot of IFS or WHATS .

So if anyone like me is reading this, I asked it for you! Get Tested on the regular and stay safe.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

38 months ago

Classically chancres are painless, solitary lesions

Glad my response have been helpful. EWH

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38 months ago

Yeah, even after a quick google and seeing all those images , I'm beginning to feel better and am confident my tests in a couple days will come back negative across the board.

It's been real Ask the Experts.

You can close this question and stay safe everyone!

Edward W. Hook M.D.

38 months ago

Thanks for your thanks. I’m pleased that the information I provided has been helpful. EWH ---