[Question #9031] Syphilis transmission

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37 months ago
Good afternoon:

I have one raised round red/pink area on my penis shaft with a dimple/pin hole in the middle.  Doesn’t hurt. No bleeding. I’ve had it for a week. It hasn’t changed. No discharge. 

1) Could it be Syphilis? 

2) can Syphilis be transmitted by casual contact? For example, if somebody held my phone, then I touched my phone and then touched my penis by masturbation?

3) I last had protected intercourse and unprotected oral sex performed on me in November. Then, I kissed someone in April and was tested for Syphilis 50 days after the kiss in April (5 months since November) It was negative. Test is reliable?

4) if not, how would a Syphilis chancre be different?

5) should I forget this and carry on with my life? 
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
36 months ago
Welcome back -- but I'm somewhat sorry to see you here again. Your several previous questions all reflected more worry than warranted by the facts, i.e. overall STD frequency, the exposures you had, and so on. But it has been a while, and I'll address these questions.

2,3) I'm answering these questions first, because the answer is no. Without overt sex with another person (your penis in someone's vagina, rectum or mouth), you are not at risk for syphilis or any other STD. Because of this question, I'm going to assume that the only contact on your mind is the shared phone you mention. Of course nobody inn the world ever caught syphilis or any other STD from such an event. While the oral sex event could have resulted in syphilis, your subsequent blood tests show that it did not.  

1) No, this cannot be syphilis, assuming no sexual contact. And your description of the penile red spot doesn't sound like syphilis anyway. And you can't have syphils of the penis when your mouth was the only exposed site (i.e. kissing).

4,5) This isn't syphilis. If the red spot persists, see a doctor to learn the cause. In the meantime, you can and should carry on with your life without worry.

Looking at both these questions and quickly scanning your several previous ones, I have to wonder if you are germaphobic, i.e. abnormally anxious and fearful about contamination, whether with STDs or other infections. If so, I strongly suggest you seek professional counseling. Germophobia generally is a manifestation of OCD that can become very disabling. For an illustration where it can lead, see The Aviator, the film biography of the Hollywood industrialist Howard Hughes. (And a great movie anyway, with Leonardo DiCaprio and Cate Blanchett.

Anyway, do your best not to worry about syphilis and other STDs, Get your penile spot professionally examined, but don't worry about it in the meantime. It isn't syhphilis and doesn't sound like anything serious.

HHH, MD
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36 months ago
Thank you DR and yes you’re right I do have OCD and a fear of loss according to my therapist. 

I tested for Syphilis yesterday and it was negative. So it’s Day 5 of noticing this. (I I correctly stated a week) 
So, 5 days in and a negative test should rule Syphilis out.

1) Just out of curiosity, what would a Syphilis Chancre look like? 

2) if you have the sore you can’t have a negative test?

But thank you for responding with dignity and I’m sure anxiety patients can be a hindrance at times.  
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
36 months ago
Five days is too soon for syphilis testing; it takes several weeks. But I have given the other reasons you can be sure the red spot isn't due to syphilis.

1) Typically an open sore, painless. Google something like "primary syphilis images" to see photos.
2) Yes you can, but in your situation it doesn't matter.

Keep working with your therapist! But please do not keep asking about this red spot and syphilis. Given your exposure history, there is simply no chance. Follow my advice about getting it professionally evaluated, ideally by a dermatologist; or visit a local public health clinic. But do not expect further comments about it from me. Further replies are more likely to enhance your anxieties about it:  there's always a "yes but" or"could I be the exception" sort of thinking, right? If you cannot shake your irrational fear about it, discuss with your therapist, not here. Thanks for your understanding.
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