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Avatar universal

Please help very worried, possible STD risk

Hello. This is my first time on MH and I am very worried. I am Caucasian male, in early 20s. I did something very stupid a few days ago and now I cannot sleep because I am very worried I may have caught an STD. I didn't know much about STDs before making the stupid decision but afterwards and reading on the internet now I am very worried.

I was drunk with friends and visited a brothel where I received oral sex with a condom on and then did protected vaginal and anal sex, both with the condom on. I only lasted about 5 minutes and I don't think there was any problems with the condom. When I was finished it didn't look like the condom was broken, but I didn't check properly. I didn't see any visible signs of STDs and the only position we did was doggy, so the only exposed skin of the prostitute to touch my pubic region was her *** and thighs. I did have my hands on her ***.

I deeply regret my actions and will not do it again but cannot stop thinking about the risk I have taken. Can anyone with experience on these matters please answer some questions.

1) I understand that using a condom is 'safer sex' but it is not guaranteed safe as I could still catch herpes or syphilis or HPV from skin contact. Is there any way to quantify that risk? Am I at any real risk or am I just being paranoid?

2) Can I get any STDs (I'm particularly worried about syphilis) from my pubic region touching the ***/thighs of the prostitute? Or from my hands touching her *** and then touching myself?

3) If I were to have contracted syphilis what time frame would I see symptoms and what would they be? I have read between 2-6 weeks for a sore to develop but that a sore may not appear at all, then after that a rash and illness after 6-12 weeks. If I get past 6 weeks without any symptoms does that mean I am clean?

4) How soon can I get tested to confirm I have not got any STDs? Do I have to wait at least 6 weeks to rule out syphilis?

5) If I have a test in 6 weeks time and it is clean, can I be sure I am OK? Or should I test again after 3 months?

6) Am I being totally paranoid and the risk so small that I don't need to get tested (other than for my own piece of mind?)

Thanks in advance for any advice and sorry for the paranoid questions, I know most of it isn't rational but my brain won't switch off on this subject.
4 Responses
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Avatar universal
I don't think my answers will do you any help going forward as for some reason you are obsessed with syphilis and if you are in a developed country for a woman to have syphilis is rare and couple that with transmission would be very rare. test at 6 weeks and that should settle you down because you had no real risk.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Also one more question of you dont mind. If a person has syphilis and had a rash on their hands and they touch you, for example the base of the penis when putting on the condom, is this a way to become infected?

With the skin to skin contact, can it get in through the skin or does there have to be an open wound or cut on the person who's at risk?
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Avatar universal
Thank you for your reply, it is much appreciated. I just want to ask a further question please.

If there were no visible signs on the bottom or thighs of the woman then does this mean that she wouldn't be infectious even if she did have syphilis?

Does syphilis get in through the skin of the hands? Is it contagious from my hands having contact with her bottom/thighs?

With the use of the condom I'm sure I'm safe from other STDs. The small amount of skin to skin contact though is making me paranoid and I can't stop thinking about it even though I know I'm just being paranoid. I don't know how I'm going to wait 6 weeks to get tested.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
1) Very low risk, not something I would worry about.
2) Thighs yes but very very low risk
3) Not going to talk about something that is unlikely to happen
4) Syphilis-6 weeks, herpes-3 months
5) See #4
6) Yes
Helpful - 0
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