Gonorrhea abscess

[cantbelive]

Last sexual activity 7/28 with husband. Recently hospitalized for abscess that tested abnormal for n. gonorrhoeae bacteria amongst others. High fever localized swelling and pain. My question is this common for untreated gonorrhea? Or indicating something else? Once abcess drained fever and pain diminished with in hours.

[auntiejessi]

Where is the abscess?

If it was a Bartholin's gland cyst, yes, it's possible.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32321682/

"64 patients had a diagnosis of Bartholin cyst or abscess, 40 of whom were also tested for Neisseria gonorrhoeae or Chlamydia trachomatis. Ten percent of patients with a Bartholin cyst/abscess were infected with N gonorrhoeae, compared with 3% of those without a Bartholin cyst/abscess (P = .008). The rates of C trachomatis and Trichomonas vaginalis infections were 13% and 26%, respectively, among patients with a Bartholin cyst/abscess, compared with 8% and 30%, respectively, among those without a Bartholin cyst/abscess (P > .05 for both). On regression analysis, only increased urobilinogen level (β, 0.31; odds ratio, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.11-1.66; P = .003) and infection with N gonorrhoeae (β, 1.69; odds ratio, 5.40; 95% CI, 1.43-20.35; P = .01) were associated with a Bartholin cyst/abscess."

It's a small study, but revealing.

https://www.healthline.com/health/bartholins-abscess

If it was a different type of abscess, let me know.

Draining an abscess quite often immediately relieves the pain. It's very important to follow the care instructions you received. Infection with other bacteria is quite possible otherwise.

Your husband needs to be treated for gonorrhea as well, as well as other partners either of you have had in the past 3-6 months.

[auntiejessi]

Oh and do not have sex until your abscess has fully healed, and until 7 days has passed from your husband/other partners have treated, whichever is longer.

[cantbelive]

Thank you for the response. Abscess on labia which I thought was a Bathloin cyst to begin with. I have not been with anyone else since we started dating 12 years ago. He is aware and will get tested as well. Claims to have been faithful. So if he is negative and I haven't been with anyone not sure how this happened. I just took my first HIV test today 21 days post last exposure which was negative. Fingers crossed it stays that way.

[grobick2000]

It is possible to attribute the abscess to gonococcal infection, but it is not necessarily the cause.
"Bartholin abscesses are very rarely caused by sexually transmitted pathogens".
https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/777112-overview#a1
That is a debatable question, but mostly a theoretical one.
I would entirely support AuntieJessi's recommendations about your husband's treatment and not having sex for some time.

[auntiejessi]

Yeah, further testing is definitely needed here. Did they do any vaginal swabs on you, or just test the abscess?

[cantbelive]

Just the abcess and my urine. Went to the OB yesterday and she tested my urine again with negative results. I guess I read the test wrong since it was n. Gonorrhoeae not isolated. Still going to do follow up testing just to calm the nerves.

[auntiejessi]

Oh so the cyst did NOT have gonorrhea? Is that now the cyst negative, and 2 urine tests negative, or one urine test?

Has your husband tested yet?

[cantbelive]

Cyst and urine negative. Husband  fine as well. The culture grew a different bacteria and was flagged for that but 3 health care providers have read and interpreted the test now assured me that the gonorrhea test was actually negative. Thanks for all help. I tend to spiral and overthink things but it was a scary time being hospitalized for 4 days and then seeing all those test results.

[auntiejessi]

No worries at all. Just glad you're okay. :)