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Epididemytis Etc.
I am sorry for the specificity of my question, as I am sure few others will find it helpful. Further, I would like to thank you for your straight-forward and realistic advice, considering how highly moralized and sensationalized this information is.
5 weeks ago, I had seemingly unprotected sex (I was very drunk) with an ex-boyfriend, who was STD free as of 10 months ago, and has one sexual partner in the interim. I told my boyfriend out of guilt, and since then we have tried to repair our relation; we have had protected sex 3 times with no known condom failure and unprotected oral sex. This week, he had massive pain in one testicle, and was diagnosed with Epididemytis (ultrasound ruled out Torsion, etc.) The doctor's told him that I must have given him an STD. He has had no other symptoms besides testicular pain, I have had no symptoms and the boy that I cheated with, similarly, has had no symptoms.
They did not test my boyfriend for STDs as the treatment would be the same whether or not it was positive, but they tested me. My question is, if I have an STD, what is the likelihood that it caused the Epididymitis? I feel like it is much more likely that if I had an STD, my boyfriend did not get it from me, rather from another sexual encounter. With only 3 protected sexual encounters, I feel like it is unlikley that he has contracted anything, especially because although my sexual encounter was unprotected, it was relatively low risk (I knew the person and his sexual history). I am awaiting my results.
5 weeks ago, I had seemingly unprotected sex (I was very drunk) with an ex-boyfriend, who was STD free as of 10 months ago, and has one sexual partner in the interim. I told my boyfriend out of guilt, and since then we have tried to repair our relation; we have had protected sex 3 times with no known condom failure and unprotected oral sex. This week, he had massive pain in one testicle, and was diagnosed with Epididemytis (ultrasound ruled out Torsion, etc.) The doctor's told him that I must have given him an STD. He has had no other symptoms besides testicular pain, I have had no symptoms and the boy that I cheated with, similarly, has had no symptoms.
They did not test my boyfriend for STDs as the treatment would be the same whether or not it was positive, but they tested me. My question is, if I have an STD, what is the likelihood that it caused the Epididymitis? I feel like it is much more likely that if I had an STD, my boyfriend did not get it from me, rather from another sexual encounter. With only 3 protected sexual encounters, I feel like it is unlikley that he has contracted anything, especially because although my sexual encounter was unprotected, it was relatively low risk (I knew the person and his sexual history). I am awaiting my results.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Sorry, I cannot judge the accuracy of your partner's diagnosis, and neither will any other online resource. That's a question for his doctors.
Hello again!
As it turns out, I am negative. Now I am worried that they misdiagnosed him, especially because he has no other symptoms. Torsion, perhaps? What would be the best step to take next?
As it turns out, I am negative. Now I am worried that they misdiagnosed him, especially because he has no other symptoms. Torsion, perhaps? What would be the best step to take next?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Thanks. Let me know the results of your tests, and those of your other partner if you can arrange it.
Also, how much time has passed since antibiotics were started for your partner's epididymitis? If it has been less than 5 days, it would still be worthwhile for him to have urine tests for gonorrhea and chlamydia, since the test can remain positive for a few days after starting antibiotics. I suggest you and/or your partner talk to his doctor and insist. The sooner the better, in hope of getting a positive result.
Also, how much time has passed since antibiotics were started for your partner's epididymitis? If it has been less than 5 days, it would still be worthwhile for him to have urine tests for gonorrhea and chlamydia, since the test can remain positive for a few days after starting antibiotics. I suggest you and/or your partner talk to his doctor and insist. The sooner the better, in hope of getting a positive result.
he is 28. I am female. I am not confident that my partner has not had not another sexual contact recently, although I trust him.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum. There is no reason to apologize at all for this question; it's a very good one.
You don't actually say your sex -- I believe and assume female, yes? But it probably doesn't make much difference. You also don't say your and your partner's age, which also has some bearing on the likely causes of epididymitis.
Epididymitis has both sexually and nonsexually transmitted causes. The only STDs known to cause it are chlamydia and gonorrhea, and one of these is the usual cuase in young men (under 35). However, even in young men, quite a number have non-STD causes, usually E. coli or other bacteria commonly responsible for urinary tract infections (UTI) in either men or women. It is surprising and disappointing that your partner apparently wasn't tested to determine the exact cause. (I wasn't there, so I can't fairly criticize his doctors. But normally such testing should always be done. It's easy to collect urine to test for gonorrhea, chlamydia, and UTI bacteria.
The timing of your partner's testicular pain/swelling and your recent exposure to your old partner certainly are consistent with sexually transmitted epididymitis, but the use of condoms -- especially with your boyfriend -- tends to be against it. Are you confident your boyfriend hasn't had other partners recently? When one member of a couple is tempted to have sex outside the relationship, often the other has done so as well.
That's about the best I can do at this point. Let me know your test results when available -- presumably you have been tested for both gonorrhea and chlamydia, yes? Also, even without waiting for your results (or if they are negative), I recommend you ask your ex-boyfriend to also be tested.
Regards-- HHH, MD
You don't actually say your sex -- I believe and assume female, yes? But it probably doesn't make much difference. You also don't say your and your partner's age, which also has some bearing on the likely causes of epididymitis.
Epididymitis has both sexually and nonsexually transmitted causes. The only STDs known to cause it are chlamydia and gonorrhea, and one of these is the usual cuase in young men (under 35). However, even in young men, quite a number have non-STD causes, usually E. coli or other bacteria commonly responsible for urinary tract infections (UTI) in either men or women. It is surprising and disappointing that your partner apparently wasn't tested to determine the exact cause. (I wasn't there, so I can't fairly criticize his doctors. But normally such testing should always be done. It's easy to collect urine to test for gonorrhea, chlamydia, and UTI bacteria.
The timing of your partner's testicular pain/swelling and your recent exposure to your old partner certainly are consistent with sexually transmitted epididymitis, but the use of condoms -- especially with your boyfriend -- tends to be against it. Are you confident your boyfriend hasn't had other partners recently? When one member of a couple is tempted to have sex outside the relationship, often the other has done so as well.
That's about the best I can do at this point. Let me know your test results when available -- presumably you have been tested for both gonorrhea and chlamydia, yes? Also, even without waiting for your results (or if they are negative), I recommend you ask your ex-boyfriend to also be tested.
Regards-- HHH, MD
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
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