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Likelihood that I have an STD
Hello. I've been more or less healthy all my 48 years, except for hypertension, which i've been under control for with meds. I have some acid reflux, which has not been diagnosed as well.
For the last 2 months, I have had a chronic cough (and at times wheezing, tickling of throat), that waxes and wanes in intensity, often bothersome at night. About 2 months ago, in the beginning of all of this, I had high fever (100 to 103), chills, and fatigue for 2 or 3 days, and then it went away. But I was left with this cough for all this time. At the onset 2 months ago, an 'urgent care' facility doctor told me I probably had chronic bronchitis (with some post nasal drip), and prescribed Biaxin 500mg 2x for 10 days. Recently, my physician told me I may have allergies and told me to take Claritin and Albuterol (only been on Claritin intermittently since my breathing is good, despite the sometimes slight wheezing). Cough is sometimes 'dry', and at other times 'productive', but with clear fluid that I usually swallow again.
My STD concerns are that in the preceding days and weeks to the onset of symptoms 2 months ago, I performed unprotected oral sex (vaginal) on 3 ladies, one of whom turned out to be an 'escort' sex worker, and I am now all concerned and paranoid that I may have received an STD like Chlamydia or Gonorrhea. Since I had the Biaxin course after all of this transpired, is there a chance that any oral STD acquired would have been wiped out by the round of Biaxin? What are my chances all of these symptoms are an orally acquired STD? What should be my next step? Thank you very much!
For the last 2 months, I have had a chronic cough (and at times wheezing, tickling of throat), that waxes and wanes in intensity, often bothersome at night. About 2 months ago, in the beginning of all of this, I had high fever (100 to 103), chills, and fatigue for 2 or 3 days, and then it went away. But I was left with this cough for all this time. At the onset 2 months ago, an 'urgent care' facility doctor told me I probably had chronic bronchitis (with some post nasal drip), and prescribed Biaxin 500mg 2x for 10 days. Recently, my physician told me I may have allergies and told me to take Claritin and Albuterol (only been on Claritin intermittently since my breathing is good, despite the sometimes slight wheezing). Cough is sometimes 'dry', and at other times 'productive', but with clear fluid that I usually swallow again.
My STD concerns are that in the preceding days and weeks to the onset of symptoms 2 months ago, I performed unprotected oral sex (vaginal) on 3 ladies, one of whom turned out to be an 'escort' sex worker, and I am now all concerned and paranoid that I may have received an STD like Chlamydia or Gonorrhea. Since I had the Biaxin course after all of this transpired, is there a chance that any oral STD acquired would have been wiped out by the round of Biaxin? What are my chances all of these symptoms are an orally acquired STD? What should be my next step? Thank you very much!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Yes, that's the main reason. And it isn't just that cunnilingus is low risk. My reply is also based on your symptoms, which simply are not possibly due to any STD. Plus the fact that the antibiotics would have cured anything even if I were wrong about the low risk.
Here is another MedHelp thread that explains the biology of STD/HIV transmission.
Start reading with the follow-up comment December 14: http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/1119533
That should end this thread. Take care.
Here is another MedHelp thread that explains the biology of STD/HIV transmission.
Start reading with the follow-up comment December 14: http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/1119533
That should end this thread. Take care.
Thanks for your response Doctor.
Given the many medical websites and print resources that clearly state one can acquire an oral STD via unprotected oral-genital sex (giving and receiving), you can see my initial concern. I find your statement interesting that cunnilingus carries little or no STD risk. I had no idea. Maybe this is the reason that multi-panel STD tests offered today do not test for oral STD's, but only for genital ones? Especially the Chlamydia and Gonorrhea ones?
Given the many medical websites and print resources that clearly state one can acquire an oral STD via unprotected oral-genital sex (giving and receiving), you can see my initial concern. I find your statement interesting that cunnilingus carries little or no STD risk. I had no idea. Maybe this is the reason that multi-panel STD tests offered today do not test for oral STD's, but only for genital ones? Especially the Chlamydia and Gonorrhea ones?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
More about the "coincidence in timing": Assuming your sexual exposures involved kissing, it is conceivable you caught a respiratory virus from one of your partners. If so, your problems could be related to one of those events -- but still not an STD in the usual sense. However, most respiratory viral infections don't last this long. On the other hand, an initial viral infection often triggers things like asthma, post-infectious bronchitis, and so on.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the STD forum.
The bottom line is that there is no realistic possibility that any traditional STD explains your symptoms. There are no STDs that cause all the medical issues that you describe. Certainly neither gonorrhea no chlamydia can do so. On top of that, cunnilingus (oral-vaginal contact) carries little if any STD risk anyway. It is also true that just about any possible bacterial STD would indeed have been cured by the clarithromycin (Biaxin).
So almost certainly your symptoms are entirely unrelated to your sexual exposures, just a coincidence in timing. This forum doesn't speculate about potential causes of symptoms other than STDs. You'll need to continue to work with your health care provider about potential explanations.
Sorry I can't be more helpful. Good luck-- HHH, MD
The bottom line is that there is no realistic possibility that any traditional STD explains your symptoms. There are no STDs that cause all the medical issues that you describe. Certainly neither gonorrhea no chlamydia can do so. On top of that, cunnilingus (oral-vaginal contact) carries little if any STD risk anyway. It is also true that just about any possible bacterial STD would indeed have been cured by the clarithromycin (Biaxin).
So almost certainly your symptoms are entirely unrelated to your sexual exposures, just a coincidence in timing. This forum doesn't speculate about potential causes of symptoms other than STDs. You'll need to continue to work with your health care provider about potential explanations.
Sorry I can't be more helpful. Good luck-- HHH, MD
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
