Oral Concern

[concerned11114]

I will keep this brief.  I fingered and received oral sex from a female at a bachelor party 3 days ago.  From reading your thread I know only the oral has a risk of std(fingering does not).  I went to the doctor today(exposure Friday night) who gave me  6 250mg azithromycin pills taken at once and a 500mg twice a day for seven days of cipro prescription and told me to forget about the exposure.  I wish he would have tested.  I do not want to infect my fiance.  Am I clear of any bacterial infections(syphillis,chlam.,gon,ngu)?  How long should I wait to have sex with my fiance?  All advice is greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

[concerned11114]

Thank you very much!  That thread was most informative.  I gathered that a single exposure leading to an HSV 1 infection is probably nil and if it occurred there is no significant consequence.  I believe I can go on about my life with no effects to me or my partner except to be faithful.

Thanks again!

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

You're welcome.  Here is a thread that goes into detail about genital HSV-1.  It is very unlikely you have it, so I suggest you not keep digging into it; the main effect might be to inflame your anxieties unnecessarily.  But you should find most of the information reassuring.

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/1159077

[concerned11114]

Thank you doctor!  I am getting married soon and wanted to make sure I didn't need to refrain from sex with my partner or get tested.  If I did contract HSV-1 what is the time frame of most outbreaks?

Thank you!

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Welcome to the forum.

Thanks for looking for pertinent information on the forum.  It is true that fingering is no risk, but you somewhat misinterpreted what you learned about oral sex, which is generally classified as safe sex, with far lower STD risk than for vaginal or anal sex.  There is virtually zero risk for some STDs (chlamydia, HSV-2, HIV, HPV) and quite low risks for gonorrhea, nongonococcal urethritis (NGU), and herpes due to HSV-1.  Although syphilis can be transmitted orally, it is virtually absent in the large majority of heterosexual populations in the US, so that risk also can be discounted.

In addition, the azithromycin and ciprofloxacin together would have prevented or aborted any and all bacterial STDs.  The only remaining theoretical risk is for herpes due to HSV-1, and that's sufficiently low risk that I really wouldn't worry about it.  If I were in your situation, I would continue unprotected sex with my wife with no fear of infecting her with anything.

I hope that helps.  Best wishes--  HHH, MD