Chlamydia or Gonorrhea

[Worrieddude225]

Hello Dr.  I have posted before enquiring about other std's but this one is about the chances of chlamydia or gonorrhea.  My encounter was with a prostitute and protected.  It happened in August.  I have had no discharge or pain while urinating but recently have had pain in my left testicle and starting in October or so have had redness around my urethra.  Also, throughout November, December i would get peeling  skin on my penis head and upper shaft after having and erection. (whether ejaculation took place or not) Also, have had some blood on toilet paper after passing stools on multiple occasions.Also, my scrotum is red, it was not like this before the encounter.  

I have had pain in my left testicle sporaticly since August but only lasts a couple days.  Recenlty i have felt discomfort since last monday.  This  could be because i have read about epididymitis and have been constantly feeling and pressing against my left testicle.( doesn't hurt if i run, or during physical activity but a dull pain on and off.. mostly goes away if i am distracted by something else but if thinking about it it causes a pain.)  I am able to squeeze the scrotum below the testicle together without pain and moslty am able to move around my left testcle without any pain. There doesnt appear to be any swelling either.


1.Does this sound like these symptoms could be caused by chlamydia or gonorrhea?
2.Would one be infected with chlamydia and not have any pain urinating or discharge but have urethritis and epididymitis?
3.Is it possible to get chlamydia through protected sex?
4.If i had chlamydia in my penis could i also have it in my anus eventhough no sexual activity took place there?
5. Could these symptoms be from something else completely unrelated to the encounter talked about?
6. Are there any self tests i could do for epididymitis?  Could constanly examining testicle cause lingering pain?
7.Is just redness around urethra enough for urethritis?  
8.Do you require i get tested?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

I have nothing more to say. You need to get over your apparent guilt and move forward rather than thinking that every abnormal genitourinary symptom you or your GF experience is due to your encounter with a commercial sex worker long ago.  

Further anxiety-driven questions will be deleted without comment.  EWH

[Worrieddude225]

sorry dr but one final question if you could answer.  My gf went back to the dr. after taking the medicine for the uti because she still had symptoms and she was tested again for a uti and the results were negative. she was then given a pill for yeast infection and to this day she still experiences frequent urination and itchiness. this has been roughly going on for 3 weeks  do you still think this isn't an std?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

UTIs not uncommonly occur after sex. This is far more likely than chlamydia or gonorrhea infection.  It is time for this thread to end.  EWH

[Worrieddude225]

Dr,

About 3 weeks ago my gf was diagnosed with a uti after having sex with a condom. Usually we don't use protection but did because se missed her birth control. After the second time she had burning urination, and itching.  She was diagnosed with a uti and was treated. After finishing her medicine about  1 week later she still had the itchiness and the dr thought it was a yeast infection. She took medicine for that and a couple days after she still had burning, itchiness, and now lower stomach cramps.

My questions are is this persistent with a chlamydia or gonorrhea infection?

Could these symptoms show up months after for her if I was originally infected?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

I'm sorry to see  that at this time, more than 10 months since your protected exposure to the commercial sex worker, you continue to search for some sort of problem related to that exposure, working your way from STD to STD.  I'll now help you to rule out gonorrhea an chlamydia.  Condoms are highly effective for prevention of gonorrhea an chlamydia. Thus, even if your partner had gonorrhea or chlamydia (most commercial sex workers do not), most unprotected exposures to infected partners do not result in infection and your exposure was protected making infection most unlikely.  Further, your symptoms are not suggestive of infection or its complications.  Epididymitis symptoms do not come and go- when present they progressively worsen.  If you are worried, go get tested.  I am confident that if you do, your tests will be negative.

As for your specific questions- briefly:

1.Does this sound like these symptoms could be caused by chlamydia or gonorrhea?
No!

2.Would one be infected with chlamydia and not have any pain urinating or discharge but have urethritis and epididymitis?
Yes, this could happen but your symptoms are not consistent with epididymitis.

3.Is it possible to get chlamydia through protected sex?
Not unless the condom fails and if your condom had failed your would have known it.

4.If i had chlamydia in my penis could i also have it in my anus eventhough no sexual activity took place there?
No, you would not.

5. Could these symptoms be from something else completely unrelated to the encounter talked about?
Yes, including anxiety.

6. Are there any self tests i could do for epididymitis?  Could constanly examining testicle cause lingering pain?
You need to stop examining yourself - this could be making things worse.

7.Is just redness around urethra enough for urethritis?  
No, urethritis is diagnosed by testing.  

8.Do you require i get tested?
That would be my advice.  Get tested to convince yourself that you are not infected.  

AS far as what I think you really need, it is to find a way to move forward from the exposure you had in August.  If you cannot do so yourself, you should seek professional help in doing so.  EWH