1) Scant discharge that is entirely clear usually is normal; and if it is thin and water, I agree urine is most likely. Discharge eut to infeciton usually is thick and cloudy or with yellowish color.
2) Redness and irritation are usually not present except with gonorrhea.
3) Correct.
4) This based on both rationales: absence of chlamydia plus general information on "what the medical world knows" There indeed is conflicting information about the importance of treating female partners of men with NGU. This is normally done, but it is a precaution of unproved value -- especially for NGU acquired by oral sex. In any case, it is quite clear you do NOT have NGU, so it's a moot point in this case.
Trust me on this: If I somehow found myself in your situation, I would have not had any testing at all and would never have stopped having unprotected sex with my wife. And with the negative tests you have had, for sure you can safely resume relations with her without harm or worry.
That will be my last advice on this thread. Do your best to move on.
Thank you for the very quick response a couple days ago. You are correct, I had a feeling what type of response I would get and that genitally focused anxiety may be part it. I have a few quick follow up questions:
1) You mentioned that discharge is the primary symptom, would the discharge normally be thick and with a slight color? I have at times thought I may have a slight discharge, but its always been the consistancy of urine or water. My rational side is telling me is most likely is urine as I have only seed in before or after using the bathroom. I have also not had any stains in my underwear to indicate discharge any other time of the day. I would think discharge would leave some spots from wearing underwear all day.
2) Would there normally be a burn or redness associated with discharge? As I mentioned, my penis and the meatus all look normal and I dont have any burning while urinating.
3) It sounds like if I had a bacterial infection, I would have tested for positive with my at home UTI test strips since it is checking for Leukocytes which are supposed to be white blood cells. Would a swab test chek for the same matter?
4) You mentioned that you do not believe any harm or infection would be aquired by my wife even if I had an infection, is this because Chlamydia has been ruled out? Or is this based on what the medical world now knows about these types of infection. I have also seemed to see some conflicting information on this as well.
I dont think I will have any other follow ups once you chime in on these questions. Thanks again for the answers and providing this valuable resource.
Welcome to the forum. Thanks for your question, your kind words about the forum, and for reading other threads with questions like your own.
Most likely you will have correctly predicted my replies. Basically, you have already done all you need to do. I recommend no further testing and that if you have a regular partner, you resume sex without worry about either your health or hers (or his). To your specific questions:
1,2) NAATs are only for gonorrhea and chlamydia. There is no lab test for nonchlamydial NGU. The closest is exactly what you have done, to check for excess WBCs in the urine, and your negative home UTI test is further reassurance you don't have it. The main symptom of NGU is discharge. On and off symptoms of the sort you describe is usually not due to any urethral infection; genitally focused anxiety is the most common explanation. Further, nonchlamydial NGU is generally harmless for both affected men and their partners. This appears to especially be true for NGU acquired by oral exposure.
3) I don't accept the premise; you probably have no infection, bacterial or otherwise. But if you did, as implied above I believe no harm would come to your partner through either vaginal or oral sex.
4) As implied above, I see no need for any other testing.
I hope this has been helpful. Best wishes-- HHH, MD