Risks for STDs: dry humping, frottage, genital rubbing

[worried22231]

Dear Dr Hansfield,
Congratulations for your recent award concerning STD prevention.
Yesterday I had a contact with a sexworker, consisting of genital rubbing without clothes but I was protected with a condom. No penetration, only genital to genital contact for a few minutes. I've revised several posts in this page, but I would like some reassuring from an expert like you. My questions are:
1. Is there any STD I should be worried about in this situation?
2. Do I need any kind of testing for this?
3. In case there is a risk for some STD, which symptoms should I expect and the time for that?

Many thanks

[worried22231]

I appreciate very much your advise. I will not take any test unless I notice any bump or sore.
Thank you again

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

As for syphilis, there is no realistic risk, especially if you are in the US.  There are only about 20,000 new cases per year, two thirds of them in gay men.  And syphilis is entirely absent in around 80-90% of all counties in the US. And neither HSV nor syphilis is likely to be transmitted by light contact of the sort you describe.  I have rarely if ever seen any STD in someone with an exposure like you describe.  Asymptomatic primary syphilis happens, but usually because of an internal exposure, with the chancre inside the rectum, vagina, etc.  If you insist on worrying about syphilis despite no risk, feel free to have a blood test at 6 weeks.  But if I were in your situation, I wouldn't be worried and would continue unprotected sex with my wife.

That will be all for this thread.  Take care.

[worried22231]

Thank you for your response. The genital rubbing was 'genital-to-genital contact for 5-10 min (no penetration), and moreover, I was protected with a condom, so almost only the scrotum and the groin area was close to the vagina. I am worried about syphilis and herpes, and I have two more concrete questions about those infections.
-In your expertise, have you seen in your clinic a chancre caused by primary syphilis in the scrotum and in the groin area, or is it easier for the bacteria to enter the mucous membrane that covers the glans penis?
-If infected by syphilis, does the chancre appear in all cases?, can I be sure there is not infection if the chancre does not appear?
Kind regards

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Welcome to the STD forum.  Thanks for your thanks about the Parran Award.  FYI, it is only by chance I'm responding to your question and not Dr. Hook. We take questions randomly, without regard to requests for one of us or the other.

Responding first to the title you selected for question, before I read anything else:  STDs are not transmitted by dry humping or frottage, and rarely if ever genital contact without penetration.  And if "genital rubbing" means hand-genital contact, that also is zero risk. If these are the only activities you have participated in, you have no STD worries.

Now I have read the question itself.  You should not be worried and there is no need for STD testing.  There could be a theoretical, small risk of STDs transmitted skin to skin from such contact, e.g. herpes, HPV, or syphilis. But all are exceedingly unlikely.  If you do not develope genital pimples, sores, or skin bumps in the next couple of months, don't worry about it.  And you can safely continue sex with your regular partner(s).

Best wishes--  HHH, MD