Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

STD Risk and Symptoms

Dear Doctor(s):  

While on a recent business trip to Las Vegas (four weeks ago), I had an encounter with a female stripper I met in a bar. We went back to my hotel room where money was exchanged for receiving (only, not giving) unprotected oral sex, deep kissing, and mutual masturbation. I know that the deep kissing and mutual masturbation were no risk events; having said that, I still have a few questions that I would appreciate you answering for me pertaining to the unprotected oral sex.

I read on this site where it is fairly uncommon to pick up most STIs from the type of encounter that I had, but I did have a few symptoms that concerned me. Approximately 3-4 days after the encounter, I noticed a very mild occurrence of a tingling sensation in the shaft of my penis; this tingling did not occur during urination, but before and after periodically throughout the day. I also felt some mild discomfort in my testicles, more specifically my right one. I want to reiterate that both symptoms were very mild, but definitely noticeable. I did not have any other symptoms such as discharge, burning, sores, or anything else. I was given a single dose of Zithromax (Z-Pak), because I was not properly tested and I think the nurse practitioner was guessing based on my symptoms. Around 6-7 days after the antibiotic, I noticed that the symptoms had disappeared. So, with that background, my questions are as follows:  

1.) Do you think that I had been infected with an STI such as NGU?

2.) If so, was the treatment (Z-Pak 1.5 G) given strong enough to eliminate it?

2.) Based on my narrative (and having taking a dose of antibiotics), do you think I need to get tested for a specific or a battery of STDs?

Thanks!
2 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
239123 tn?1267647614
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum.  Thanks for your question.

You correctly understand the low risk for STD.  It applies to receiving oral sex, as well as the kissing and hand-genital contact.  Oral isn't totally free of STD risk, but it's much safer than unprotected vaginal or anal sex; all STDs are transmitted infrequently, and some probably not at all (HIV, chlamydia, andf HSV-2, for example).

Your symptoms were not typical for any STD.  I would suspect genitally focused anxiety -- i.e. a reaction to a sexual decision you regret and worry about STD as a result, leading you to notice otherwise trivial sensations or symptoms that you otherwise would not have thought twice about or perhaps not even been aware of.  That your symptoms cleared after azithromycin probably is the result of placebo effect, not because any infection was treated.

To your specific questions:

1) NGU is one possibility from oral sex, but your symptoms aren't right (discharge would be the main one), and NGU symptoms don't show up sooner than a week, usually 10-14 days.

2) But if somehow you had acquired NGU, you were given the drug of choice; it would have cleared it up.  Also if you had gonorrhea or chlamydia or had been exposed to syphilis (but I'm sure you had none of these).

3) There's no need for STD testing -- and anyway, following the antibiotic, it would be pointless anyway.  Your tests would be negative, without any way to distinguish between having not been infected versus infected but effectively treated.  If you have a regular partner, you can safely continue unprotected sex without any risk of STD transmission.

I hope this has helped.  Happy holidays--  HHH, MD
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
Thank you for the quick response, Dr. Handsfield. I just recently (in the last week) began a new relationship without having engaged in intercourse yet, so your response will alleviate any concerns I previously had. Thanks again and a happy holidays to you as well.
Helpful - 0

You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum

Popular Resources
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.