Aa
Scared...ugh...at risk?
About a year ago, I had sex with the same partner on multiple occassions. On each occassion, a condom was used. Additionally, he pulled out before ejaculation on all occassions. I'm terrified that I've contracted something... It's been haunting me for a year now... Should I be worried? I know he's had multiple partners, however, claims that he's never had "unprotected" sex (who knows how true that is) ..... We also had oral sex once....but perhaps for only 1 min,, if not less.... I'm scared to my wits end....
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
You misread or mis-remembered. New HPV infections are most common from the time people become sexually active -- usually in their late teens -- through age 25, then progressively less common after that.
As I tried to indicate above, HPV is not worth worrying about. At any point in time, 20-25% of women age 20-30 (in the US) have HPV, and over 80% catch it at one time or another. The vast majority of them have no health consequences and the infection goes away without ever being diagnosed. Probably every woman you know is in exactly the same boat. So get your pap smears to make sure you don't someday fall into the minority who get changes that should be monitored and consider immunization (although at age 26 you are out of the recommended age range, so probably not really a worry). But otherwise don't worry about it.
As I tried to indicate above, HPV is not worth worrying about. At any point in time, 20-25% of women age 20-30 (in the US) have HPV, and over 80% catch it at one time or another. The vast majority of them have no health consequences and the infection goes away without ever being diagnosed. Probably every woman you know is in exactly the same boat. So get your pap smears to make sure you don't someday fall into the minority who get changes that should be monitored and consider immunization (although at age 26 you are out of the recommended age range, so probably not really a worry). But otherwise don't worry about it.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the STD forum.
Given the consistent condom use, the chance you caught an STD is low. Oral sex is very low risk for most STDs and zero risk for some; given the single brief exposure, it's not something to be worried about. The only STD for which there you are at any realistic risk is HPV, but all sexually active people catch HPV anyway, usually more than once. That's one of the reason all women need pap smears from time to time, even if they are at low risk for STD.
In any case, there is no cause to continue to be worried. Visit your primary health care provider, your local health department STD clinic, or a Planned Parenthood clinic. Describe your concerns and have the standard STD tests and a pap smear. Most likely all results will be negative. Also talk to them about getting one of the HPV vaccines, which will protect you against some of the most common and troublesome types of HPV infection.
Feel free to return and let me know what is found after you are examined and tested for STDs. In the meantime, try to calm your fears; most likely all is well.
Regards-- HHH, MD
Given the consistent condom use, the chance you caught an STD is low. Oral sex is very low risk for most STDs and zero risk for some; given the single brief exposure, it's not something to be worried about. The only STD for which there you are at any realistic risk is HPV, but all sexually active people catch HPV anyway, usually more than once. That's one of the reason all women need pap smears from time to time, even if they are at low risk for STD.
In any case, there is no cause to continue to be worried. Visit your primary health care provider, your local health department STD clinic, or a Planned Parenthood clinic. Describe your concerns and have the standard STD tests and a pap smear. Most likely all results will be negative. Also talk to them about getting one of the HPV vaccines, which will protect you against some of the most common and troublesome types of HPV infection.
Feel free to return and let me know what is found after you are examined and tested for STDs. In the meantime, try to calm your fears; most likely all is well.
Regards-- HHH, MD
Thank you for your response. I've read somewhere that women below 30 are at a lower risk for HPV. What's the truth in that? I'm 26. I've never considered HPV...now the idea of that is scaring me...
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
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.
