Tingling in Penis/Burning in Vagina

[Chris_in_crisis]

Hello,

I hope you can shed a little light on what might be going on here.

I am married and have never had an STD before.  A few weeks ago, I had unprotected sex with another woman. Immediately after the last time I had sex with the other woman I took a Z-pack (started same day).  Within the last week, I have felt a very minor irritation/tingling sensation at the tip of my urethra (analogous to accidentally getting soap in there).  No discharge, no visible inflamation, and no burning sensation when urinating...just a static/mild tingling-like sensation.  Last PM, my wife complained of a burning sensation during intercourse which continued for a little while after.  Again, no discharge/burning sensation when urinating/etc - she was fine this AM.

I contacted the other woman and she claims she, nor her partner, have any symptoms.  She said she had an STD in college and she and her then partner knew when they had it (symptoms).

I am absolutely paranoid I may have caught something. However, due to the lack of many symptoms, I am hopefully (possibly falsely), it is something else - maybe a yeast infection I caught from my wife/etc? Another type of feminine bacterial infection?

This afternoon I did get tested for Gonorrhea and Chlamydia, but I wont know the results for a week.  I was given two tablets of azithromycin to be safe (I believe 500mg).

Again, any insight into what might be going on would be greatly appreciated.

Chris.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Welcome to the forum.  Thanks for your question.

Urethral itching or tingling, without abnormal discharge, usually is not due to STDs.  Also, if I correctly understand the timing, this symptom started a few weeks after the exposure.  If it was any more than 2-3 weeks, it's really too long; no STD from that event is likely to cause such delayed symptoms.  Likewise, your wife's transient symptom was not typical for any STD.  I'm confident neither of your symptoms has anything to do with your extramarital sexual event, which is reinforced by that partner's confidence she isn't infected and at little or no risk.

The notion that your wife has a yeast infection seems plausible -- yeast usually causes no symptoms in infected women's partners, but it's possible, especially if you are uncircumcised.

I'm not sure I understand your comment about STD testing and a second (?) course of azithromycin?  I would have recommended against both the initial treatment and the second course, if you have been recently treated again.

In any case, I expect your gonorrhea and chlamydia tests to be negative.  If your wife's symptoms continue or recur, she should be professionally evaluated for yeast etc.  It would be OK for you to mention your symptoms to her, since they can be related to her own symptoms -- there's no need to say anything about your extramarital encounter.  Or if both your symptoms clear up, I don't think anything more need be done.

I hope this has been helpful.  Best wishes--  HHH, MD

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Possibilities include non-STD urinary tract infection (rare), prostate problems, and anxiety, which can magnify otherwise trivial or even normal body sensations that would not otherwise be noticed or a cause for worry.  If it persists, get professionally evaluated.

I still would have recommended against both azithromycin treatments, but that's water under the bridge so no point in worrying about it now.

Thanks for the thanks.  I'm glad to have helped.

[Chris_in_crisis]

Dr H,

Thanks for your reply, it has put me somewhat at ease.

To clarify, I took the 1st round of azithromycin (z-pack) as a prophylactic immediately after I had the unprotected sex (not wanting to wait to see if I caught something or not).  After last night's events (wife complaining of burning sensation during sex) coupled with the current tingling sensation I am experiencing, I thought it best to get checked out at which time a the 500mg treatment was suggested (results a week away).  The two treatments were approximately two weeks apart.

Any thoughts as to what the tingling sensation I am experiencing, if not an STD, might be in addition to possible yeast (I am circumcised)?

Again, thank you for your reply.

Best,
Chris