STI or just stress from session?

[Hitchcock]

Hi,

I had unprotected oral sex and the next day I thought I experienced a gonorrhea like symptom...slight burning when urinating. This happened for 7 days. It was really mild and it did not happen all of the time. It was more like a higher awareness not really burning. I did not notice it at all in the mornings. I also noticed some discomfort when sitting in certain positions.

There weren't any other symptoms (no discharge, redness, etc) and I have avoided sex for 8 days now.

Today I don't feel any burning or increased awareness but I'm wondering if it was an STI in the first place. If it was gonorrhea and it was minor like this can it clear up on its own like this?

I have a mild cold, so I feel a little tired anyway (it started the day of the unprotected oral sex) but the discomfort is almost completely gone now (still have very mild discomfort when sitting in certain positions, but it is much less than it was before).

I really don't know what to say if I go to a doctor...I had some minor pain and now it's gone?

I don't see any changes and I have been carefully watching for changes for the past week when I check myself.

Any advice?

 

[Hitchcock]

Just in case anyone else has something similar I visited a doctor and he said it is not likely an STI, but testing anyways. He also prescribed meds to treat a possible STI to be on the safe side.

 

[Health Nurse]

Hi,

I had unprotected oral sex and the next day I thought I experienced a gonorrhea like symptom...slight burning when urinating. This happened for 7 days. It was really mild and it did not happen all of the time. It was more like a higher awareness not really burning. I did not notice it at all in the mornings. I also noticed some discomfort when sitting in certain positions.

There weren't any other symptoms (no discharge, redness, etc) and I have avoided sex for 8 days now.

Today I don't feel any burning or increased awareness but I'm wondering if it was an STI in the first place. If it was gonorrhea and it was minor like this can it clear up on its own like this?

I have a mild cold, so I feel a little tired anyway (it started the day of the unprotected oral sex) but the discomfort is almost completely gone now (still have very mild discomfort when sitting in certain positions, but it is much less than it was before).

I really don't know what to say if I go to a doctor...I had some minor pain and now it's gone?

I don't see any changes and I have been carefully watching for changes for the past week when I check myself.

Any advice?

Hi Hitchcock

I would just advice that you visit a doctor or an STI clinic which you have done.

Sexually transmitted infections (STI) can be passed with unprotected oral sex and given that it took a day to develop and lasted for 7 days I would suspect the most likely cause would be an STI. I don't know your full medical history but if you don't normally get these type of symptoms I would be thinking STI.

It is great that you went to the doctor and got some tests done. There are a few things that can be passed from a BBBJ but they only test for gonorrhea and chlamydia. Given this it is good the doctor prescribed some medication for you.

I have seen many cases of chlamydia where symptoms can start off then go away or just be very mild almost like a small itch inside the penis. Most STI have no symptoms.

It is also possible it was not an STI or maybe just a bit of irritation, but we tend to do what your doctor did and offer antibiotics just in case.

Many men I meet have trouble bringing up this topic with their doctors. If you have any symptoms after having sex it is a good idea to go for a checkup. Health professionals are required to keep all your information confidential. If you still feel uncomfortable seeing your regular doctor e.g. They look after the entire family you can come to an STI clinic or just visit a different doctor for your sexual health needs.

You can always just say you had unprotected oral sex with a casual partner and leave it at that. Mentioning sex is really important as the doctor will think of other things if they exclude sex as a possible cause.

What to test for.
http://healthnurse.wordpress.com/faq-about-sexual-health/3-getting-tested/

STI clinics:
http://healthnurse.wordpress.com/faq-about-sexual-health/4-sti-clinic-locations/

Let us know if you want us to expand on a topic. Remember if you would like to ask me a personal question just send me a PM.

HN
www.healthnurse.wordpress.com
www.stiresource.com

 

[Hitchcock]

Thanks HN - you're very helpful.

Just to finish this story - tests for STIs came up negative but I was still having symptoms. Things got worse with swollen glands and feeling sick, tired, worn out nearly all the time.

Over several weeks - visited different doctors and clinics because I travel. I had a crazy couple of weeks waiting for HIV and other tests. The day of the test results, couldn't think, it was crazy waiting for the doctor to read the report and figure out the result. All came back negative. Did full blood tests (lots of tests for different things), physical exam (found swollen glands), swab test (not fun having a qtip probing around trying to get a good sample) and waited more. Finally got the results. All negative, and other tests are within acceptable ranges - but still experiencing symptom (discharge).

End result - likely a UTI or other irritation but since all tests are negative there's no treatment. Advised to test again after 1 or 2 months. Now glands are no longer swollen and I am starting to feel better (not as tired), but still not completely out of this.

 

[Health Nurse]

Thanks HN - you're very helpful.

Just to finish this story - tests for STIs came up negative but I was still having symptoms. Things got worse with swollen glands and feeling sick, tired, worn out nearly all the time.

Over several weeks - visited different doctors and clinics because I travel. I had a crazy couple of weeks waiting for HIV and other tests. The day of the test results, couldn't think, it was crazy waiting for the doctor to read the report and figure out the result. All came back negative. Did full blood tests (lots of tests for different things), physical exam (found swollen glands), swab test (not fun having a qtip probing around trying to get a good sample) and waited more. Finally got the results. All negative, and other tests are within acceptable ranges - but still experiencing symptom (discharge).

End result - likely a UTI or other irritation but since all tests are negative there's no treatment. Advised to test again after 1 or 2 months. Now glands are no longer swollen and I am starting to feel better (not as tired), but still not completely out of this.

Glad to hear that you are feeling better and that all your tests came back negative.

Thanks for letting us know how things went.

I am just wondering if your doctor gave you any antibiotics.

HN
www.healthnurse.wordpress.com
www.stdresource.com
www.bccdc.ca

 

[Hitchcock]

I am just wondering if your doctor gave you any antibiotics.

I got antibiotics in case of chlamydia and gonorrhea - they did not make a difference since that's not what I had - still don't know what it is or was. I'm slowly getting better - just glad it was not an STI, or AIDS, etc - I can wait this out.

 

[Health Nurse]

I got antibiotics in case of chlamydia and gonorrhea - they did not make a difference since that's not what I had - still don't know what it is or was. I'm slowly getting better - just glad it was not an STI, or AIDS, etc - I can wait this out.

Hi Hitchcock

Great.

When men get symptoms in their urethra (pee tube) we usually recommened treatment and testing, as the most common cause is an STI for someone who is having sex.

At the STI clinic if a man returns with the same urethral symptoms after treatment and all the tests for STI were negative we usually recommened that they see there family doctor. Symptoms can sometimes be caused by infections further up the urinary tract e.g. Prostate, bladder.

It sounds like your body is taking care of what ever was the problem.

HN

 

[ceejay]

I am not a Doctor but I had something very similar happen to me. It turned out that my issues were due to an over-the-counter cold medication . If you read the fine print on these medications you will note that urinary tract problems are a potential side affect. I mention this because in your original post you said you had a mild cold.

 

[Health Nurse]

I am not a Doctor but I had something very similar happen to me. It turned out that my issues were due to an over-the-counter cold medication . If you read the fine print on these medications you will note that urinary tract problems are a potential side affect. I mention this because in your original post you said you had a mild cold.

Hi ceejay

You bring up a good point about the possible side effects from medication. I have seen people in the clinic who have had sores on their genitals that were caused by certain types of medication.

When visiting a doctor or STI clinic with a problem it really helps to know someone's sexual history as well as all the medication they are taking prescribed or not prescribed/recreational. I know this can be really difficult at times. Health professionals are required by law to keep all your information confidential.

HN