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STDs  (Expert Forum)
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Azithromycin catch all?
Answered by
University of Washington Seattle - WA
This forum is for questions and support regarding STD issues such as: Chlamydia, Crabs (pubic lice scabies), Gonorrhea, Hepatitis (viral), Herpes, HPV, Molluscum Contagiosum, PID, Rectal Infections, Syphilis, Trichomoniasis, Warts, Yeast Infection.All questions will be answered by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D. or Edward W Hook, MD.

Azithromycin catch all?

by carterchloe, Dec 19, 2005 12:00AM
This is the first time I have asked a question here.  I recently received oral sex from a woman I didn’t know well and that is all we did.  One week later, to the day, I began to experience pain when urinating.  I assume I have an STD at that point.  The pain is at the tip of the penis and burns badly when I urinate, and there is no discharge.  I saw a dr and he gave me 2 g of Azithromycin, it was 8 pills to take all at once.  I did that.  I have 4 left over, because it was a two packs of 6.  Should I take those?  I can't remember, but I thought he told me too take one a day for the following 4 days. He said that that would take care of anything that I may have gotten, but because I was in another state, he didn’t actually test me for anything.  I don't think he took a whole lot of time with me because I was from out of state.  I am back at home and I did a little research on the web and am wondering if this treatment will work.  Would that medication at that dosage take care of Chlamydia, gonorrhea? and how do I know if it worked properly?  Would it be likely that it is one of those things or NGU?  I am not sure what the difference is between all of them.  I am really concerned because it has been a day since taking the meds and the burning seems to be stronger today when I took the meds last night.  How do I know if the medicine worked and if the symptoms don’t go away what do I do?  How long will they last? If they do go away can I be confident that I am in the clear?  I went to a clinic out of town so I won’t be able to return to it.  I really need to know When can I be confident that I won’t pass it to anyone.

by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Dec 19, 2005 12:00AM
The only STD you could have acquired by oral sex that would have caused the symptoms you describe is nongonococcal urethritis (NGU).  Chlamydia is never acquired by oral sex, as far as is known.  Many cases of NGU probably are due to normal oral bacteria, which cause inflammation in the urethra.  Azithromycin in a single dose of 2.0 g--that is, the dose you took--is the treatment of choice, so your doctor was right:  it would have taken care of anything you caught.  If your symptoms persist or return, visit your doctor again; but the odds are they will clear up. You can be confident now that you no longer have anything you can transmit to a sex partner, if you ever did.



Good luck--  HHH, MD
Member Comments (13)

by strangeworld, Dec 19, 2005 12:00AM
Get a tested if you want to know if you got any STD, are you also concerned about HIV too?



Its highly unlikely that you got anything with oral sex.



I am not a doctor but i am following these forums from a long time now.

by carterchloe, Dec 19, 2005 12:00AM
I am not worried about HIV because I know it has never happened through receiving oral sex.  I can't imagine what this is if not an std since the pain started one week after my only sexual encounter in months.  The Doc didn't do any tests, just treated me with the zithromax, I just don't know if it will take care of everything I could have gotten.  Do you know how long it will take to get rid of the pain?

by morestup, Dec 19, 2005 12:00AM
Food for Thought:



Although many say that HIV is not acquired through Unprotected Insertive Oral Sex, I would be more cautious but to rephrase it as "...has never been documented".



Could you imagine what kind of study (statistics) is required?  Its so complex to be able to put a number in what is already considered a theorectical risk.  So if scientists and doctors already believe that this is a theoretical risk, but in the absence of such a study who can confirm that the chance is zero?  



I am not saying its possible, but I am not saying its impossible either, and I think the Doc and most officials will agree with that.



Yes then I agree that if it were possible, the chances are close to zero and hence the chance of anyone visiting this site for an answer, for practical purposes is zero.



Take Care





by strangeworld, Dec 19, 2005 12:00AM
To: morestup
morestup,



if you know oral sex is close to zero, why are you so freaked out about oral sex in your threads?



http://www.medhelp.org/forums/std/messages/2169.html



Food for thought :-)

by morestup, Dec 20, 2005 12:00AM
To: Strangeworld
Honestly,



I am trying to convince myself and need the reassurance.  I dont consider myself obsessive as it is the 2nd test I have done.



And was concerned with all the confusion of other related websites and articles all claiming the 3-6 month mark.



Doc HHH is one of a few, but of course and expert in the industry, and should no best.  



So if he said to me that 7 week test was conclusive, then so be it.  



However, on other threads, Doc HHH has told others to get a test at 13 weeks if they were exposed to high risk partners even in Oral Sex matters, therefore it was only after this confusing and scary information that I needed reassurance.



What say you Doc?



So put yourself in my situation:  Lets say suppose the two women I had Insertive Oral Sex with were HIV+, what would the Doc say?



by strangeworld, Dec 20, 2005 12:00AM
To: morestup
Logically the answer should be the same. The answer should not change if the person is High risk or Low risk category, however you if your actual risk of exposure (unprotected anal sex or vaginal sex) then i know 3 months testing is warranted.



I am in the same shoes as you i had insertive oral sex for 15 to 20 seconds from a sex worker, its 8 weeks now i am not getting tested, because i called GMHC.org and California State clinic , New york Stat clinic and couple of testing centers who said get tested for STD panel but not for HIV as there are no documented cases for insertive oral sex but there answer is same 6 weeks = 95% person get positive.



I know its hard, its on my mind everyday and night , i too get panic attacks and everything... but i am going to test at 3 months mark as i cannot test so many times.



I understand you concerns, lets hang on for another 4 weeks. and get tested for peace of mind but nothing else.

I know and you know that we will test negative. :-)

by carterchloe, Dec 20, 2005 12:00AM
HOw long before I feel relief from these symptoms?  The Doctor did not answer me!!  This is the 2nd day after taking the meds and it still stings when I pee!

by strangeworld, Dec 20, 2005 12:00AM
To: carterchloe
carterchloe



Typically 2 to 4 days.

by morestup, Dec 20, 2005 12:00AM
To: Doc HHH
The only problem is I didnt give more details to the Doc.  



I have been having nausea on and off, and today have diarrhea for the second time and although i did not vomit, it felt as if i was going to.  And further at times i think i am going to black out, feel weak.



My stomach is also bloated and tight.



I see myself in the mirror and look fine, but keep searching for traces of rashes, which do seem to come and go.



I am hoping that the 9 week test is negative but i will probably test again at 3 months (in another 4 weeks) as no one has indicated why i am experiencing such symptoms and why low risk and high risk has anything to do with it.  because as Strangeworld agrees why is 6 week conclusive for low risk when it could also be high risk



in which case i feel i was since i went back to get an answer from the two women at the party i attended and the owner did not give me a direct answer.  this is why i am worrying so much.



And then when the Doc gets upset at questions which you feel is so important cos its your life or death, you cannot understand why he could not be compassionate and get a more direct answer.  so if i ask him again, if both the women that i had oral sex with were both infected with HIV