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STDs (Expert Forum)
Anxious
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.
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Anxious
by Attraction, Jan 08, 2006 12:00AM
In mid December I had unprotected sex with a woman I have been having an on/off relationship with for the last couple of years. She is also in a long term relationship but I am not the only other that she has had sex with in the last year. She never uses protection.
About two weeks later, while on holiday in Africa, my wife developed a gu problem. She went to the doctor and was told that she had a 'bladder infection' and thrush.
She was given antibiotics and antifungal cream and pessaries.
About the same time I started to feel that I had an uncomfortable feeling at the tip of my penis.
It could be described as a mild burning sensation after, not during, urinating and while having sex or masturbating.
It comes and goes and I do think that it may, at least in part, be brought on by anxiety.
I have no discharge or other signs.
I assume it is possible that I have contracted an STD and I have given it to my wife but would the hospital in Africa have picked that up?
Is this the most likely scenario or is it more likely that I have a thrush infection from my wife or even that it is just anxiety? What are the most likely infections?
Should I try to ignore it or must I go for tests?
About two weeks later, while on holiday in Africa, my wife developed a gu problem. She went to the doctor and was told that she had a 'bladder infection' and thrush.
She was given antibiotics and antifungal cream and pessaries.
About the same time I started to feel that I had an uncomfortable feeling at the tip of my penis.
It could be described as a mild burning sensation after, not during, urinating and while having sex or masturbating.
It comes and goes and I do think that it may, at least in part, be brought on by anxiety.
I have no discharge or other signs.
I assume it is possible that I have contracted an STD and I have given it to my wife but would the hospital in Africa have picked that up?
Is this the most likely scenario or is it more likely that I have a thrush infection from my wife or even that it is just anxiety? What are the most likely infections?
Should I try to ignore it or must I go for tests?
Doctor's Answer
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Jan 08, 2006 12:00AM
, Jan 08, 2006 12:00AM
To answer your question literally, the MOST likely scenario probalby is that your wife got both a garden-variety urinary tract infection and candida vulvovaginitis (yeast infection, thrush). And you might have nothing, perhaps just anxiety magnifying normal body sensations. Both yeast and UTI are common in women and not sexually acquired, and symptoms like yours are common in men who are concerned about having an STD.
That's the good news. Here is what you are hoping not to hear: you and your wife both need to be evaluated for STDs. If your wife's doctor wasn't aware she was at risk for STD, s/he might not have tested her for gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomonas, herpes etc--all of which are commonly confused with yeast and UTI. And if not specifically tested, providers often do not suspect them. Further, depending on what antibiotic she was given, it might or might not have treated an undiagnosed STD.
Which of these scenarios is most likely? The first. But the second is a real risk, and not addressing it directly may result in significant health risks in your wife. Therefore, you cannot duck your responsibility. If you like, you can get tested first; but even if your test results are negative, your wife will need to be tested. (The least likely scenario, by the way, is your wife's yeast infection causing your symptoms. It is conceivable you are reacting to her vaginal medications, but in that case your symptoms would go away within a couple days of her stoping the pessaries and antifungal cream.)
Good luck-- HHH, MD
That's the good news. Here is what you are hoping not to hear: you and your wife both need to be evaluated for STDs. If your wife's doctor wasn't aware she was at risk for STD, s/he might not have tested her for gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomonas, herpes etc--all of which are commonly confused with yeast and UTI. And if not specifically tested, providers often do not suspect them. Further, depending on what antibiotic she was given, it might or might not have treated an undiagnosed STD.
Which of these scenarios is most likely? The first. But the second is a real risk, and not addressing it directly may result in significant health risks in your wife. Therefore, you cannot duck your responsibility. If you like, you can get tested first; but even if your test results are negative, your wife will need to be tested. (The least likely scenario, by the way, is your wife's yeast infection causing your symptoms. It is conceivable you are reacting to her vaginal medications, but in that case your symptoms would go away within a couple days of her stoping the pessaries and antifungal cream.)
Good luck-- HHH, MD
It probably doesn't need to be said, but it would be safest if you and your wife stopped having sex until this is sorted out; or use condoms.
HHH, MD
from Mid December until now without treatment??? Wouldn't the
approach of testing his non-martial partner be conclusive?
If she's clear and he's clear, does he need to go further???? Also couldn't he be tested for yeast infection, etc to specificly indentify the source of the problem just to confirm the cause wasn't an STD?
This is of course assumes he has had no other partners.
of course I'm not suggesting any action that would put his
wife at risk. Just hate to see him risk his marriage if there's another way.
But if his non martial partner has unprotected sex with other partners outside of her long term relationship besides him as he suggests , he needs to terminate it. He can't in the future continue to put his wife at risk.
If the non-marital partner acquired infection in mid-December and a good test were done today by a knowledgeable provider using a good lab, t1234 probably would be right. But there is no clue as to how long she might have been infected and probably no way to influence what provider or lab test would be used.
HHH, MD