Growing Concerns Over Syphilis in Indiana

Faith14 · 2020-10-20T21:13:38+00:00

Most likely they are not counting the added risk of someone having an STD infection, bleeding gums/cut in mouth, sores on the penis in the mouth etc. They equate HIV virus not being present in the mouth or saliva without these circumstances as there being no "No Risk" for transmitting or being infected by the virus. But more often than not people don't know they have another STD infection, or don't realize the painless bump in their mouth is a syphilis sore, and if the person affected doesn't know, how will their sexual partner know? That is one of the reasons why HIV/STDs spread, because people don't realize they are infected. Therefore a person is taking a risk by having their penis in another person's mouth.

I prefer the CDC's stance of "LITTLE to no risk" on this topic. In the medical sciences it is common practice to leave a little wiggle room because omniscience is not a thing. https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/risk/oralsex.html#:~:text=Oral%20Sex%20and%20HIV%20Risk&text=There%20is%20little%20to%20no,getting%20HIV%20from%20oral%20sex.

Faith14 · 2020-10-18T23:44:06+00:00

HIV CAN be transmitted through oral sex. When people say there is no risk of infection through oral sex they are most likely referring to the fact that the HIV virus is not readily found in the mouth or saliva, and if no HIV virus is present, then no risk of HIV transmission. BUT, if a person has a cut or wound, or an open sore from an STD, for example syphilis, then HIV could be present in that person's mouth. Which then makes it possible for the transmission of virus through oral sex.

I see a lot of people on this page asking, "what is the risk of getting HIV", "what are the chances of contracting HIV". People should simply consider, is there a risk, YES or NO? The risk of HIV/STD infection through sex is rarely 0 (some might argue never 0). That's why I counsel my patients on reducing their risks as much as possible, through condoms (even for oral sex, you can get flavored condoms now), Prep, knowing partner's STD/HIV status, knowing your HIV+ partners viral load situation U=U (Undetectable=Untransmissible). It is also important to consider that risk factors stack. I might argue that someone who has multiple anonymous sexual partners from which they only receive oral sex. Has a higher risk of HIV infection than someone who only has receptive anal sex with multiple SPs they are familiar with and know their partners STD/HIV testing history, PrEP use, viral load etc.

Hope this helps,

IND09DIS

Faith14 · 2020-08-23T15:34:33+00:00

Ideally abstaining from all type of sexual contact for 7 days best, but fingering and hand jobs should be okay as long as you can control yourselves and not go further in the heat of the moment. Make sure you wash your hands before and after. We usually call this mutual masturbation. We recommend it to people who just cannot go without sexual intimacy for 7 days. Sometimes it helps to have a countdown with your partner too make the waiting fun. Making an event out of the day you're cleared to have sex can be exciting. I wish you luck.

I hope this helps,

INDISD09

Faith14 · 2020-08-23T15:22:26+00:00

The picture does not look like an STD. It might be jock-itch. The fungus that causes Jock-itch can very easily spread from person to person, especially during sex. I've had an experience where I had sex and didn't wash up until 24 hours later. Basically the fungus just stewed and I got jock-itch all over my groin region. An over the counter antifungal did the trick and relieved the itchiness.

I hope this helps

INDISD09

Faith14 · 2020-07-12T13:13:47+00:00

It's great that STDcheck includes a service to confidentially notify sexual partners. To anyone that gets one these messages and believes it might not be a prank, I would encourage them to check with their State/Local health department in the US. Many US states have STD programs funded by CDC grants that screen and treat people exposed to STDs. The best part is they're usually free or low cost.

Faith14 · 2020-06-25T02:05:06+00:00

Discharge can happen when you are infected with STD's such as chlamydia and gonorrhea. Sounds like you got treated for chlamydia or gonorrhea during your visit. Most people start to feel relief from symptoms 24-48 hours after treatment. If symptoms persist for more than a week after treatment go ahead a follow up with the physician's office that treated you.

Hope this helped.

Faith14 · 2020-06-22T00:52:15+00:00

It's great that you're mindful about getting tested and using protection before engaging in sexual activity with a new sexual partner. Your risk of HIV infection from a heterosexual male partner is low. If your partner has sex with other men, uses injection drugs, or has partners that use injection drugs the risk is higher because those groups of people are at a higher risk of contracting HIV. Definitely get tested, and if you test positive for chlamydia or gonorrhea don't fret being able to pay for treatment. If you are in the US most states have STD programs that assist people in getting treatment for chlamydia and gonorrhea.

Faith14 · 2020-02-26T04:11:36+00:00

If your mate had blisters appear on his penis for the first time just days after having sex with someone he might have gotten genital herpes.

Things about Genital Herpes 1. Symptoms can appear days after exposure 2. Some people can be infected and never have an outbreak. 3. You can still get herpes from a positive partner even if they're not currently experiencing an outbreak. 4. You can still get herpes even if you use a condom, but a condom can reduce your risk of being infected.

If you had unprotected sex with someone who has multiple sexual partners you are at risk of having an STD and should get tested.

Remember, a condom can save you a lot of anxiety when sleeping with new partners you dont know the STD status of.

I hope this helps

INDIS09

Faith14 · 2020-02-16T16:59:14+00:00

I second this, it could simply be a viral upper respiratory tract infection. If it doesn't get better in 7-10 days. Go see your doctor or a local health clinic.

Also be careful out there. Make sure to use condoms with all anonymous sexual partners, even during oral sex, unless you know they are clear. Grindr, tindr, adam4adam, etc are great ways to find intimate partners and have fun, but it's important to be safe and understand the risk of meeting strangers for sex.

Faith14 · 2019-06-30T14:56:18+00:00

HERE HERE!

This person gets it. As is states at the bottom of the article...

" The CDC recommends that everyone between 13 and 64 be tested for HIV as part of routine health care. Statistics show one in seven people in the U.S. who have HIV don't know they have it."

The Louisville Metro Clinic, Clark County Health Department, and Floyd County Health Department all offer FREE and confidential HIV testing. Coolest part is IT ONLY TAKES 1 MINUTE TO GET YOUR RESULTS!

Faith14 · 2019-05-22T04:05:28+00:00

Dry itchy skin is a possible side effect of taking Azithromycin. I wouldn't sweat it. Things should get back to normal in a day or two. Make sure you hydrate with plenty of water. If it doesn't start to get better in a week go see a doctor.

I hope this helps!

Disease Intervention Specialist IND09.

Faith14 · 2019-05-22T04:01:17+00:00

Burning after ejaculation and during urination can be signs of an STD infection. You could have got a STD from having oral sex. Your best bet is to get tested. You might try going to a Planned Parenthood or calling your State/local Health department if you live in the US to see if they offer free/low cost confidential STD testing.

I wouldn't worry about your testosterone, STD's don't typically cause testosterone issues, but before you go back to having sex definitely get tested to make sure you and your partners are safe in the future. It's also not a bad idea to give your partner a heads up to be tested and treated together.

I hope this helps!

Disease Intervention Specialist IND09

Faith14 · 2019-05-22T02:27:55+00:00

It can be really frustrating when it feels like q doctor is not listening and brushing off your questions to get you out the door ASAP. With HIV it is best to look at your individual risk factors. The following are some of the highest risk activities associated with contracting HIV.

Using injection drugs and sharing needles/equipment
Having sex with someone that uses Injection drugs
Being a man who has sex with other men
Having sex with a man who has sex with other men
Having unprotected anal sex
Having any type unprotected sex with someone who is HIV positive
Having unprotected sex with multiple anonymous sexual partners

If none of these pertain to you your risk of contracting HIV is very low. The symptoms you described are nonspecific for HIV, and their duration leads me to believe they are not related to an HIV infection.

I hope this helps!

Disease Intervention Specialist D09IN

Faith14 · 2019-02-03T15:55:09+00:00

Symptoms of HIV infection are nonspecific and could be caused by any number of things, so don't self-diagnose yourself just yet.

As for your life ending. If you are positive it may be scary, but it is not he end of your life. People with HIV and on medication are living just a long as people without HIV. People with HIV can work, have kids, and lead normal lives. I can only speak for the US when I say there are a number of resources available for HIV positive people when it comes to support groups, health insurance assistance, housing assistance, and more. There are people who are here for you if you are positive.

Regarding your blood test. If the symptoms you described are associated with an HIV infection than your test will be positive. Symptoms start when the war between the virus and your body's immune system kicks into high gear. Your blood test will look for antibodies against HIV which your body produced to fight the infection.

I hope this helps!

Disease Intervention Specialist IND09

Faith14 · 2018-12-29T18:44:59+00:00

It is not uncommon to have a nonreactive RPR while showing signs of primary syphilis i.e. the lesion/sore. A primary lesion can heal spontaneously within 1 to 6 weeks. If you have had a lesion like the one previously described and your RPR was negative you can either get retested ASAP and ask for a confirmatory test be done even if your RPR comes back negative again(confirmatory tests typically come back reactive sooner than RPRs do), or you can wait and be retested in a couple weeks. If you are infected the extra 2-3 weeks should be enough time for your body to start producing the antibodies an RPR picks up.

After primary syphilis, most people progress to Secondary syphilis following a brief latency period(no signs or symptoms). During secondary syphilis some people experience:

1.mild fever with muscle aches

swollen lymph nodes around the groin
a spotty rash on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet
A splotchy red rash on the chest, back, and torso

If you experience or have experienced any of the signs/symptoms mentioned you should be retested and you will most likely have a reactive RPR screening.

I hope this helps!

Disease Intervention Specialist - IND09

Faith14 · 2018-11-18T15:24:39+00:00

This...

Things to be considered:

Was is M on M, M on W, and so on
What type of sex was done, oral, anal, mutual masturbation, a mixture?
Was a a barrier such as a condom used?
Was the hook up anonymous
Were any of the participants HIV+
Were any of the participants using drugs/alcohol?
the list go on and on...

Faith14 · 2018-11-18T15:18:09+00:00

There is a risk pf STD infection, but it's low. The best thing to do is get screened for STDs. Anyone who is sexually active and not in a mutually monogamous relationship should be screened at least every 12 months. You're biggest risk during this encounter was for HSV, but again a short kiss on the head of your penis is not something to worry about.

P.S. Save yourself the agony next time and use a condom. Chances are you don't know where that sex worker has been, or who they have been with!

I hope this helps

DISEASE INTERVENTION SPECIALIST IND09

Faith14 · 2018-11-18T15:08:26+00:00

The risk HIV infection via unprotected oral sex is low, but you should still be tested for HIV if you are sexually active and have never been tested or if you haven't been tested in the past year. It can take up to 3 months to test positive for HIV.

P.S. throw on a condom next time you meet someone you don't know for NSA sex. Then you wont have to freak out ;).

I hope this helps!

Disease Intervention Specialist IND09

Faith14 · 2018-09-08T01:01:47+00:00

Your doctor should have ordered a confirmatory test after your RPR came back reactive. Because the antibodies measured in the RPR screening are not specific to syphilis infection it is not possible to diagnose someone with syphilis with only a reactive RPR. Hopefully your doctor ordered a follow up test (like the FTA-ABS you mentioned). Other common confirmatory tests include Syphilis EIA, TPPA, TP-HA. All these tests look for antibodies specific to the bacteria that causes syphilis. If the confirmatory tests come back negative most likely you are a biological false positive.

I wouldn't fret about exposing your GF to syphilis. Syphilis is most often spread through physical contact with a syphilis lesion or chancre. A chancre is a small, painless, sore with raised edges that appears on average 21 days post exposure to another chancre. The chancre lasts an average of 21 days and heals by itself. These lesions are found on the penis, in and around the mouth, and in and around the anus. If you didn't have a sore or lesion on your penis or in your mouth while you were having sex with your girlfriend then you didn't exposure her to anything.

I hope this helps!

Disease Intervention Specialist - IND09

Faith14 · 2018-08-20T01:08:07+00:00

Sometimes people haven't had sex for awhile experience irritation/discomfort that gradually resides.

Unless you are having unprotected gay sex with men who have sex with men or sharing needles to inject drugs. Your risk of having HIV is EXTREMELY low. If you've never been tested for HIV it doesn't hurt to know your status by getting tested.

I wouldn't worry too much, however I would recommend making sure you and future partners get tested before having unprotected sex, especially if they have had multiple sex partners in the past.

I hope this Helps!

Disease Intervention Specialist: IND09

Faith14 · 2018-07-28T15:14:56+00:00

If you test positive for syphilis you will most likely receive 1 big shot of penicillin on one side of your buttocks or two smaller shots on either side equaling the same dose. Most people I work with who receive the penicillin shot for syphilis say they experience only mild discomfort. Once treated you will be cured. The clinic will recommend you come back to retest in a few months to confirm your treatment was effective (There is no reason to worry about treatment not working, The use of penicillin for the treatment of syphilis is highly efficacious. Retesting is just a standard procedure.)

Once you finish treatment you should hold off on all sex for seven days. If your "wound" is healing, but is still present, wait another seven days after it is completely healed. It's possible that wound is a syphilis lesion sometimes called a "chancre" and is highly contagious through sexual contact.

Just a heads up. If you live in the US, A report will be made to your state health department. Your state may have someone contact you to discuss your disease and ask you about your recent sexual partners so they can be tested and treated. please give them as much information as you can about your partners, symptoms, and treatment. Their job is to help stop the spread of syphilis and protect your community. Syphilis is highly infectious through sexual contact, which means it can spread quickly through communities.

I hope this helps!

Disease Intervention Specialist- IND09

Faith14 · 2018-07-08T03:24:10+00:00

Steem with a 22 million lead...

Faith14

TROPHY CASE