AboutArthur Goldstein, M.D. Expertise Any problems or questions related to the field of urology; ie urinary stone disease, urinary cancers (kidney, bladder, prostate, testis, etc.), urinary infections, impotency, etc.
Experience I am retired from the active practice of urology. My 34 years was totally in the clinical field and involved the entire gamut of genitourinary problems, with special interest in male impotence and endourology.
Organizations American Medical Association, American Urological Association, American College of Surgeons
I had sex for the first time the other day, and im afraid to admit that it was unprotected, and a one night stand with someone I just met on the street. She mentioned several times that she was clean, and so did I. We had sex and I did anal with her for few times only. Everything went normally that day after we had sex and I was feeling fine.
The next day however, I noticed some discomfort with my penis. Being at normal state, It was unusually warm. Following that it itches here and there, and its been about 3 days that its been this way.
I did have diarrhea and was feeling a bit sick (fever).
How concerned should I be?
I will go take some blood tests but are the risk high of me getting any diseases.. I hope not.
Or can it be something else? /and go away over time.
Answer Steve, as you might imagine, for this type of problem it is not possible for me to make an exact diagnosis over the internet because of the inability to take a more complete history and do a physical examination. However, I shall try to help you.
Let me preface my remarks by informing you that I saw relatively few STDs in my practice and other than general urology, have no special expertise in this area. That being said, I will try to be helpful as I can. Regardless, in this society, to have unprotected sex is foolish unless one is in a safe and monogamous relationship.
Your symptoms are really non-specific & not typical of any of the STDs. In addition, your symptoms began the day after contact and as you will read below, none of the STDs have an incubation period this short. Diarrhea is not an STD symptom. You are obviously anxious about your indiscretion and this may be exacerbating your problem. I suggest that you see a urologist in consultation for a proper evaluation. If any tests are indicated (and they may well not be), he will order them. To follow is some information I have written on STDs. I forward these to you so that you will be informed and not to scare you.
Obviously the most potentially serious is HIV. The majority of exposed people who eventually become positive, do so within 2 weeks but it may well take longer in some. According to the CDC "antibodies generally appear in three weeks after infection with HIV but may take up to six months in some persons." Therefore, one's initial test should be done 2-4 weeks after exposure but if negative, again in about 3 and 6 months before you can be sure. Obviously, you should use precautions so as not to infect others until you are sure of your own negativity. Screening is generally done with the ELISA test. This is being replaced by a Rapid HIV Test that provides results in 20 minutes with a greater than 99% accuracy. If positive, the diagnosis should be confirmed with the Western Blot test. If this is positive, one is considered to have AIDs.
The incubation period (time between contact and clinical appearance of symptoms or signs) is different for each of the STDs. The incubation period of chlamydia is 1-6 weeks, herpes 2-10 days, gonorrhea 2-7 days, syphilis 10-90 days, hepatitis A 15-45 days and hepatitis B 3 months. With HPV it is 3 weeks to 8 months but this virus may lay dormant in a person for years without giving any sign of its presence. Such an individual is a carrier and potentially can infect another although the risk of infection is greater if clinical warts are present. Trichomonas urethritis and urinary tract infections are not really STDs. If more specific information is requested, especially about HIV or hepatitis, I suggest you seek consultation with either a urologist or an infectious disease specialist. Good luck.
