Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Are The Chances Of Syphilis Transmission After Oral Sex?
Posted on
Mon, 26 Jan 2015
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Mon, 26 Jan 2015
Answered on
Mon, 23 Feb 2015
Last reviewed on
Question : Good morning. I slept with a woman a few days ago who had a blood test showing positive for syphilis. Both of us were in our underwear and engaged in french kissing and "dry humping." When we stopped and I got up, I noticed that my shorts were moist both on the inside and outside from contact with her. There was no ejaculation on my part (which I cannot do anyway since a prostate procedure), but I assume the moisture was vaginal secretion based upon location. Because she was wearing underwear, I would be unaware of whether she had any sores. If I understand syphilis correctly, however, by the time the disease is detected by a blood test there may not be any visible sores. I read mixed reports on ways syphilis can be contacted, so I thought it best to go straight to the source. Should I be concerned that I have been infected? Should I take a prophylactic administration of Azithromycin? Thank you for your time.
Brief Answer:
Kindly proivde important details of the query.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome and thanks for posting your query to the forum.
I can understand your concern for the possibility of syphilis after the episode. Though your query carries most of the information but I need more of the details to guide you best. Kindly provide me certain important aspects of your query:
- Do you have any cuts or any abrasions or any sores over or around your genital area.
- Was it informed by the lady that she is positive for syphilis or how you got to know that the lady is positive for syphilis.
- Do you know for how long she is positive for the same. Is it recently or long time back.
- Had she informed you regarding any treatment taken for the same. If yes how long back.
- Can you please gather the information about the test by which the lady was confirmed as positive for syphilis.
- Have you saw any red marks over her skin or any thing unusual anywhere on her skin.
Hope to hear soon from your side.
With regards,
Dr Sanjay Kanodia
MD-DERMATOLOGY & Sexually transmitted diseases.
Kindly proivde important details of the query.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome and thanks for posting your query to the forum.
I can understand your concern for the possibility of syphilis after the episode. Though your query carries most of the information but I need more of the details to guide you best. Kindly provide me certain important aspects of your query:
- Do you have any cuts or any abrasions or any sores over or around your genital area.
- Was it informed by the lady that she is positive for syphilis or how you got to know that the lady is positive for syphilis.
- Do you know for how long she is positive for the same. Is it recently or long time back.
- Had she informed you regarding any treatment taken for the same. If yes how long back.
- Can you please gather the information about the test by which the lady was confirmed as positive for syphilis.
- Have you saw any red marks over her skin or any thing unusual anywhere on her skin.
Hope to hear soon from your side.
With regards,
Dr Sanjay Kanodia
MD-DERMATOLOGY & Sexually transmitted diseases.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Dr. Kanodia. Thanks for your quick response. I can answer most of your questions.
First, I have and had (to my knowledge) no cuts, abrasions, or sores -- at least nothing visible.
Second, her condition was indicated by a blood test taken within the past week.
Third, I do not know how long she has had the disease.
Fourth, being unaware of her condition, she had not taken any medication.
Fifth, I believe the test was RPR.
Sixth, I did not notice any unusual marks (but as noticed), she was wearing her underwear so I could not see her entire body. What I could see was unblemished.
I hope this information is helpful.
Thanks.
First, I have and had (to my knowledge) no cuts, abrasions, or sores -- at least nothing visible.
Second, her condition was indicated by a blood test taken within the past week.
Third, I do not know how long she has had the disease.
Fourth, being unaware of her condition, she had not taken any medication.
Fifth, I believe the test was RPR.
Sixth, I did not notice any unusual marks (but as noticed), she was wearing her underwear so I could not see her entire body. What I could see was unblemished.
I hope this information is helpful.
Thanks.
Brief Answer:
There is no harm in taking the medications for the sake of ease of mind.
Detailed Answer:
Dear Sir,
Welcome back and thanks a lot for your swift follow up and important details.
After interpreting all the information I can get that the lady is recently been diagnosed as positive for syphilis. There are two tests for syphilis one is non specific and the other is specific. RPR test or rapid plasma reagin (RPR) refers to a type of rapid diagnostic test that looks for non-specific test for syphilis. It requires further confirmation by certain specific tests.
As you do not have any cuts or abrasions so the chances are even quite negligible. But it is always better to have our safety first. After getting the complete information I suggest you to take a prophylactic course of antibiotic not just for the part of infection but for the part of our safety and relaxation.
There is no harm in taking the medications for the sake of ease of mind. Though there are practically negligible chances of getting the infection but it is also better to take prophylactic treatment because of the saying that “Prophylaxis is better than cure”.
Whenever I counsel your kind of cases in my clinical practice then I quite often observe that the person is really stressed if a prophylactic course is not given. So on the basis of all the information I suggest you to meet a family physician and apprise our discussion to get the medications prescribed. Azithromycin is very safe drug and we also take this medication routinely.
I hope these informations will calm down all your anxieties. I will be glad to answer any further queries.
With regards,
Dr Sanjay Kanodia
MD-DERMATOLOGY & Sexually transmitted diseases.
There is no harm in taking the medications for the sake of ease of mind.
Detailed Answer:
Dear Sir,
Welcome back and thanks a lot for your swift follow up and important details.
After interpreting all the information I can get that the lady is recently been diagnosed as positive for syphilis. There are two tests for syphilis one is non specific and the other is specific. RPR test or rapid plasma reagin (RPR) refers to a type of rapid diagnostic test that looks for non-specific test for syphilis. It requires further confirmation by certain specific tests.
As you do not have any cuts or abrasions so the chances are even quite negligible. But it is always better to have our safety first. After getting the complete information I suggest you to take a prophylactic course of antibiotic not just for the part of infection but for the part of our safety and relaxation.
There is no harm in taking the medications for the sake of ease of mind. Though there are practically negligible chances of getting the infection but it is also better to take prophylactic treatment because of the saying that “Prophylaxis is better than cure”.
Whenever I counsel your kind of cases in my clinical practice then I quite often observe that the person is really stressed if a prophylactic course is not given. So on the basis of all the information I suggest you to meet a family physician and apprise our discussion to get the medications prescribed. Azithromycin is very safe drug and we also take this medication routinely.
I hope these informations will calm down all your anxieties. I will be glad to answer any further queries.
With regards,
Dr Sanjay Kanodia
MD-DERMATOLOGY & Sexually transmitted diseases.
Note: Consult a Sexual Diseases Specialist online for further follow up- Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
