Hello, I am really worried and confused and anxious regarding recent testing and exposure.

10 weeks ago I had a sexual encounter - oral sex and kissing only with another male person (I am male), after the event we decided to both go to a local GUM clinic for a full sexual health screen before either of us would enter into any further sexual actvities.

Unfortunately the other person tested Positive for Syphillis and therefore we both were asked to go to back to the clinic. We both were given 4 tablets and one injection for Gonerhea (we both tested negative for that) they told us this was just to make sure as it woudl cure it if we had it.

The other guy was treated for Syphillis yet I wasnt given any treatment as I was testing Negative, I am a little confused and anxious now as I would of thought that as I had sexual contact with a someone who had Syphillis then I would of been treated for it regardless.

I re-tested at 4 weeks past exposure for Syphillis and HIV and both were Negative, again at 6 weeks - Negative and 10 weeks - Negative

My question is

1, is a 10 week negative Syphillis result accurate?
2, Should I still be treated for it regardless of my results due to the exposure?
3, Could the Antibiotics for Gonerhea affect the accuracy of my Syphillis and HIV results
4, Could the antibiotics for Gonerrea have cleared the Syphillis if I had it?

The person who had got it was told he only needed one injection for it as it was less than 18 months in his system

Please help and reassure me

Thanks

[Dr Sean]

Hello and thank you for your question,

You've outlined the difficulties and asked the following:-

My question is

1, is a 10 week negative Syphillis result accurate?yes provided you haven't had a further exposure in the interval
2, Should I still be treated for it regardless of my results due to the exposure?debatable really - lots of people would treat you but if you are in contact with someone with syphilis there is between a 25 and 50% chance of you acquiring it on any occasion - meaning of course that there is a more than reasonable chance that you have not. The treatment you have had sounds a little confused - but - you were given 1g azithromycin = 4 tablets and what sounds like at least 250mg ceftriaxone by injection - this will have dealt with early syphilis in all likelihood so whilst you didn't have the UK best practice treatment you have actually been effectively treated. The further test at 10 weeks has established that you did not have it and so retrospectively justifies the approach the clinic took
3, Could the Antibiotics for Gonerhea affect the accuracy of my Syphillis and HIV resultsno
4, Could the antibiotics for Gonerrea have cleared the Syphillis if I had it?I have answered this above = yes.

very best, Sean

Hello
Thank you for your response,

Am I right to think that if Syphillis was going to be present it would show in a blood test by now?

I was wondering if there any chance that if I leave it thinking im ok that potentially 6 months down the line it may only just show up or is 12 weeks conclusive?

[Dr Sean]

Good Morning

You don't have syphilis. The testing has shown that. I did answer this originally. In the absence of a new exposure you will not become syphilis positive later.

Best wishes, Sean