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Does Penetrative Sex Cause TB Infection To Spread Outside The Body?

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Posted on Sat, 27 Dec 2014
Question: My wife was diagnosed with uterine adhesions and tuberculosis subsequently (uterine and peritoneal). Does penetrative sex cause TB infection to spread outside the body? Like can the infection spread from outer layer of the condom to either of us and exacerbate the problem? Is the use of a condom mandatory or recommended?

Can this infection spread to the intestine? The doctor said it did but just by looking at ultrasound after a month of treating the adhesions rather than by doing a biopsy. Note TB was confirmed after doing a biopsy of uterine and tubal tissues, I think.

How to control TB from spreading further? Also please if the TB medicine testing protocol will not result in drug resistance.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
no, it will not cause drug resistance.

Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, thanks for your question on HCM.
You are having extra pulmonary tuberculosis. And this type of TB is not contagious. And use of condoms is rather preventive not causative.
The common cause for your infection is reactivation of dormant bacilli. Rarely if your sex partner is having prostatic TB and you had unprotected sex, chances of spread by semen is there. But I again say spread of TB by semen is very very very rare.
So use of condom is not mandatory but recommended.
Untreated tuberculosis can spread to all body organs including intestine. So spread to intestine is quite possible. But you should not worry as you already started treatment.
TB is 100% curable disease, but it is chronic disease so treatment duration is very long, atleast 7-8 months. Oral anti TB drugs are the treatment of choice not only for cure but also for prevention of spread. So no need to worry much, take your treatment timely for proper duration.
And testing protocol you are following is correct. If any side effect is there, we need to stop all the drugs and re introduce culprit drugs in gradually increasing dose. And if any drug is found to produce side effects than we need to replace it with other drug.
And no need to worry for drug resistance by this testing protocol.
Hope I have solved your query.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (1 hour later)
Thanks for the detailed answer doctor. Note that this case is about my wife. So a part of the question was not of spreading through semen but through vaginal fluids or through urinary tract. So even my question of condom is regarding outer side of the condom not the inner side. I was concerned because TB can spread through sputum. It will help take care better of each other. Is it better to use a female condom instead (if we use it)?

This is about my wife, it will be courteous if you do not refer to her as sex partner or so. Thanks for understanding.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (34 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
It was never an intentional one.

Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, thanks for your follow up question.
In your question, no where mentioned that husband is asking for his wife? I thought a female is asking. So it was never an intentional one, but if you still feel bad than I am sorry for it.
And yes, it is better use barrier contraceptives (either male condom or female condom) for at least 3-4 months.
And no need to fear of spread by outer surface of condom.
Yes, you are right that TB spread by sputum but in the environment TB bacilli dies in 15-20 minutes. No need to worry much as your wife is having extra pulmonary TB. Infectious sputum is produced by pulmonary TB cases only, not by extra pulmonary cases.
Hope I have solved your query.
If you are not having further queries, please close the conversation and rate the answer.
Wishing a good health to your wife.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. Drkaushal85

Pulmonologist

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 15005 Questions

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Does Penetrative Sex Cause TB Infection To Spread Outside The Body?

Brief Answer: no, it will not cause drug resistance. Detailed Answer: Hello dear, thanks for your question on HCM. You are having extra pulmonary tuberculosis. And this type of TB is not contagious. And use of condoms is rather preventive not causative. The common cause for your infection is reactivation of dormant bacilli. Rarely if your sex partner is having prostatic TB and you had unprotected sex, chances of spread by semen is there. But I again say spread of TB by semen is very very very rare. So use of condom is not mandatory but recommended. Untreated tuberculosis can spread to all body organs including intestine. So spread to intestine is quite possible. But you should not worry as you already started treatment. TB is 100% curable disease, but it is chronic disease so treatment duration is very long, atleast 7-8 months. Oral anti TB drugs are the treatment of choice not only for cure but also for prevention of spread. So no need to worry much, take your treatment timely for proper duration. And testing protocol you are following is correct. If any side effect is there, we need to stop all the drugs and re introduce culprit drugs in gradually increasing dose. And if any drug is found to produce side effects than we need to replace it with other drug. And no need to worry for drug resistance by this testing protocol. Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.