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HIV Prevention (Expert Forum)
Protected Sex Any Risk?
Answered by
University of Washington
Seattle - WA
This forum is limited to prevention of HIV and to safe sex in general. If you believe you might have been exposed to HIV and want help to judge your risk, would like advice about HIV testing, or have questions about the effectiveness of condoms or the risks associated with specific sexual practices, this is the site for you.
IMPORTANT
No questions will be accepted on the treatment of HIV/AIDS or its complications, viral load, and similar topics. If you have questions about a specific STD other than HIV/AIDS, please visit the STD Forum. Questions that do not pertain to the above topics will be removed from the forum.
If you have not done so, please review other threads in our archives for questions similar to yours and Dr. Handsfield's replies. Questions that duplicate other frequent ones, for which abundant replies exist, and that have little educational value for other forum users, will be DELETED WITHOUT RESPONSE. YOUR PAYMENT WILL NOT BE REFUNDED. The most common examples of such questions are those about low risk exposures to HIV, such as oral sex, condom- protected intercourse hand-to-genital exposure, and nonsexual contact with possibly infected blood or body fluids as well as symptoms of early HIV infection.
No questions will be accepted on the treatment of HIV/AIDS or its complications, viral load, and similar topics. If you have questions about a specific STD other than HIV/AIDS, please visit the STD Forum. Questions that do not pertain to the above topics will be removed from the forum.
If you have not done so, please review other threads in our archives for questions similar to yours and Dr. Handsfield's replies. Questions that duplicate other frequent ones, for which abundant replies exist, and that have little educational value for other forum users, will be DELETED WITHOUT RESPONSE. YOUR PAYMENT WILL NOT BE REFUNDED. The most common examples of such questions are those about low risk exposures to HIV, such as oral sex, condom- protected intercourse hand-to-genital exposure, and nonsexual contact with possibly infected blood or body fluids as well as symptoms of early HIV infection.
Protected Sex Any Risk?
by Much Needed Help, Aug 24, 2006 12:00AM
I searched the board for hours yesterday and couldn't find but one or two questions from woman about the chance of exposure, everything seems to be from men dealing with unprotected sex from prostitutes.
So, I hope this isn't a repeat question.
I have been dating this guy, not for too long, he told me his HIV status was negative and that he had been tested some time back had a negative test and hadn't had sex since the testing. I asked if he was an IV drug user or engaged in sex with men. He told me no, but, there's always people that lie.
We did a lot of deep kissing and he fingered me vigorously, which until yesterday, I forgot that he had a cut on his finger that had pretty much healed. He went down on me for some time, I never put his penis in my mouth.
Before sex, I put a condom on him, while erect (although I did notice the other day that some of my condoms say they expired in 7/2006) and after sex was over and he had pulled out, he removed the condom. I held the condom and there appeared to be no breakage and the fluids were nicely maintained in the tip of the condom.
So, I thought everything was fine, until, two days ago (this encounter happened on August 12th), 9/10 days after the encounter I started getting a sore neck and aching glands and my tounge has a slight burning sensation. Today, it's only my left side of my neck/gland that's bothering me and my ear and a slightly tingly tongue. I've had no indication of a fever and I took it this morning, just to see, and it was 97.9.
1) I took all the safety precautions, didn't I?
2) If the condom did expire in July 2006 would that make a difference?
3) Based on the exposure I had, is testing necessarily warranted (I was tested at the end of July and was negative)?
4) Am I probably being overly paranoid and the sore gland/neck and tingly tounge simply coincidental?
Thank you very much for your assistance.
So, I hope this isn't a repeat question.
I have been dating this guy, not for too long, he told me his HIV status was negative and that he had been tested some time back had a negative test and hadn't had sex since the testing. I asked if he was an IV drug user or engaged in sex with men. He told me no, but, there's always people that lie.
We did a lot of deep kissing and he fingered me vigorously, which until yesterday, I forgot that he had a cut on his finger that had pretty much healed. He went down on me for some time, I never put his penis in my mouth.
Before sex, I put a condom on him, while erect (although I did notice the other day that some of my condoms say they expired in 7/2006) and after sex was over and he had pulled out, he removed the condom. I held the condom and there appeared to be no breakage and the fluids were nicely maintained in the tip of the condom.
So, I thought everything was fine, until, two days ago (this encounter happened on August 12th), 9/10 days after the encounter I started getting a sore neck and aching glands and my tounge has a slight burning sensation. Today, it's only my left side of my neck/gland that's bothering me and my ear and a slightly tingly tongue. I've had no indication of a fever and I took it this morning, just to see, and it was 97.9.
1) I took all the safety precautions, didn't I?
2) If the condom did expire in July 2006 would that make a difference?
3) Based on the exposure I had, is testing necessarily warranted (I was tested at the end of July and was negative)?
4) Am I probably being overly paranoid and the sore gland/neck and tingly tounge simply coincidental?
Thank you very much for your assistance.
Doctor's Answer
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Aug 24, 2006 12:00AM
, Aug 24, 2006 12:00AM
Congratulations--you had very safe sex! If my daughter were younger and still single, I would want her to do just what you're doing. Keep it up and you can expect a lifetime free of HIV (and pretty much from serious STDs in general)--even if you pursue a sexually adventurous life. You asked your partner about HIV status and risks, which is a key safety measure; yes people can lie, but usually not when asked directly. And you used a condom for vaginal sex (OK, it's best to use ones that aren't outdated--but even so breakage really isn't a big risk). Receiving cunnilingus is zero risk for HIV and pretty much zero for other STDs, with the exception of herpes. (Make sure your partners don't have active cold sores.) Performing unprotected fellatio on guys is modestly risky for some STDs (e.g., gonorrhea) but still very low compared to unprotected vaginal sex. And on top of all that, you dated for at least a little while before hopping in the sack. In general, sex with people who build toward a relationship is much safer than quick pick-ups or with someone you just met.
So to answer your specific questions:
1) Yes, you were about as safe as a sexually active person can be.
2) Condom expiration dates have big margins of safety. Don't use 10 year old ones, though!
3) You don't need testing now. If you date and change partners from time to time, have routine HIV/STD testing once in a while, like once a year during your annual reproductive health exam.
4) You could have caught a cold from the guy. But don't worry about HIV or other STD. But of course see a provider if your symptoms continue and concern you.
Best wishes. Stay safe-- HHH, MD
So to answer your specific questions:
1) Yes, you were about as safe as a sexually active person can be.
2) Condom expiration dates have big margins of safety. Don't use 10 year old ones, though!
3) You don't need testing now. If you date and change partners from time to time, have routine HIV/STD testing once in a while, like once a year during your annual reproductive health exam.
4) You could have caught a cold from the guy. But don't worry about HIV or other STD. But of course see a provider if your symptoms continue and concern you.
Best wishes. Stay safe-- HHH, MD
Does this put me at any more risk, since he perfomed cunnilingus me?
BTW - the sore neck and throat are pretty much gone now and I've had no fever.
Thanks again and sorry for omitting this the first time.
As I said before, receiving cunnilingus doesn't risk any STD except for the low risk of acquiring genital HSV-1. Your genital (presumably HSV-2) herpes makes no difference.
The only additional thought about your overall sexual safety is to consider whether you want to consider taking suppressive antiherpetic therapy to further reduce the risk of transmitting your herpes to a partner. The risk is very low as long as you avoid sex when having an outbreak and use condoms otherwise. But it's not zero. I'm not specifically advising it--but it might be something for you to discuss with your reproductive health provider.
HHH, MD
I understand my risks are higher, incase of unprotected sex when I have an outbreak and my partner having something, that it could get into an open sore. That's why I always make sure that I have a condom on BEFORE his penis goes near me.
I do use Valtrex, so, that might be why I only have 1 outbreak a year. It's a shame all the extra things I have to do, because of an unfaithful boyfriend.
Thanks again for your assistance.
HHH, MD