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Anxiety is killing me - Please help me out
Dear Drs,
10 days ago I had less than one minute unprotected vaginal intercourse with a girl. We went to test for HIV 3 days later. My test was negative and her test was also negative. But for her, this test was exactly 6 weeks after her last exposure which was with a person who takes injection drugs with unknown HIV status. And please note that for the test, blood samples were taken from us on Saturday, and they performed the test it self on Monday. I wonder if storing blood samples can affect results
Also, Please keep in mind that for me 10 days later I developed no fever or rash ... etc and I asked her if she developed any of these symptoms during the weeks following her last exposure she told me no.
So according to the Dr at the university hospital were we had the test ( I live in Germany ) She told me that they made the fourth generation test ( Duo ab/ag) but nevertheless we must confirm the results with another test 6 weeks later !!
So my questions are the following:
1- What are the risks of HIV transmission if she is HIV positive and in the window period ( High viral load ) thats why the test was negative from one minute vaginal encounter, while keeping in mind that I am a circumcised male ?
2- Assuming that the Dr did not get my questions and in fact they performed the third generation test what are the chances ?
3- If its really fourth generation test do you think I should relax ?
My Anxiety is killing me :)
Thanks a lot
10 days ago I had less than one minute unprotected vaginal intercourse with a girl. We went to test for HIV 3 days later. My test was negative and her test was also negative. But for her, this test was exactly 6 weeks after her last exposure which was with a person who takes injection drugs with unknown HIV status. And please note that for the test, blood samples were taken from us on Saturday, and they performed the test it self on Monday. I wonder if storing blood samples can affect results
Also, Please keep in mind that for me 10 days later I developed no fever or rash ... etc and I asked her if she developed any of these symptoms during the weeks following her last exposure she told me no.
So according to the Dr at the university hospital were we had the test ( I live in Germany ) She told me that they made the fourth generation test ( Duo ab/ag) but nevertheless we must confirm the results with another test 6 weeks later !!
So my questions are the following:
1- What are the risks of HIV transmission if she is HIV positive and in the window period ( High viral load ) thats why the test was negative from one minute vaginal encounter, while keeping in mind that I am a circumcised male ?
2- Assuming that the Dr did not get my questions and in fact they performed the third generation test what are the chances ?
3- If its really fourth generation test do you think I should relax ?
My Anxiety is killing me :)
Thanks a lot
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
You are being a bit silly and indeed, your questions have no basis in fact. We have limited space for replies- this will be my final answer and then this thread will be closed.
that your partner had sex with an HIV drug user does not change her risk for HIV. If he had HIV, her chance of infection was less than 1 in 1000.
As for your other "what if", anxiety-driven questions:
1- Can Heptitis C or B infections affect HIV test results ? Cause the hospital got us tested for them as well but still waiting for the results.
No.
2- Would you please explain in numbers how can circumcision reduce risk of HIV infections through vaginal sex ?
Multiple studies have shown that circumcised men are 50% less likely to acquire HIV, if exposed than uncircumcised men.
3- If you were in my place will you go on with your life with no further testing ?
Yes, I would have gone on without concern long ago,
This thread is now over. EWH
that your partner had sex with an HIV drug user does not change her risk for HIV. If he had HIV, her chance of infection was less than 1 in 1000.
As for your other "what if", anxiety-driven questions:
1- Can Heptitis C or B infections affect HIV test results ? Cause the hospital got us tested for them as well but still waiting for the results.
No.
2- Would you please explain in numbers how can circumcision reduce risk of HIV infections through vaginal sex ?
Multiple studies have shown that circumcised men are 50% less likely to acquire HIV, if exposed than uncircumcised men.
3- If you were in my place will you go on with your life with no further testing ?
Yes, I would have gone on without concern long ago,
This thread is now over. EWH
Your Answer would be so much appreciated :) and sorry if I repeated my self its just my anxiety speaking
Dear Dr. EWH,
I would like to thank you very much for your kind answers. And, Please forgive me for my questions if I am repeating my self. As an expert I am sure you have encountered hundreds of anxious patients like me. And, Please note that providing me with answers will help end my anxiety a lot :)
What makes me super worried is that her last encounter was with a injection drug user which is a very high risk I suppose. It was only one time vaginal sex and it ended with his semen inside her. ( What are the risks for her in this case assuming he was HIV + )
My last few questions if you do not mind answering them pleasely:
1- Can Heptitis C or B infections affect HIV test results ? Cause the hospital got us tested for them as well but still waiting for the results.
2- Would you please explain in numbers how can circumcision reduce risk of HIV infections through vaginal sex ?
3- If you were in my place will you go on with your life with no further testing ?
It was the worst 10 days in my whole life with a lot of mental pressure.
Thank you and waiting for your kind answers
I would like to thank you very much for your kind answers. And, Please forgive me for my questions if I am repeating my self. As an expert I am sure you have encountered hundreds of anxious patients like me. And, Please note that providing me with answers will help end my anxiety a lot :)
What makes me super worried is that her last encounter was with a injection drug user which is a very high risk I suppose. It was only one time vaginal sex and it ended with his semen inside her. ( What are the risks for her in this case assuming he was HIV + )
My last few questions if you do not mind answering them pleasely:
1- Can Heptitis C or B infections affect HIV test results ? Cause the hospital got us tested for them as well but still waiting for the results.
2- Would you please explain in numbers how can circumcision reduce risk of HIV infections through vaginal sex ?
3- If you were in my place will you go on with your life with no further testing ?
It was the worst 10 days in my whole life with a lot of mental pressure.
Thank you and waiting for your kind answers
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Given what you have written, the chance that your partner was in the window for HIV seroconversion is less, and probably far less than 1 in a million. Your continuuing concerns are misplaced. Whether you test at 16 days , 160 days or 16 months the results will continue to show that you did not get HIV from the exposure you describe. EWH
Also, Would you please tell me the chances in case she was in the window period , specially that from what I understand her one time expsoure with injection drug user is a very high risk ?
Many thanks for your relaxing reply :) what about circumcision ? Also I plan to do a 4th generation test next friday which is 16 days post exposure will a negative result be more assuring ? Sorey again but anxiety is killing me :)
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to our Forum. Based on what you state, realistically you have nothing to worry about at this time. HIV is not easy to get and most people do not have HIV. Please remember that following unprotected sex, the risk of acquiring HIV is low - less than 1 infection per 1000 sex acts. Further, most people do not have infection. In your case, if she was tested with a 4th generation test she (and you) can be confident that she did not have HIV and even if the test used was a 3rd generation test, such testing would have detected over 95% of recent infections at about 6 weeks. Thus you have very, very strong evidence that she was not infected. At this time I would not worry at all that she might have had HIV and therefore, you are at no realistic risk from the encounter you describe.
1- What are the risks of HIV transmission if she is HIV positive and in the window period ( High viral load ) thats why the test was negative from one minute vaginal encounter, while keeping in mind that I am a circumcised male ?
See above- there is almost no chance that she had HIV at all. Playing "what if" games when you have strong information to demonstrate that she did not have HIV is silly,
2- Assuming that the Dr did not get my questions and in fact they performed the third generation test what are the chances ?
See above. Still virtually zero.
3- If its really fourth generation test do you think I should relax ?
Whether the test was 3rd or 4th generation, you should be quite confident that she did not have HIV and you were not exposed.
Further, neither pregnancy nor other STIs would affect her test results. My strong advice is for you to not worry at all about this exposure and move forward. I see no reason related to this exposure for further testing. EWH
1- What are the risks of HIV transmission if she is HIV positive and in the window period ( High viral load ) thats why the test was negative from one minute vaginal encounter, while keeping in mind that I am a circumcised male ?
See above- there is almost no chance that she had HIV at all. Playing "what if" games when you have strong information to demonstrate that she did not have HIV is silly,
2- Assuming that the Dr did not get my questions and in fact they performed the third generation test what are the chances ?
See above. Still virtually zero.
3- If its really fourth generation test do you think I should relax ?
Whether the test was 3rd or 4th generation, you should be quite confident that she did not have HIV and you were not exposed.
Further, neither pregnancy nor other STIs would affect her test results. My strong advice is for you to not worry at all about this exposure and move forward. I see no reason related to this exposure for further testing. EWH
I also have one more questions :)
Assuming she had any other STD, or pregnant can this affect her HIV test results at 6 weeks whether with 3rd or 4th generation ?
Assuming she had any other STD, or pregnant can this affect her HIV test results at 6 weeks whether with 3rd or 4th generation ?
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