Condom failure with escort

[worriedeaker1]

Yesterday I had sex with a CSW she was hispanic and so am I. She was 28 and told me she had 2 kids. Anyhow, we started to have sex, she gave me fellatio with a condom on and the she sat on me and started having sex. After a couple of minutes I asked to change positions a got on top of her and after a couple of minutes I felt something different pulled out and notice the condom had broken by the tip and my whole tip  was exposed. So I am guessing that the exposure lasted 2-3 minutes. I immediately went to the bathroom to wash and when I came back i spoke to the girl and she was somewhat scared too because she said she was new in the business an that in the 4-5 weeks she had been doing this she had never had this happened to her. I am worried too, I suffered from OCD so you can imagine my anxiety. After reading cases similar to mine I can see that my risk for HIV is very low, minute and that PEP is not warranted. I had a similar problem before and it was a nightmare for a few months, That was when I started counseling and discover that I had a psycologic disorder. At any rate, Like I said I had a similar episode before and everything was fine but I cannot help to still worry about it. Doctor, please give me your assessment. Thanks in advance.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Welcome back to the forum.  Thanks for your question.

As I think you already realize, it sounds like your partner is unlikely to have HIV or other STDs. She apparently uses condoms routinely, and her reaction to the condom failure -- her own fear of the risks -- is reassuring, from your standpoint.  CSWs are at much higher risk for HIV and other STDs than their customers are, so you can understand her concern: she has only your word that you're not at especially high risk.

You can have an HIV test if a negative result will help you feel better about all this.  But you'll have to wait a few weeks for definitive results.  Alternatively, why not contact the CSW and suggest the two of you be tested together?  If you are both HIV negative, as expected, you'll both know that you couldn't have infected the other.

But even if that can't be arranged, don't lose a lot of sleep over this. The chance of HIV in this situation is extremely low.

I hope this has helped.  Best wishes--  HHH, MD

[worriedeaker1]

Thank you doctor. You have been a lot of help. Take care.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

That's a standard HIV antibody test; it's probably around 70-80% reliable at 21 days.  Repeating the same test at 6-8 weeks would be conclusive.

ARS doesn't cause sneezing, nasal congestion, etc; and you are also correct that ARS symptoms wouldn't start this late.  You and your wife undoubtedly are sharing a garden variety cold virus.  I remain confident you don't have HIV.

[worriedeaker1]

Dr. How are you doing? I could not resist and I went to get a test at 21 days post exposure, it was negative. I was a blood test done at Labcorp ABS ICMA. My questions:

1. What can you tell me about my test?

2. Now on ARS Doctor, yesterday afternoon I started having signs of a cold, sneezing and my head felt heavy and a runny nose, my wife started feeling the same way last yesterday too. This morning my nose feels stuffed and a have a light headache. I have seen you say that ARS usually happen 5-10 days after exposure and that rarely after 3 weeks of exposure. Could you please clarify. Thanks.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Yes, similar calculations apply you your case as well.

If you are tested, feel free to return to post the result -- but I won't have any further comments or advice until then.

[worriedeaker1]

Thank you very much for your response doctor. I have read many of your comments and from Dr. Hook on situations similar to mine and I think I will be OK. One post that was really reassuring was:

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/HIV---Prevention/HIV-Transmission/show/2055485

So, given my exposure and reading the response you gave to this gentleman, can I assume this applies to my case too? Thank you doctor.