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Freaking out about one time unprotected encounter
Hello,
I'm currently freaking out about an unprotected encounter I had a couple of months ago. I was wasted and it was a huge mistake (not to mention, I am in a relationship). The encounter only lasted a matter of minutes, and he did not ejaculate inside me. There was a brief oral sex encounter (me giving it to him), which also did not result in ejaculation.
I am obviously going to get tested (I've only just surpassed the two month mark), but am just looking for what will hopefully be some reassurance that maybe I'm freaking out over nothing. I understand how transmission occurs, but I'm wondering overall, based on statistics, roughly what my odds are. Unfortunately this person has never been tested before. He is not an IV drug user and has not had anal intercourse with other men, but he has had lots of unprotected sex with heterosexual women. He's an upper white class male (for the purposes of taking into account demographic transmission rates), who does drink a lot and uses cocaine (which obviously impairs judgment). I know that he's had unprotected sex with a lot of women, under foggy circumstances (being wasted), and this is what has me freaked out.
Any input is most appreciated.
Thank you.
I'm currently freaking out about an unprotected encounter I had a couple of months ago. I was wasted and it was a huge mistake (not to mention, I am in a relationship). The encounter only lasted a matter of minutes, and he did not ejaculate inside me. There was a brief oral sex encounter (me giving it to him), which also did not result in ejaculation.
I am obviously going to get tested (I've only just surpassed the two month mark), but am just looking for what will hopefully be some reassurance that maybe I'm freaking out over nothing. I understand how transmission occurs, but I'm wondering overall, based on statistics, roughly what my odds are. Unfortunately this person has never been tested before. He is not an IV drug user and has not had anal intercourse with other men, but he has had lots of unprotected sex with heterosexual women. He's an upper white class male (for the purposes of taking into account demographic transmission rates), who does drink a lot and uses cocaine (which obviously impairs judgment). I know that he's had unprotected sex with a lot of women, under foggy circumstances (being wasted), and this is what has me freaked out.
Any input is most appreciated.
Thank you.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the HIV forum.
You don't say your sex, but by implication you're female or you wouldn't have pointed out that your partner probably doesn't have sex with other men.
This is a very low risk event with respect to HIV, for 2 reasons. First, it is statistically very unlikely a partner like you describe has HIV ("an upper class white male", not an injection drug users, who doesn't have sex with men), assuming you are in the US or other industrialized country -- probably under one chance in 1,000.
Second, even if he had HIV, the risk of transmission is low. Unprotected vaginal sex carries an average transmission chance of once for every 1,000 encounters, which is equivalent to having sex with infected men once daily for over 2 years and maybe not being infected. And that's with ejaculation. And oral sex risk is on the order of 1 in 10,000. (These odds are why the large majority of persons who acquire HIV heterosexually are the regular partners of infected persons, and they typically only become infected months or years into the relationship. Catching HIV through one-off sexual events is rare.)
So you can definitely expect your HIV test to be negative, assuming this is your only risk. Feel free to return to post the result. But try not to lose sleep about it while you wait for the test.
I hope this helps. Best wishes---- HHH, MD
You don't say your sex, but by implication you're female or you wouldn't have pointed out that your partner probably doesn't have sex with other men.
This is a very low risk event with respect to HIV, for 2 reasons. First, it is statistically very unlikely a partner like you describe has HIV ("an upper class white male", not an injection drug users, who doesn't have sex with men), assuming you are in the US or other industrialized country -- probably under one chance in 1,000.
Second, even if he had HIV, the risk of transmission is low. Unprotected vaginal sex carries an average transmission chance of once for every 1,000 encounters, which is equivalent to having sex with infected men once daily for over 2 years and maybe not being infected. And that's with ejaculation. And oral sex risk is on the order of 1 in 10,000. (These odds are why the large majority of persons who acquire HIV heterosexually are the regular partners of infected persons, and they typically only become infected months or years into the relationship. Catching HIV through one-off sexual events is rare.)
So you can definitely expect your HIV test to be negative, assuming this is your only risk. Feel free to return to post the result. But try not to lose sleep about it while you wait for the test.
I hope this helps. Best wishes---- HHH, MD
A related discussion, chances of getting infected was started.
A related discussion, ONE NIGHT UNPROTECTED was started.
Phew!
Thanks again- you are providing a wonderful service here, and it's appreciated.
(Also, apologies for the misspelling of your name in my previous post)
Thanks again- you are providing a wonderful service here, and it's appreciated.
(Also, apologies for the misspelling of your name in my previous post)
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
You're welcome.
Having HSV-2 (but not HSV-1) roughly doubles the risk of HIV if exposed. Double a very low risk still is very low. In your case, it should not be particularly worrisome if your odds were 1 in 500,000 instead of 1 in a million.
Having HSV-2 (but not HSV-1) roughly doubles the risk of HIV if exposed. Double a very low risk still is very low. In your case, it should not be particularly worrisome if your odds were 1 in 500,000 instead of 1 in a million.
Dr. Hansfield, thank you SO much for your prompt and reassuring reply.
You are correct, I am female. I will definitely post my result next week to hopefully bring reassurance to others in my situation.
I just have one final question though- I just read in this forum that asymptomatic HSV infection can drive up the risk. Asymptomatic people obviously don't know that they have HSV, and as common as it is, that's just added one more element to my worry. What if one/both of us have asymptomatic HSV - how much would that increase the risk?
Thanks again, Doctor.
You are correct, I am female. I will definitely post my result next week to hopefully bring reassurance to others in my situation.
I just have one final question though- I just read in this forum that asymptomatic HSV infection can drive up the risk. Asymptomatic people obviously don't know that they have HSV, and as common as it is, that's just added one more element to my worry. What if one/both of us have asymptomatic HSV - how much would that increase the risk?
Thanks again, Doctor.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I missed your request for numerical odds you have HIV. Chance your partner has HIV, probably 1 in 1,000. Odds of transmission from a single episode of unprotected vaginal sex around 1 in 1,000. 0.001 x 0.001 = 0.000001, or 1 in a million. Actually lower than that because no ejaculation.
In general, I recommend against HIV testing at all on account of individual sexual events, except with known infected partners or other evidence of particularly high risk. The chance of infection is just too low to warrant the trouble. A smarter approach is for all nonmonogamous sexually active people to just plan on regular testing from time to time, like once a year. Assuming you haven't been tested in the past year, this is a good time, since it's on your mind. But not because of this particular event.
In general, I recommend against HIV testing at all on account of individual sexual events, except with known infected partners or other evidence of particularly high risk. The chance of infection is just too low to warrant the trouble. A smarter approach is for all nonmonogamous sexually active people to just plan on regular testing from time to time, like once a year. Assuming you haven't been tested in the past year, this is a good time, since it's on your mind. But not because of this particular event.
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