There are no data to answer your question. Receptive anal sex with a man who has sex with other men is the highest risk of all HIV exposures, averaging 1 chance in 100-200 if the top has HIV. But those data assume ejaculation. Undoubtedly the risk is much lower with brief penetration without ejaculation, but there are no data to judge your risk.
If you know or can find your partner, you can ask him whether he has HIV. Most people don't lie when asked directly, at least outside the sexual context. If he says no, testing for you is optional. If you can't get that information, then the most rational approach is a standard HIV antibody test in about 4 weeks; and if that is negative (as almost certainly it will be), you could have a final test after 8-12 weeks. The PCR/DNA test has a higher chance of giving you a false positive result than the chance it will diagnose infection accurately this soon after exposure. (Think what you would go through for a few weeks if you have a false positive result, thinking you have HIV when you do not!)
Of course the main lesson here is that you should not have gotten sexually involved without first asking your partner his HIV status and sharing your own; no gay man should EVER have sex without asking about and sharing HIV status, even when safe sex is planned. (As you found, plans for safe sex often fall away in the heat of the moment!) And there is really no excuse for having anal sex with someone of unknown HIV status without a condom. Follow those rules and you can expect to have an enriched, fulfilling sex life without ever getting HIV. Fail to follow them, and you should expect to get HIV someday.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
Hi there,
I can understand your anxiety, but it is highly unlikely that you were infected in the manner that you describe. Your exposure was brief. The CDC website says that the RNA test is accurate anytime after 9-11 days post exposure, but I don't think you need to worry. I'd continue with the antibody tests. You stopped before it got too risky; well done.
I'd say you'll be ok:)
I had one done at 14 days an HIV RNA <75 and it came out negative(nothing found), but I am still worried. So if you think you will still be worried then do not get it. I read they have 3% chance of false positive. And when I got the test back it said on the sheet this is not used to diagnose. So do not know how much weight it actually holds. Though the CDC says 9-11 days...
One more question.
How long does it take to experience symptoms of HIV? Would I have symptoms within 5 days? I'm sure its probably stress, but just wondering.
Thanks!