Aa
I think the answer should be posted, but I can't find it!
First of all, let me say thank you for this site. For people like me who worry much, much more than neccessary, it has been amazing the past couple of weeks.
I am 23, and I have had sexual experiences with 5 men previous to the experience I am writing about. I am allergic to latex condoms, so before having oral or vaginal sex with any of these men, we both went together and got tested. I also used lamb skin condoms to help reduce the risk of pregnancy in correlation with my birth control. Basically, I am very, very careful. However, due to the lack of testing for it, I contracted HPV from one of these relationships.
About 9 weeks ago, after way to much alcohol, I engaged in unprotected vaginal sex with someone I know very little about. This occured on the second date with this particular person. I do not believe him to be high-risk, but like I said, I know little about him. After the experience I told him how worried I was about it, and he assured me that he usually uses a condom, and he knew he was HIV negative. (I take this with a grain of salt considering our experience). So my questions are:
1.) What is the probability that I contracted HIV from this one experience?
2.) Does the fact that I have HPV increase my risk?
3.) If I have a HIV test now at 9 weeks, will it be accurate? I have seen you post that it is, but several people I have spoken to, tell me 3 months is neccessary. If it is accurate at 9 weeks, is there a particular test I should make sure I recieve?
Thank you very much for viewing my question. I have not been able to think about much else since my encounter, and I certainly have different views on the dangers of alcohol and sexual encounters.
I am 23, and I have had sexual experiences with 5 men previous to the experience I am writing about. I am allergic to latex condoms, so before having oral or vaginal sex with any of these men, we both went together and got tested. I also used lamb skin condoms to help reduce the risk of pregnancy in correlation with my birth control. Basically, I am very, very careful. However, due to the lack of testing for it, I contracted HPV from one of these relationships.
About 9 weeks ago, after way to much alcohol, I engaged in unprotected vaginal sex with someone I know very little about. This occured on the second date with this particular person. I do not believe him to be high-risk, but like I said, I know little about him. After the experience I told him how worried I was about it, and he assured me that he usually uses a condom, and he knew he was HIV negative. (I take this with a grain of salt considering our experience). So my questions are:
1.) What is the probability that I contracted HIV from this one experience?
2.) Does the fact that I have HPV increase my risk?
3.) If I have a HIV test now at 9 weeks, will it be accurate? I have seen you post that it is, but several people I have spoken to, tell me 3 months is neccessary. If it is accurate at 9 weeks, is there a particular test I should make sure I recieve?
Thank you very much for viewing my question. I have not been able to think about much else since my encounter, and I certainly have different views on the dangers of alcohol and sexual encounters.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Although not your main concern, you should know that natural skin condoms probably are highly protective against HIV and other STDs. Because of physiologic pores, there theoretically less protection that with latex, but clearly the amount of virus or secretions that pass through the condom membrane is exceedingly small. n other words, it's not that natural condoms are known not to work; they just haven't been studied. I have never heard of an HIV or other STD case that occurred after proper use of a natural condom. Alternatively, since you're allergic to latex, have you tried the polyurethane condoms? Many people think they're the best of all, both in protection and sensation.
To your questions: 1) The odds are almost certain your partner doesn't have HIV; and even if he did, the average chance of transmission during a single episode of vaginal sex is around 1 in 1000. 2) Lots of STDs increase HIV risk if exposed, but HPV does not. 3) Your negative HIV test at 9 weeks will be 100% reliable.
The rest of this message is one I posted in response to a similar question just a couple of days ago. Like that questioner, you are one of millions of young people who have been taught an unrealistic understanding about sexual safety and the risks of HIV and STDs. Here it is:
"You are a victim of our times. The public health message, that all sexually active people outside committed, monogamous relationships should consistently use condoms is correct, as is the notion that HIV is the "biggie", the one STD most likely to have horrible consequences. This is the best approach overall; better safe than sorry. But you are experiencing a very common adverse effect of this approach, i.e. unwarranted concern, bordring on paranoia, about the actual risks. There is much more nuance in understanding the risks at the individual level as opposed to the population. Sex just isn't as dangerous as the media and various health education messages suggest it is.
"Some population groups are at higher risk than others, for example. I cannot predict the chance that your partner was bisexual, an injection drug user, a former prisoner, or an immigrant from a country with more HIV than in most industrialized countries. But if not, the chance he has HIV is virtually zero. Also, the various health messages don't mention the fact almost all heterosexually acquired HIV--certainly in industrialized countries, but even in most developing countries--is caught from a regular sex partner who unknown to have HIV. Of course any particular episode of unprotected sex can result in transmission, but the proportion of infected people who caught it from a one-time exposure is tiny.
"From a strict risk assessment standpoint, you don't need HIV testing on account of this event. A smarter strategy is to just be tested routinely about once a year for HIV and other common STDs, and not worry about any particular exposure. If you haven't been tested previously or a year has passed, this would be a good time since it's on your mind. But not because of this particular event. (Obviously there would be an exception of you were to learn the guy has HIV or is otherwise at particularly high risk.)
"Bottom line: Stick to your strict use of condoms, but don't beat yourself over the head if sometimes is doesn't work, like this time. And when it doesn't, worry about the real risks (chlamydia, etc), not so much about HIV."
And a final quick comment: You are inappropriately blaming yourself for catching HPV because you were not sufficiently careful. There is no way you can avoid genital HPV (until you get the new vaccine, which will protect you against some of the common types, but not all strains). Getting HPV is normal and is completely unavoidable, no matter how "careful" a sexually active person is--short of not having sex at all.
Sorry for the prolonged response, but I hope you and others find it useful.
HHH, MD
To your questions: 1) The odds are almost certain your partner doesn't have HIV; and even if he did, the average chance of transmission during a single episode of vaginal sex is around 1 in 1000. 2) Lots of STDs increase HIV risk if exposed, but HPV does not. 3) Your negative HIV test at 9 weeks will be 100% reliable.
The rest of this message is one I posted in response to a similar question just a couple of days ago. Like that questioner, you are one of millions of young people who have been taught an unrealistic understanding about sexual safety and the risks of HIV and STDs. Here it is:
"You are a victim of our times. The public health message, that all sexually active people outside committed, monogamous relationships should consistently use condoms is correct, as is the notion that HIV is the "biggie", the one STD most likely to have horrible consequences. This is the best approach overall; better safe than sorry. But you are experiencing a very common adverse effect of this approach, i.e. unwarranted concern, bordring on paranoia, about the actual risks. There is much more nuance in understanding the risks at the individual level as opposed to the population. Sex just isn't as dangerous as the media and various health education messages suggest it is.
"Some population groups are at higher risk than others, for example. I cannot predict the chance that your partner was bisexual, an injection drug user, a former prisoner, or an immigrant from a country with more HIV than in most industrialized countries. But if not, the chance he has HIV is virtually zero. Also, the various health messages don't mention the fact almost all heterosexually acquired HIV--certainly in industrialized countries, but even in most developing countries--is caught from a regular sex partner who unknown to have HIV. Of course any particular episode of unprotected sex can result in transmission, but the proportion of infected people who caught it from a one-time exposure is tiny.
"From a strict risk assessment standpoint, you don't need HIV testing on account of this event. A smarter strategy is to just be tested routinely about once a year for HIV and other common STDs, and not worry about any particular exposure. If you haven't been tested previously or a year has passed, this would be a good time since it's on your mind. But not because of this particular event. (Obviously there would be an exception of you were to learn the guy has HIV or is otherwise at particularly high risk.)
"Bottom line: Stick to your strict use of condoms, but don't beat yourself over the head if sometimes is doesn't work, like this time. And when it doesn't, worry about the real risks (chlamydia, etc), not so much about HIV."
And a final quick comment: You are inappropriately blaming yourself for catching HPV because you were not sufficiently careful. There is no way you can avoid genital HPV (until you get the new vaccine, which will protect you against some of the common types, but not all strains). Getting HPV is normal and is completely unavoidable, no matter how "careful" a sexually active person is--short of not having sex at all.
Sorry for the prolonged response, but I hope you and others find it useful.
HHH, MD
Thank you so much for your quick response. I must agree that the numbers of young people with anxiety and depression issues must be increasing due to the extreme public emphasis on HIV. This is literally all I've thought about for months and haven't been eating or sleeping correctly due to the experience. I am not trying to take away from the importance of informing people about sexually transmitted diseases, but there has to be a more effective/honest way to do so. Again, thank you. Now that I know it will be effective, I plan to have a test in the morning, just so I can be certain.
I think this might help people with testing. I recently went to a clinic here in Colorado that uses the Uni-Gold HIV test by Trinity Biotech that takes a pin ***** of blood and gives results in 10 minutes. The counselor stated that it is 99.6% accurate when tested at 5 weeks or more. I would search for a testing center that offers this type of test so you don't have to worry up to 13 weeks. Also, eliminates the need for expensive PCR testing at 28 days for us worry warts with high anxiety levels.
hey...im from col as well and I also used the Uni-Gold HIV. Do you have the phone number to the place where you got the test. I want to give them a call and ask them questions about the test. Thanks!
Gateway - Call the boulder county health department. You can also google by Boulder County HIV Test
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