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Oral Risk Very Scared
Dr.
Thank you for replying to my concern. Last night, I did something very stupid. I met a guy online and he came to my hotel. We kissed alot, he sucked my penis, and very stupidly, I sucked his for about 15-20 seconds. He did not ejaculate but I do not know if he had any pre semen. He said he "thought" he was OK but then later told me he had had unprotected anal sex with a guy before. It freaked me out. To complicate matters, I am married. So, do I need the thing they call PEP and if so, how do I do it? Am I at high risk? Should I stop having sex with my wife? I am very nervous and need your advice. Thank you
Thank you for replying to my concern. Last night, I did something very stupid. I met a guy online and he came to my hotel. We kissed alot, he sucked my penis, and very stupidly, I sucked his for about 15-20 seconds. He did not ejaculate but I do not know if he had any pre semen. He said he "thought" he was OK but then later told me he had had unprotected anal sex with a guy before. It freaked me out. To complicate matters, I am married. So, do I need the thing they call PEP and if so, how do I do it? Am I at high risk? Should I stop having sex with my wife? I am very nervous and need your advice. Thank you
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Nothing delays positive HIV test results, except possibly very potent, high dose chemotherapy and immunosuppressive drugs. Antibiotics and low dose steroids have no effect. You can move on and do not need further testing.
That's all for this thread. Accept the scientific evidence and move on. No more comments are permitted.
That's all for this thread. Accept the scientific evidence and move on. No more comments are permitted.
My 57 day test today using Oraquick was negative. From day 43 to day 52 I was on an antibiotic and a steroid (prednisone) for an upper respitory infection. I have read that a steroid may delay antibody production so I am not sure sure how accurate this test was. I also read your last post that I should probably test again at 12 weeks. Can you please give me your opinion and let me know if I can move on or if I need to retest later. Thank you for your help.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
1) Rapid and lab-based antibody tests are equally reliable.
2) A12 week test is often recommended, but a negative result at 8 weeks is virtually 100% reliable. However, since many agencies and experts recommend final testing at 12 weeks, you might decide to do it. But I have never hear of anyone's antibody test turning positve at 12 weeks after being negative at 8 weeks.
3) Correct.
You may post your 8 week test result, but any other comments will be deleted. Please re-read all my replies so far; the information should be very reassuring to you.
2) A12 week test is often recommended, but a negative result at 8 weeks is virtually 100% reliable. However, since many agencies and experts recommend final testing at 12 weeks, you might decide to do it. But I have never hear of anyone's antibody test turning positve at 12 weeks after being negative at 8 weeks.
3) Correct.
You may post your 8 week test result, but any other comments will be deleted. Please re-read all my replies so far; the information should be very reassuring to you.
Dr HHH
You have eased my fears tremendously and for that I thank you. I will go back and test again at 8 weeks. I have read some threads on here where you or Dr Hook have said to use a standard antibody test vs. a rapid test at 8 weeks.
1) Is that what I should do? Also, I have read that for people who know they had a possible exposure to an HIV positive person that a repeat test should be done at 12 weeks just to be sure.
2)Assuming my 8 week test is negative, should I also do another one at 12 weeks?
3)If my symptoms were related to ARS then my 5 week test would have been positive..correct?
Thanks again so much
You have eased my fears tremendously and for that I thank you. I will go back and test again at 8 weeks. I have read some threads on here where you or Dr Hook have said to use a standard antibody test vs. a rapid test at 8 weeks.
1) Is that what I should do? Also, I have read that for people who know they had a possible exposure to an HIV positive person that a repeat test should be done at 12 weeks just to be sure.
2)Assuming my 8 week test is negative, should I also do another one at 12 weeks?
3)If my symptoms were related to ARS then my 5 week test would have been positive..correct?
Thanks again so much
5 weeks it's good indicator and as doctor said I'm sure it will be negative at the 8 weeks, keep it up man
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I agree with your frustration; I also am concerned that so many clinics and providers in the US have not begun to routinely offer duo testing. But a negative stand-alone antibody test like Oraquick is highly reliable at 5 weeks -- not definitive, but combined with the virtually zero risk of HIV infection from oral sex, you should view it as very reliable. For final reassurance, have another antibody test at the 8 week mark. But stay mellow in the meantime. It will be negative.
Dr HHH
I have called multiple clinics and none of them offer the HIV Duo test. They all offer the antibody or DNA test which is very expensive. I live in a small town and 3 hours from a major city but I even called clinics in the city and found out the same thing. I also called several internet companys that offer testing and they told me the same thing. I went today into a clinic in my town and had the Rapid Oraquick test done with a fingerprick. The results were negative. They told me however that it was too soon and the test was not accurate. Today has been 34 days since the incident. What do I make of this and what should I do next? Thanks for your help as always.
I have called multiple clinics and none of them offer the HIV Duo test. They all offer the antibody or DNA test which is very expensive. I live in a small town and 3 hours from a major city but I even called clinics in the city and found out the same thing. I also called several internet companys that offer testing and they told me the same thing. I went today into a clinic in my town and had the Rapid Oraquick test done with a fingerprick. The results were negative. They told me however that it was too soon and the test was not accurate. Today has been 34 days since the incident. What do I make of this and what should I do next? Thanks for your help as always.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
That your partner's diagnosis was recent doesn't necessarily mean his infection is new or his viral load high. Your symptoms are not suspicious, since acute HIV infection doesn't cause sinus/nasal congestion, doesn't cause isolated lymph node enlargements, and in any case self-diagnosed lymph node inflammation usually is wrong; and you don't mention fever, which is almost invariably present in acute HIV.
As for getting professional care, it is really, really dumb for you not to do it. Doctors' offices, clinics, and insurance companies are absolutely obligated to not reveal personal information; the federal fine for it starts at $5,000 and goes up from there. And in any case, in the US you can almost always find a community clinic or public health clinic where the costs will be minimal and none of your family or friends need know.
So the chance remains overwhelming that you didn't catch HIV, and your closing statements ("life is over", "so scared" simply are not justified. In the 7+ years of this forum, not one user has reported an exposure that actually led to catching HIV or reported a positive test result. You aren't going to be the first.
As for getting professional care, it is really, really dumb for you not to do it. Doctors' offices, clinics, and insurance companies are absolutely obligated to not reveal personal information; the federal fine for it starts at $5,000 and goes up from there. And in any case, in the US you can almost always find a community clinic or public health clinic where the costs will be minimal and none of your family or friends need know.
So the chance remains overwhelming that you didn't catch HIV, and your closing statements ("life is over", "so scared" simply are not justified. In the 7+ years of this forum, not one user has reported an exposure that actually led to catching HIV or reported a positive test result. You aren't going to be the first.
Thanks for trying to calm my fears but I cant sleep or eat for worrying. He did say he just found out a couple of weeks ago and didnt know it at the time. I guess he is telling the truth but I dont know. That also I imagine means he is very infectious which is not good for me. I experienced a sore throat and congestion which I thought was a sinus infection about 2 weeks after the incident and have not felt well since. I think I have lymph nodes swollen behind my knees and under my arms. I cannot go to a doctor at this time. No one knows about this and I cant go see a doctor and incur expenses without questions. It has been almost 5 weeks to the day since it happened and I guess I will have to go get a standard test. Would a rapid test be as accurate as a normal blood test? What are my chances if it is negative? If by the grace of God it is, when would I need to go back and do it again? I feel my life is over and am just so scared. Thanks for tyring to help me.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Well, I understand that's upsetting information. However, you still are at little if any risk of HIV. Do you know anything more about your partner's HIV status? For example, if he is on treatment for HIV, he probably isn't infectious for his partners, even with high risk exposures like unprotected anal sex. And even without treatment, the chance of transmission by oral sex is extremely low, as we discussed above. And in your case even lower than average, since he didn't ejaculate in your mouth.
PEP must be started within 72 hours of exposure. But even if you had known your partner had HIV, most experts would not have recommended PEP in this situation.
At this point my advice is that you see a provider knowledgeable about HIV and its prevention and have an HIV test. If you have a DUO test (i.e. a combination test for both HIV antibody and p24 antigen), testing now will be virtually 100% reliable; such tests are just about always positive within 4 weeks. Even a stand-alone antibody test would be highly reassuring, with 90% reliability.
So let me know your test result. In the meantime, stay relaxed. It is very unlikely you were infected, so you can expect a negative result.
My final advice is for your partner. It was unconscionable for him to have had sex with you without informing you of his HIV infection beforehand (unless, of course, he didn't know it at the time). He is ethically obligated to inform any and all partners of his infection, before potentially exposing them -- even if he is on treatment or intends safe sex. Tell him I said so.
PEP must be started within 72 hours of exposure. But even if you had known your partner had HIV, most experts would not have recommended PEP in this situation.
At this point my advice is that you see a provider knowledgeable about HIV and its prevention and have an HIV test. If you have a DUO test (i.e. a combination test for both HIV antibody and p24 antigen), testing now will be virtually 100% reliable; such tests are just about always positive within 4 weeks. Even a stand-alone antibody test would be highly reassuring, with 90% reliability.
So let me know your test result. In the meantime, stay relaxed. It is very unlikely you were infected, so you can expect a negative result.
My final advice is for your partner. It was unconscionable for him to have had sex with you without informing you of his HIV infection beforehand (unless, of course, he didn't know it at the time). He is ethically obligated to inform any and all partners of his infection, before potentially exposing them -- even if he is on treatment or intends safe sex. Tell him I said so.
Dr HHH
I tracked down the guy that I met and he has told me he is HIV positive. I am freaking out now and wish I would have tried to do PEP. Is it too late for me? What should I do now? Please help me.
I tracked down the guy that I met and he has told me he is HIV positive. I am freaking out now and wish I would have tried to do PEP. Is it too late for me? What should I do now? Please help me.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I won't get into a debate -- but in my experience you are wrong that "most people" would be worried and anxious after such an exposure, especially after being advised of the risks. For you to have caught HIV, your partner would have to be infected, for which we probably can guess about a 10% chance; and you would have to be on the unlucky end of an estimated average risk of 1 in 10,000 for penile to oral HIV transmission. Thus, the chance you caught HIV can be calculated at around 1 chance in 100,000. That's equivalent to having similar exposures once daily for 270 years before transmission might be expected.
As for my testing advice, you misunderstood. From a strictly medical, risk assessment standpoint, you do not need HIV testing. However, many (most?) people in your situation find psychological benefit in the proof of a negative test result, rather than relying on expert reassurance. In other words, if you're sleep better knowing you have had a negative test, by all means do it. It's your decision. If I were in your situation, I would not feel the need for it -- but I'm not you.
As for my testing advice, you misunderstood. From a strictly medical, risk assessment standpoint, you do not need HIV testing. However, many (most?) people in your situation find psychological benefit in the proof of a negative test result, rather than relying on expert reassurance. In other words, if you're sleep better knowing you have had a negative test, by all means do it. It's your decision. If I were in your situation, I would not feel the need for it -- but I'm not you.
Dr HHH
I appreciate your candor and your advice. That is why I pay to get your advice. My question a few months ago was on receiving oral sex. This time, for the first time ever, I was the one receiving it. I know saliva is not a transmitor but I thought pre cum was. That is why I am worried and yes I am anxious. I think most people would be. I am the one that put myself in this situation and take the responsibilty. I just needed to know from you should I take emergency steps or even should I get tested for this situation. It sounds like you are telling me to get tested. Again I truly appreciate your help.
I appreciate your candor and your advice. That is why I pay to get your advice. My question a few months ago was on receiving oral sex. This time, for the first time ever, I was the one receiving it. I know saliva is not a transmitor but I thought pre cum was. That is why I am worried and yes I am anxious. I think most people would be. I am the one that put myself in this situation and take the responsibilty. I just needed to know from you should I take emergency steps or even should I get tested for this situation. It sounds like you are telling me to get tested. Again I truly appreciate your help.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
As you have been told previously, oral sex carries no HIV risk for all practical purposes. Since are you are nervous, have an HIV test in a few weeks. In the meantime you can assume you did not catch HIV. I would not recommend PEP in this situation. If I were in your situation, I would continue unprotected sex with my wife with no fear of infecting her. But if you remain nervous, of course you can have an HIV test after 6-8 weeks (or at 4 weeks if you have a duo test for both HIV antibody and p24 antigen).
This is your second recent question on this forum. Please note that in order to prevent excess anxiety-driven questions, MedHelp permits no more than 2 questions every 6 months on the professionally moderated forums. Do not be tempted to post another before next March.
Regards-- HHH, MD
This is your second recent question on this forum. Please note that in order to prevent excess anxiety-driven questions, MedHelp permits no more than 2 questions every 6 months on the professionally moderated forums. Do not be tempted to post another before next March.
Regards-- HHH, MD
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