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Oral Sex, Prostatitis and HIV
Doctor,
I am a 40-year-old heterosexual male. A couple of weeks ago, I received unprotected oral sex. A couple days later, I seemed to have a recurrence of prostatitis. I have fought this for a few years. I went to my urologist who confirmed I had "junk in my urine". I have been on antibiotics since that time. I have read through many of your replies and know logically that my risk is low. However, I am concerned about my HIV risk. This encounter was outside my regular relationship. Do I need testing for this? If you do not think so, I assume I can go back to unprotected sex with my regular partner. Prior to this, I know we were both HIV negative.
Thank you.
I am a 40-year-old heterosexual male. A couple of weeks ago, I received unprotected oral sex. A couple days later, I seemed to have a recurrence of prostatitis. I have fought this for a few years. I went to my urologist who confirmed I had "junk in my urine". I have been on antibiotics since that time. I have read through many of your replies and know logically that my risk is low. However, I am concerned about my HIV risk. This encounter was outside my regular relationship. Do I need testing for this? If you do not think so, I assume I can go back to unprotected sex with my regular partner. Prior to this, I know we were both HIV negative.
Thank you.
A related discussion, Looking for thoughts on my situation. was started.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
This will be my last answer. Your HIV risk is negligible and as i said before, worrying about the ARS is a waste of time. This could be a drug reaction or it could be a community acquired, non-HIV viral infection. If it is troubling you, you should discuss it with the doctor who gave you the doxycycline sooner than later as these these drug reactions can be severe if that is what is going on. EWH
I'm sorry to bother you again. It has now been three weeks past my exposure that was low risk. However, I am starting to worry again. I have a rash on my chest and stomach. It's blotchy and covers just about the entire area. I have also had joint pain and cramps in my calves. Last week, I had a slight temperature (99.6). I just took the last of my two-week supply of Doxy for the prostatitis. Could the doxy be causing some of this or could this be ARS? For my peace of mind, I will probably get tested. In the archives, I have seen you recommend from 4-8 weeks for testing. Which would you recommend for me? I assure you I will not keep coming back with additional questions.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Correct. EWH
Thank you! Your comments have helped a great deal. So, even if the prostatis was active during the time of the oral sex, the HIV risk is still close to zero? The symptoms did start a couple of days after the encounter.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
There seem to be two issues in play her - both questions of whether or not your current concerns might relate to receipt of oral sex from a female partner several weeks ago. One is your recurrent prostatitis and the second is concern about having possibly gotten HIV from this encounter. Before I elaborate I will get to the bottom line - it is unlikely that either of these is related to your recent encounter. Now let's review why I say this for both.
HIV. Really no risk. The chance that a 40 YOU women close to age 40 has HIV if you are in North America is less than 1 in 1000. Then, the quoted figure for HIV risk, if one has oral sex with an infected partner is less than 1 in 10,000 and, in my estimation that is too high. Some experts state there is no risk at all from oral sex. Neither of us on this site have ever seen or reading the medical literature of a convincing instance in which HIV was passed by oral sex. Numerically these tow figures put your risk of HIV at less than 1 in 10 million from a single episode of oral sex.
"junk in your urine". You have an alternate explanation -prostatitis. Thus while some men do occasionally get urethritis from receipt of oral sex, the symptoms typically come on just a few days after sex. Furthermore, this syndrome typically responds well to antibiotics. Thus it is more likely than not that your symptoms are due to a flare up of your prostatitis, not urethritis from oral sex.
Finally, your symptoms. The symptoms of the acute retroviral syndrome (ARS) are TOTALLY non-specific and when people experience "ARS symptoms" they are much more likely to have something else, usually some other, more typical virus infection. When this has been studied in the US, less than 1% of persons seeking medical care for "ARS symptoms" are found to have HIV, the remainder having symptoms due to other processes. In contrast, over a given year, there is almost no one who has not had a viral illness, night sweats or both (sometimes on multiple occasions). In addition, it is also important to realize that many persons who acquire HIV do not experience the ARS. For a person to try to judge their HIV risk based on "ARS symptoms" is a waste of time.
Bottom line -virtually no risk. I see no reason for testing nor to worry about unprotected sex with your regular partner. You may wish to talk with your urologist as to the next step in managing your prostatitis.
Hope this helps. EWH
HIV. Really no risk. The chance that a 40 YOU women close to age 40 has HIV if you are in North America is less than 1 in 1000. Then, the quoted figure for HIV risk, if one has oral sex with an infected partner is less than 1 in 10,000 and, in my estimation that is too high. Some experts state there is no risk at all from oral sex. Neither of us on this site have ever seen or reading the medical literature of a convincing instance in which HIV was passed by oral sex. Numerically these tow figures put your risk of HIV at less than 1 in 10 million from a single episode of oral sex.
"junk in your urine". You have an alternate explanation -prostatitis. Thus while some men do occasionally get urethritis from receipt of oral sex, the symptoms typically come on just a few days after sex. Furthermore, this syndrome typically responds well to antibiotics. Thus it is more likely than not that your symptoms are due to a flare up of your prostatitis, not urethritis from oral sex.
Finally, your symptoms. The symptoms of the acute retroviral syndrome (ARS) are TOTALLY non-specific and when people experience "ARS symptoms" they are much more likely to have something else, usually some other, more typical virus infection. When this has been studied in the US, less than 1% of persons seeking medical care for "ARS symptoms" are found to have HIV, the remainder having symptoms due to other processes. In contrast, over a given year, there is almost no one who has not had a viral illness, night sweats or both (sometimes on multiple occasions). In addition, it is also important to realize that many persons who acquire HIV do not experience the ARS. For a person to try to judge their HIV risk based on "ARS symptoms" is a waste of time.
Bottom line -virtually no risk. I see no reason for testing nor to worry about unprotected sex with your regular partner. You may wish to talk with your urologist as to the next step in managing your prostatitis.
Hope this helps. EWH
I realize I probably did not post enough information. The unprotected oral was performed by a woman close to my age. She is not a CSW and I assume not a drug user. I was fine until I noticed a slight fever yesterday along with a rash on my torso. Also, the prostatitis does not seem to be responding to the antibiotics. Any assistance you can provide is greatly appreciated.
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