Possible HIV infection?

[bop94]

Hey doc,

This question might sound really stupid however here goes. I am a 22 year old female. I got tested for HIV about 3 months ago (negative) and since then have only had one partner. However about a week ago I engaged in protected sexual intercourse with another man. I also have open sores on my mouth, I bite my lip out of habit and the inside of my lip which causes it to bleed. My question is could I have possibly gotten HIV through kissing if he had an open cut as well? Adn what is my risk from the open cuts and sex? I know this sounds stupid but I read online that you can get it from kissing if you have open sores. I also performed oral sex on him but he didnt ejaculate. I asked him his HIV status and he said he had gotten tested like a month ago and he was fine. But I dont know if I believe him! I suffer from anxiety and am scared though. I now have a fever, body aches and a sore throat.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

It isn't weird at all to have such symptoms soon after a sexual experience.  Millions of people have new sexual partners every month. And millions of people get new sore throats with inflamed lymph nodes every month.  It stands to reason that both things will happen to a lot of people at about the same time.  You also shook hands, socially kissed, or otherwise were in social contact with lots of people in the same 2 week period.  It makes no sense to get laser-beam focused on the sexual exposure while ignoring the other, more likely explanations of your illness.

It's just a coincidence.  Let it go.  I won't have any further comments.

[bop94]

I am sorry. I just have been worried and look online and see that you experience flu-like symptoms 2 weeks after infection. I have a fever, sore throat, swollen painful lymph nodes and body aches which are all signs of infection. I understand these are sympoms of other things however it seems weird that I am experiencing these two weeks after my sexual interaction.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

You have missed the point. Many viruses and illnesses besides HIV cause enlarged lymph nodes.  Most are much more common than HIV.  See your health care provider about it, but stop worrying about HIV. All the evidence is against it.

[bop94]

My glands and lymph nodes feel very swollen and hurt too now.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Your question isn't stupid at all. But you can relax. There is no realistic risk, for a couple of reasons. First, contrary to what you can find on the web, heterosexually transmitted HIV is uncommon in most industrialized countries.  Most people infected heterosexually are the regular partners of infected people, not one-off contacts.  Second, the odds your partner had HIV -- especially given his historyof a recent negative test -- is exceedingly low, especially if he isn't an IV drug user or a gay/bi man.  People don't usually lie about it, especially when asked outside the height of arousal.  Finally, it is theoretically possible that HIV transmission could occur by kissing with open sores --- but I'll bet there has never been a case actually documented.  Websites tend to have conservative messages; if there is a theoretical chance, they say the risk is there.  But in the real world, it ain't necessarily so.

Your symptoms undoubtedly are due to a garden variety virus, not HIV.  That doesn't change my opinion or advice at all.

I don't even recommend testing for HIV in this situation.  The risk is too low to make sense.  But of course you could do that, if a negative test result will help you sleep better.  If so, go ahead and test any time 6 weeks or more after the event.

Best wishes--  HHH, MD

[thatguy01]

Hey,

I'm not the doctor, but ive dont some research! you definetly wont have Hiv from this event! As for your fever, body aches and sore throat, its probably the stress of thinking about this for hours on end! move on you dont have Hiv! and stop worrying ;)