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Question regarding HIV test
Hello Dr Handsfield,
In May 2008 I made a terrible mistake and had unprotected sex twice with my gf of 4 months. All other times I always used a condom. Her HIV status was unknown, as she was for some reason afraid to get tested. She was never an IV drug user to my knowledge, but was on the somewhat lower end of the socioeconomic spectrum. Her background is white European (Russian) Jewish.
I broke up with her in May and started dating someone new in July. My new partner and I always used a condom (have had 5 distinct partners in my life, and used a condom every time except the 2 above) and I have always used a condom in my life except for that incident in may where I did something terribly stupid. My new gf in Jul ended up in the ER with a tubo-ovarian abscess/PID after sex although it was FULLY protected sex. The physicians urged me to get std tests, and I did a Full complete screening ( two urine tests from two different labs for chlamydia and ghonnorea, both negative, hep a,b,c, HIV, etc). All came back negative. Physicians were unsure what caused this, but said she could have had a ruptured cyst since she hadn't been sexually active in her life and our sexual contact
could have caused a rupture?
Either way, I'm concerned about the HIV as I was tested in Aug 2008 (80 days) post exposure (not the duo test, just standard test) and came back Negative. 80 days after having sex with my first gf and not sure if this is sufficient given the window period. We only had vaginal straight sex, no anal. A few weeks after the second unprotected sexual encounter I developed a fever, headache, muscle pains and fatigue that lasted only 1-2 days (very short). No rash. Do I need to be rested for HIV??
In May 2008 I made a terrible mistake and had unprotected sex twice with my gf of 4 months. All other times I always used a condom. Her HIV status was unknown, as she was for some reason afraid to get tested. She was never an IV drug user to my knowledge, but was on the somewhat lower end of the socioeconomic spectrum. Her background is white European (Russian) Jewish.
I broke up with her in May and started dating someone new in July. My new partner and I always used a condom (have had 5 distinct partners in my life, and used a condom every time except the 2 above) and I have always used a condom in my life except for that incident in may where I did something terribly stupid. My new gf in Jul ended up in the ER with a tubo-ovarian abscess/PID after sex although it was FULLY protected sex. The physicians urged me to get std tests, and I did a Full complete screening ( two urine tests from two different labs for chlamydia and ghonnorea, both negative, hep a,b,c, HIV, etc). All came back negative. Physicians were unsure what caused this, but said she could have had a ruptured cyst since she hadn't been sexually active in her life and our sexual contact
could have caused a rupture?
Either way, I'm concerned about the HIV as I was tested in Aug 2008 (80 days) post exposure (not the duo test, just standard test) and came back Negative. 80 days after having sex with my first gf and not sure if this is sufficient given the window period. We only had vaginal straight sex, no anal. A few weeks after the second unprotected sexual encounter I developed a fever, headache, muscle pains and fatigue that lasted only 1-2 days (very short). No rash. Do I need to be rested for HIV??
A related discussion, Help! was started.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
All I can say for sure is that you did not acquire HIV during the exposure in 2008; and there are many potential causes of symptoms of the kind you have had recently. They are not due to HIV acquired back in 2008. You should speak with your own doctor about whether he or she recommends HIV testing at this time. This doesn't mean I believe there is any realisic chance you have HIV, but testing for it is normal in unexplained illnesses with fever.
My 3 month long illness was just recently - 4 years after my unprotected encounter
Thanks Dr - I am not sure if you misunderstood me. I've already been tested for HIV at the 80 day mark, as well as other stds - all Negative. should I be retested? This all happened back in 2008.
The reason for my current paranoia is that I came down with a viral illness lasting a few months (feb 2012 was extremely fatigued, mild fever for 1 day, lymph pain under armpits, tender glands, left sided chest pain, dizziness) and have ruled out mono. Not sure what it wasbut it took a while to recover (I still get occasional dizziness and I only recovered fairly recently).
Do I need to get tested for HIV again? I have had no other unprotected exposure since 2008 and have been married and monogamous since 2008,
The reason for my current paranoia is that I came down with a viral illness lasting a few months (feb 2012 was extremely fatigued, mild fever for 1 day, lymph pain under armpits, tender glands, left sided chest pain, dizziness) and have ruled out mono. Not sure what it wasbut it took a while to recover (I still get occasional dizziness and I only recovered fairly recently).
Do I need to get tested for HIV again? I have had no other unprotected exposure since 2008 and have been married and monogamous since 2008,
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum. Thanks for your question.
I think you have some major understandings about HIV risks through heterosexual transmission. You describe partners who are very unlikely to have HIV, with mostly protected sex. Even unprotected, if a woman has HIV, the odds the virus will be transmitted are only around 1 in 2,000 for each episode of unprotected vaginal sex. (That's why many spouses of HIV infected people never catch the virus themselves -- which perhaps you didn't know.) While the possibility of an STD in your recent partner (PID with an abscess) suggest a higher risk, your consistent use of condoms with her plus your own negative STD tests make it clear that you were not the source of her infection; and also suggest no HIV risk.
Also, my guess is your partner has been tested for HIV, which would be normal in all women with PID. Unless she has been told otherwise, it is likely her test was negative.
Should you be tested? On the one hand, you describe an overall situation and sexual history that don't require it. On the other hand, it is normal for anyone with a suspected STD -- and their sex partners -- to be tested for HIV. On that basis, it would be reasonable for you to have an HIV test. From all you say, I expect it will be negative. (And your partner should also be tested, if not already done.)
As for your symptoms, they make no difference one way or the other. The symptoms you describe are very nonspecific, i.e. could be caused by any of a hundred or more minor viral infections. There is no reason to suppose they are due to STD.
I hope this helps. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
I think you have some major understandings about HIV risks through heterosexual transmission. You describe partners who are very unlikely to have HIV, with mostly protected sex. Even unprotected, if a woman has HIV, the odds the virus will be transmitted are only around 1 in 2,000 for each episode of unprotected vaginal sex. (That's why many spouses of HIV infected people never catch the virus themselves -- which perhaps you didn't know.) While the possibility of an STD in your recent partner (PID with an abscess) suggest a higher risk, your consistent use of condoms with her plus your own negative STD tests make it clear that you were not the source of her infection; and also suggest no HIV risk.
Also, my guess is your partner has been tested for HIV, which would be normal in all women with PID. Unless she has been told otherwise, it is likely her test was negative.
Should you be tested? On the one hand, you describe an overall situation and sexual history that don't require it. On the other hand, it is normal for anyone with a suspected STD -- and their sex partners -- to be tested for HIV. On that basis, it would be reasonable for you to have an HIV test. From all you say, I expect it will be negative. (And your partner should also be tested, if not already done.)
As for your symptoms, they make no difference one way or the other. The symptoms you describe are very nonspecific, i.e. could be caused by any of a hundred or more minor viral infections. There is no reason to suppose they are due to STD.
I hope this helps. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
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