About HIV risk

Ok, I know this question has been answered so many times by doctor HHH, but I still dont seem to be able to believe the answer he gives. He said that the chance for a man to become infected with HIV from any one time sexual encounter (vaginal) from a woman who HAS HIV, is like 1/2000. I mean, all my friends who sounded knowledgable about this stuff said theres a good chance the guy would get infected and websites make it sound like a one time unprotected sexual encounter is a really high risk, but maybe they meant for the women. But if 1/2000 is true, then i dont see how you can say its a high risk, because 1/2000 isnt. But this stat just seems so redicously low. I know other STD's can make the risk a lot higher, but Im talking about a guy who has no other STD's who has sex with a HIV woman. By the way, Im almost 100 percent sure I didnt have sex with anyone who had HIV, but theres a small chance my gf might have picked it up.

Maybe Iv been missing something about what doctor HHH is really saying about the chances, but based on what I said, are the chances really that low? It doesnt mean im gonna get careless, because I defintely wont.

Im also concerned about my gf who had unprotected vaginal. Does anyone know off hand what her chances are if the guy WAS HIV positive? This may of been answered by doctor HHH as well. Regardless, she and I will be tested at the 6 week mark coming up, but I would like to know a good estimated percentage, I know the risk was prolly a lot higher for her.

I know im may be asking a lot but, Im a guy who loves to go by percentages and a low percentage would ease some of my stress a lot. thanks!  

[OrionQuest]

1 in 2000 does not mean you can have sex 2000 times and expect to get infected only after 1999 times.  Don't forget that that 1 in 2000 can be the first try, or second, or third...

[Popcornguy]

See I disagree. If stats are 1/2000 then its not high risk for a single individual. Stats dont lie. However, im not a stupid moran who is going to have unprotected sex unless Im 100 percent sure of my partners HIV status. I dont take chances like that if thats what you were thinking. But anyway, compared to what my friends made it sound like, I feel a little more secure.

[cliff101]

Those are US statistics, yeah.  But stats are stats.  Unprotected sex is high risk whatever the stats say.  Dont do it!

If you and your gf are getting tested then that will be your guide.  If you are both still worried test again at 3 months to be sure.

Good luck.

[cliff101]

Well, you stand more chance of catching a bunch of other things than HIV.  Including other STI's.

As everyone keeps saying, HIV is not an easy virus to catch.  That much is true.  Easier for the woman than the man in unprotected hetrosexual intercourse.  I could point to a stat that says the highest % of HIV positive people in Singapore caught it through man-woman contact.  Thats different than most countries stats will indicate I think.

But it would be irresponsible of anyone to say - "sure, stats show its incredibly low risk.  No worries.", wouldn't it?

Paranoia is rife.  HIV is a very hard virus to get.  But common sense is common sense and you seem to have that.

And the chances of you or your gf being infected from a single encounter are very, very low.  You're getting tested anyway, right? Expect that test to be negative.

So, no worries.

[OrionQuest]

Good attitude.