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Condom efficacy- removal and other body surfaces risk?
About 7 1/2 months ago I had a brief sexual encounter with a woman in a SE Asian country. In the space of about an hour we had genital intercourse twice, each time with a different condom that, from checking after, I'm fairly sure did not leak or tear. Only ejaculate/climax during round 2. There was also some deep mouth-mouth kissing, but not a lot.
After this encounter, I heard from some friends of hers that she had contracted HIV from a past period of IV drug use.
My question is: Is there any chance that I exposed myself to HIV when I removed the two condom that had vaginal secretions on it? What would I have to have done if that in fat occurred? If there was a narrow band of exposed skin at the base of my penis during protected sex, is there a risk that HIV entered my bloodstrream there? What about secretions that get onto the general pubic area?
I have, knock on wood, not presented any noticeable symptoms of ARS as I've read about them, but they seem pretty vague. All the same, I've suddenly been overcome by crippling stress regarding this incident. Hopefully your assessment of my risk will help me start preparing me psychologically for what I really need to do- get a test. Could you please, however, explain to me the pathways of infection and whether those "unprotected" spots carry significant transmission risk? Is there something I might have missed that "got me"? Thank you so much!
After this encounter, I heard from some friends of hers that she had contracted HIV from a past period of IV drug use.
My question is: Is there any chance that I exposed myself to HIV when I removed the two condom that had vaginal secretions on it? What would I have to have done if that in fat occurred? If there was a narrow band of exposed skin at the base of my penis during protected sex, is there a risk that HIV entered my bloodstrream there? What about secretions that get onto the general pubic area?
I have, knock on wood, not presented any noticeable symptoms of ARS as I've read about them, but they seem pretty vague. All the same, I've suddenly been overcome by crippling stress regarding this incident. Hopefully your assessment of my risk will help me start preparing me psychologically for what I really need to do- get a test. Could you please, however, explain to me the pathways of infection and whether those "unprotected" spots carry significant transmission risk? Is there something I might have missed that "got me"? Thank you so much!
I don't have to explain anything over and over again. And I surely don't have to explain myself to you of all people.
"Wannabe" what Teak? You should justify your comment, especially as you post the same thing on nearly every post in the forum. Are people meant to believe every one-liner they read in chatrooms? For example, what is your expertise? Qualify the "never at risk" comment for the particular situation etc.
Thanks for being so smug. I was "told" by you, and who the **** are you? A guy who, for kicks, writes terse one-line postings on a message board full of scared-******** people looking for information. I'm outta here
You were told that you didn't have a risk to begin with. Of course you would have had a negative test result.
Just an update- got tested and it came out NEGATIVE.,.
But before I finally found myself in the doctor's office, dark vein-blood filling up that vial, I was literally being EATEN ALIVE by STRESS. High prolonged fever, infection, etc.
They took my blood and told me to come back in 90 minutes. What a walk I took! Just before I stepped back through the door of the clinic, I told myself- listen, if you're positive, they're going to have a specialist come counsel you, they'll take your viral and CD4 counts, youll start to face this thing. It's better to know and start doing something about it (or maybe I wouldn't even need to start a course of treatment yet).
So my word of advice to everyone- STRESS is DEADLY. The Truth will set you free. The human being is nothing if not a machine for surviving, for living through anything. There's no knock the human soul can't take and eventually recover from save a bullet to the head.
I was afraid that a positive diagnosis would mean the end of my "normal" life, I wanted to push it under the rug, but the truth was that my normal life was consumed with anxiety, I was becoming a shadow. If you have it, you have it- you review the options, you do your thing, and you live.
Thanks to the age of the internet, you can always find someone out there to put a hand on your shoulder, no matter how alone you feel- there are so many resources like this one out there.
So, the lessons here are- always wear a condom, use clean needles AND clean works (go to the sink and get another f__ing spoon and don't let anyone try to act all offended) and GET TESTED.
But before I finally found myself in the doctor's office, dark vein-blood filling up that vial, I was literally being EATEN ALIVE by STRESS. High prolonged fever, infection, etc.
They took my blood and told me to come back in 90 minutes. What a walk I took! Just before I stepped back through the door of the clinic, I told myself- listen, if you're positive, they're going to have a specialist come counsel you, they'll take your viral and CD4 counts, youll start to face this thing. It's better to know and start doing something about it (or maybe I wouldn't even need to start a course of treatment yet).
So my word of advice to everyone- STRESS is DEADLY. The Truth will set you free. The human being is nothing if not a machine for surviving, for living through anything. There's no knock the human soul can't take and eventually recover from save a bullet to the head.
I was afraid that a positive diagnosis would mean the end of my "normal" life, I wanted to push it under the rug, but the truth was that my normal life was consumed with anxiety, I was becoming a shadow. If you have it, you have it- you review the options, you do your thing, and you live.
Thanks to the age of the internet, you can always find someone out there to put a hand on your shoulder, no matter how alone you feel- there are so many resources like this one out there.
So, the lessons here are- always wear a condom, use clean needles AND clean works (go to the sink and get another f__ing spoon and don't let anyone try to act all offended) and GET TESTED.
COMMUNITY LEADER
The only situation in which a condom protected sex carries exposure risk, is its failure, because when the condom fails, crown of the penis is exposed. The test is advised in a situation when condom breaks. There is no risk is its unrolling, contact of female vaginal secretions with intact skin or even urethra.
Condoms made of Latex and all other synthetic materials are safe and provide 100% protection against HIV and other STD's
Condoms made of Latex and all other synthetic materials are safe and provide 100% protection against HIV and other STD's
Teak- Thanks for the vote of confidence, but is it really that dogmatically simple? How about the vaginal secretions exposure risk during sex and/or condom removal? Also, you've written to others about the effects of stress related to potential hiv status- how do you deal with stress? what are some of its effects?
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