Gosh! Ehealthforum - High Risk Assessment of my case!!!

[ainxtein]

http://ehealthforum.com/health/topic84626.html

Look I posted essentially the same thing on ehealth forum, but received the reply that:

"Yes, it is risky. Every sexual encounter is a risk, but if you know for sure a partner of yours did in fact have hiv, then yes, you are at more of a risk. Condoms are effective, but not 100% effective. The only way you will know for sure is to get tested."

Suddenly turns me into panic!

[strata]

ainxtein,

Get a grip.

The word 'risky' is very relative. Some people, including some on this forum, don't like to QUANTIFY the risk (e.g., 1/xxx chance of transmission). Some people prefer to QUALIFY the risk (e.g., either "YES, there was a risk", or "NO, there was NOT a risk").

For example, conservative social groups prefer to qualify the risk because they're interested in promoting abstinence, and ANY sexual activity, protected or not, carries an inherent level of risk.

QUALIFICATION: In your case, was there a risk from the exposure you describe? Yes.

QUANTIFICATION: How large is the risk that you are now HIV-infected? Extraordinarily small, EVEN IF we assume you had completely unprotected sex. This risk is even smaller now that you've been tested for HIV to exclude pre-existing infection. At most, the chance is now one is several thousands, probably less than the chance that you'll be struck by lightning, which, for PRACTICAL purposes, most people would consider to be zero.

The NET-NET: Get tested at 6 weeks and 3 months using a simple antibody test. A 6-week negative result will be extremely indicative of your negative status and can be considered conclusive for practical purposes. A 3-month negative result is considered conclusive by virtually all medical authorities on HIV.

[ainxtein]

Thanks! I am afraid that I will be the unluckiest man in the world that was hit by the lightening of HIV. hoho.