HIV Risk

[MohsenAmmar]

Hello,
14  days ago, I had protected sex with a sex worker duraing a trip in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The worker was from Indonesia, we were changing positions and I noticed that the condom broke, I immediately took it out, abstained from further sex washed my penis with soap and checked it for visible blood, none was found and no blood was on the condom either. My penis skin was red, I guess due to sex. I asked her if she has HIV she said no,  I asked her when was the last time she was tested she said one week back.

I panicked and 13 hours later I was at a clinic where I received PEP (Tenvir which is the same as Truvada and Isentress). The doctor told me to take Tenvir once a day for 30 days and Isentress twice a day for 30 days, I want to know what is my risk of exposure to HIV, and did my risk require PEP? Does PEP lower my risk to 0? Do I need to finish my PEP treatment?

I had no symptoms except for some fatigue, I guess from PEP and one night my shirt and bed cover on my shoulder was a bit damp, not soaked at all and with no fever accompanied, it could have been the hot weather since I had my AC not at a very cool temperature (24 degrees). Is that incident of nightsweat an ARS symptom of HIV? I read online that it has to be accompanied with fever to be so.

Today is my 15th day, I dont know when is the first time to be able to be tested (maybe PCR test?), I have been taking my PEP medications on time.

In m country the temperature goes above 30 degrees, I noticed that the PEP medicine instructs to store below 30 degrees, can I keep them in the fridge?

[MohsenAmmar]

Thanks for your reply, can you tell me does PEP reduce my risk significantly as well?
I read that PEP is not 100% effective, have you heard cases where people contracted HIV from a single incident although they were on PEP?

When is the earliest time can I have the antibody duo test or PCR RNA test?

[diver58]

Condoms provide 100% protection against HIV and other STD's, however this assurance remains valid until the protection remains intact. Once it is failed, a totally protected sex turns otherwise in a blink of an eye,,, and remember, condom do fail. Mostly the failures occur sue to incorrect use of condom, therefore, consistent and correct use is the key for real protection.

Coming back to your situation, Your risk of contracting HIV from a single incident is not significant,,, There is a very strong possibility that she may not be infected (CSW's are more careful than us due to their frequency of exposures). Therefore your estimated risk comes down significantly, however it is not zero either. Risk is said to be significant when your partner is a confirmed HIV+.

Since you have started PEP under a medical advice, please continue it as you were told and get yourself tested after 4 weeks of completion of your treatment course. You may go for PCR RNA or HIV Duo (Antibody+Antigen)

Do not pay attention towards symptoms, they do not mean much and often confusing and misleading, just believe in the test report.

You may keep your medicines in refrigerator at a moderately cool temperature but not in the freezer compartment. All the best