HIV risks

I have a recent visit to Indonesia where I have unprotected oral sex and protected vaginal sex with 3 prostitutes. The dates were 6th and 11th of September. In the first incident which happened on the 6th Sep, I asked the prostitute to brush before giving me a blow-job and later through differnt forum realized that was a mistake. On the 11th Sep, before startig the prostitute knee got a cut from my ail and there was some blood. But she just pushed the sore and it got fine, she gave me a blow job and then we have protected sex. On 2nd October, I got terrified and tested for HIV which came negative, then Again I tested for HIV on the 6th Oct which again came negative. I have been under a lot of stress because of this. Around 9th October, I developed mild sore throat which continued for more than 2 weeks. At the same time I had indigestion and watery bowels may be because I was travelling too much. I am totally streesed now and am waiting to be tested again. What are the chances of me having HIV infection.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

On one hand, you had some high risk exposures; HIV is quite common in at least some Indonesian sex workers.  On the other hand, congratulations for being wise enough to have safe sex.  Condoms work and oral sex carries little or no risk for HIV.

The rates of HIV are high among some Indonesian commercial sex workers; I just saw a report of 5% (1 in 20) being positive.  But that means it is most likely your partners did not have HIV.  And as I said, condoms work and oral sex really isn't an important concern with respect to HIV transmission.  Finally, a negative HIV test 3-4 weeks after exposure is reassuring; most newly infected people, but not all, would have positive results by that time.  To be maximally certain, you also should be tested 6-8 weeks after the last exposure, i.e. around the second week of November.  You can expect negative results.

Your symptoms are meaningless.  Even when HIV symptoms are classical (which yours are not), the identical symptoms are caused much more often by minor illnesses of various sorts.  But your symptoms don't sound like HIV anyway, and they came on too late; HIV symptoms generally start 1-2 weeks after catching the virus.

Bottom line :  "totally stressed" is an overreaction.  It is very unlikely you caught HIV.  But have another test in about 2 weeks to be even more certain.

Regards--  HHH, MD

[terrified237]

Doctor, I want to also tell that I also have slight pain behing my right year in the last few days and some headache because of that, my neck has stiff muscles may be because of the stress I am going through. Is 4 week negative reassuring enough. Also since my nail cut the prostitute knee and there was some blood and then she gave me oral sex, I am very worried. I only had insertive oral sex which was unprotected and nothing else. Also since there was too much pre cum coming out of my penis, the prostitute was cleaning my penis with a wet towel after every few minutes. Would that be good or bad

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

No vaginal sex?  Only insertive oral with condom protection?  If so, there was simply no HIV risk; your symptoms cannot possibly be due to HIV from that event (and they still don't sound like HIV anyway); you do not need testing.  (And how could wiping with a towel make any difference???)

That will be all on this thread, unless I am still misunderstanding the nature of the exposure.  Take care and stop worrying about this.

[terrified237]

I think you misunderstood my comments, I was saying only insertive oral sex without condom, does your response change now

[terrified237]

I was asking the towel question becuase I was thinking may be the virus could have wiped out because of that. Also my anxisty has come form the fact that i asked the prostitute to brush her teeth before performing oral. Also I am having headache around my neck and temple area and that is increasing my anxiety further. I have lost some appetite and am not sleeping well. Kindly respond...

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Sorry I misuderstood:  UN protected oral.  But still no measurable risk for HIV.  But go ahead and get tested for peace of mind.  "Headache around my neck and temple area" does not even hint at HIV.  Same for "lost some appetite and am not sleeping well" which most likely are simply due to your anxieties about all this.

You came to the forum for reassurance.  I gave it.  Accept it or not, I don't care, but please don't argue with it.

This thread is over.  I won't have any further comments.