Low Risk or Not?

I recently had an encounter with a male friend (I'm female). He was only inside me (unprotected) for a couple of mins before we both decided it wasn't what we really wanted and he withdrew...he didn't come. We're both early 30s hetro and none drug users.

I've never had unprotected sex before but I think he has and has had about 12 partners.

Are my risks of exposure low? Should I get tested anyway? How about for STIs ?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Your risk of infection is very, very low.  Very, very few heterosexual men in the US are HIV infected and, even if he was, your chance of getting infected from a single encounter is very low (less than 1 transmission in 1000 exposures, IF the partner had HIV).   On the other hand, you have had unprotected sex, thus you do qualify for STD/HIV screening, that is (testing in the absence of symptoms) because you have had an unprotected partner.  As a matter of personal protection, we recommend annual testing for anyone who has had a new or two or more sex partners in the past year (we consider this to be health maintenance- we also recommend you get your blood pressure and cholesterol checked regularly).   I am confident that your tests will be negative but it is a good idea for the reasons I mentioned.

Hope this helps.  EWH