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Female gave Male fellatio w/ no ejaculation BUT pre-***
Hello! Hopefully Dr. Edward Hook and/or Dr. Hunter Handsfield can help to ease my mind, as my life has been a living hell since January 31, 2009. On that day, I gave a man ( I am a woman), fellatio for about 10-15 minutes, with no ejaculation, but exposure to pre-*** in the amount of the size of a pea. Also, his penis hit the back of my throat vigorously a few times. He tested negative February 9, but he could have been in his own window period, because I have no idea who he has sexual relations with and when. He could very well have been infected himself. And if he was recently infected, but hasn't converted yet, wouldn't the pre-*** be more infectious? I have been a nervous wreck ever since, had diarrhea for weeks, but I was also on an antibiotic for a sore throat, but I RARELY get diarrhea. But I also had never been on Clarithromycin before, so I can't be so sure. I DO get loose bowels from nerves, but not exactly diarrhea, but since this is the scare of my life, I possibly could have it from nerves. Besides the initial sore throat, which occured 3 days after the exposure, most of my symptoms have been severe stomach upset and diarrhea/loose stools. The highest my temperature has gotten would be about 99.5, but that also could be because my thyroid medication was adjusted higher (or maybe I'm making excuses for myself). Anyway, I tested myself at 39 days and 47 days (5.5 weeks and 6.5 weeks) with Home Access Express and they are both negative so far. I will re-test at 8 and 12 weeks. Doctor, can you tell me your feelings on this, and what you assess my risk to be? I respect both of you and your knowledge of HIV....thank you.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
First, Dr. Hook and I answer questions interchangably and generally do not participate in each other's threads. We have worked together very closely both personally and professionally for 3 decades and essentially never disagree with one another.
Although sore throat can occur with HIV, it is usually not a prominent symptom and virtually never the only one. Early HIV infection does not usually cause either upset stomach or diarrhea. Absence of fever is strong evidence against HIV. On the other hand, every one of those symptoms is regularly caused by all sorts of minor, garden variety viruses.
It doesn't matter whether or not I have personally seen a case of someone with HIV seroconversion delayed more than 6 weeks. I have not, but it happens -- although it is very rare.
Trust me, you did not catch HIV. From a medical or risk assessment perspective, you did not need testing at all. If you decide to be tested again, it will again be negative.
That's all for this thread. Please re-read my original reply and concentrate on it. Believe it. Accept the reassurance you have been given and move on.
Although sore throat can occur with HIV, it is usually not a prominent symptom and virtually never the only one. Early HIV infection does not usually cause either upset stomach or diarrhea. Absence of fever is strong evidence against HIV. On the other hand, every one of those symptoms is regularly caused by all sorts of minor, garden variety viruses.
It doesn't matter whether or not I have personally seen a case of someone with HIV seroconversion delayed more than 6 weeks. I have not, but it happens -- although it is very rare.
Trust me, you did not catch HIV. From a medical or risk assessment perspective, you did not need testing at all. If you decide to be tested again, it will again be negative.
That's all for this thread. Please re-read my original reply and concentrate on it. Believe it. Accept the reassurance you have been given and move on.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum. I'll try to help. The bottom line is that your risk for HIV from this incident is low and your symptoms don't suggest a new HIV infection.
You don't say anything about your partner's HIV risks, but if he is American, strictly heterosexual, not an injection drug user, and has never been incarcerated, the chance he had HIV is nearly zero. That he has been tested and negative also is reassuring (Although you have made comments on the HIV community forum that are skeptical when people say they are HIV negative, in fact most people do not intentionally lie when directly asked.) Sure he could have been in the incubation period since last tested, but it's also possible I will be hit by lightning tomorrow. The odds probably are similar.
And if he had HIV, the average risk of transmission by fellatio -- from the penile to the oral partner -- has been calculated at around once for every 10,000 exposures. That's equivalent to giving a ** once a day to HIV infected men for 27 years and maybe never catching HIV.
As an apparently frequent reader of threads on this forum, you undoubtedly have seen many discussions about the fact that symptoms are generally meaningless in judging whether or not someone has a new HIV infection. In any case, your symptoms do not sound suspicious for HIV.
Finally, a negative test 6 weeks after exposure is around 95-98% reliable evidence against a new HIV infection. Combining all the odds, the chance you caught HIV is probably no higher than one in a billion. Truly no risk. You don't need any more HIV testing on account of the exposure you describe.
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
You don't say anything about your partner's HIV risks, but if he is American, strictly heterosexual, not an injection drug user, and has never been incarcerated, the chance he had HIV is nearly zero. That he has been tested and negative also is reassuring (Although you have made comments on the HIV community forum that are skeptical when people say they are HIV negative, in fact most people do not intentionally lie when directly asked.) Sure he could have been in the incubation period since last tested, but it's also possible I will be hit by lightning tomorrow. The odds probably are similar.
And if he had HIV, the average risk of transmission by fellatio -- from the penile to the oral partner -- has been calculated at around once for every 10,000 exposures. That's equivalent to giving a ** once a day to HIV infected men for 27 years and maybe never catching HIV.
As an apparently frequent reader of threads on this forum, you undoubtedly have seen many discussions about the fact that symptoms are generally meaningless in judging whether or not someone has a new HIV infection. In any case, your symptoms do not sound suspicious for HIV.
Finally, a negative test 6 weeks after exposure is around 95-98% reliable evidence against a new HIV infection. Combining all the odds, the chance you caught HIV is probably no higher than one in a billion. Truly no risk. You don't need any more HIV testing on account of the exposure you describe.
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
Also Doctor, if I can compensate you for the extra questions, please let me know how I can do so.....thanks again....
Thank you Doctor!
Yes, Doctor, I know symptoms don't mean much, I just thought I would mention mine. I know that you suggest no further testing. But I am the worst worrywart in the world, and, if only for emotional reasons, I will retest once or twice more. This has nothing to do with your wonderful advice. Anyway, doctor, have you ever seen a 6.5 week negative turn into a positive? Do you think mine will remain negative? Thank you, and I will not continue to bombard you with questions.....thanks again.
Yes, he is a caucasian American heterosexual, non-drug injecting male. Don't know if he's ever been incarcerated. Can Dr. Hook also answer the thread, or is that not allowed? Thank you.
Never had swollen glands yet, and it is now 7 weeks....
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