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Read before asking HHH
I have noticed that the majority of people on this forum are ones with low to zero risk exposures who feel guilty about their sexual endeavors and come to MedHelp looking for advice. I figure I should take the time to comment on some common issues brought to this forum. I'll admit I am not a doctor but I have read through thousands upon thousands of forum responses on this site and thebody.com after my potential exposure and feel I have become pretty knowledgeable with regard to HIV.
With regard to sexual activity, HIV can only be transmitted through unprotected vaginal or anal sex, and very rarely through unprotected oral sex if you are the one PERFORMING on an HIV positive male. It cannot be transmitted through latex condom protected sex of any kind assuming the latex remains in tact. HIV is not transmitted through saliva unless there is blood in the saliva, which is a rare occurrence. Furthermore, HIV cannot permeate in tact skin. This includes cuts, unless the wounds are fresh and still bleeding.
I'd say close to 90% of the people on this forum have no risk of HIV infection. If HIV could be transmitted as easily as some of these people think, the virus would be a lot more prominent than it actually is.
With regard to sexual activity, be smart and be safe. But equally as important, be reasonable. Don't think you need to go out for testing after every riskless sexual encounter. Sex of all kinds is supposed to be enjoyable. It shouldn't be about causing irrational HIV fear. If you have put yourself at risk, you do need testing out to 3 months. If you have not put yourself at risk, but are feeling worried or guilty, you do not need testing and do not need to be frequenting these forums. You need to seek counseling and/or get over your irrational fears and move on with life!
With regard to sexual activity, HIV can only be transmitted through unprotected vaginal or anal sex, and very rarely through unprotected oral sex if you are the one PERFORMING on an HIV positive male. It cannot be transmitted through latex condom protected sex of any kind assuming the latex remains in tact. HIV is not transmitted through saliva unless there is blood in the saliva, which is a rare occurrence. Furthermore, HIV cannot permeate in tact skin. This includes cuts, unless the wounds are fresh and still bleeding.
I'd say close to 90% of the people on this forum have no risk of HIV infection. If HIV could be transmitted as easily as some of these people think, the virus would be a lot more prominent than it actually is.
With regard to sexual activity, be smart and be safe. But equally as important, be reasonable. Don't think you need to go out for testing after every riskless sexual encounter. Sex of all kinds is supposed to be enjoyable. It shouldn't be about causing irrational HIV fear. If you have put yourself at risk, you do need testing out to 3 months. If you have not put yourself at risk, but are feeling worried or guilty, you do not need testing and do not need to be frequenting these forums. You need to seek counseling and/or get over your irrational fears and move on with life!
Also, please educate yourself on Updated and Accurate HIV transmission information BEFORE contributing to this forum in an advisory capacity. You would be helped greatly by ASKING questions BEFORE attempting to counsel .
-Regards-
-Regards-
allthe,
I have read your post, and although I agree that the majority of people who post on this forum have been in 'no risk' situations, all they are seeking is some direct reassurance about their predicament after no doubt finding conflicting information on the subject elsewhere like I have. Surely that is what this forum is for, to offer help and advice to those in need without prejudice?
I believe your motive for this particular post is probably altruistic ( I have not looked at any of your other posts), however having fully digested the content of your post I wish to make the following comments.
"With regard to sexual activity, HIV can only be transmitted through unprotected vaginal or anal sex, and very rarely through unprotected oral sex if you are the one PERFORMING on an HIV positive male.....HIV is not transmitted through saliva unless there is blood in the saliva, which is a rare occurrence. Furthermore, HIV cannot permeate in tact skin. This includes cuts, unless the wounds are fresh and still bleeding."
As you mention blood in saliva I am unable to think of why you would include this unless you were referring to it within the context of sexual activity eg. french kissing or oral sex. It would suggest to me therefore that with blood in the saliva there would be a risk for the person having oral sex performed on them, be it low, which contradicts your first statement about the modes of sexual transmission of HIV?? I am aware that there has not been one documented case of a person being infected through RECEIVING fellatio but that does not mean it is impossible.
Furthermore, this post confuses those whose anxiety is caused by non-penetrative situations such as mutual masturbation. You state the virus "CAN ONLY" be transmitted through Vaginal/anal/oral sex. You then go onto state that the virus can permeate non-intact skin. Mutual masturbation with semen on an open sore (which is my predicament) is a sexual activity therefore carries some risk!
In brief, you appear to have added this post but then generalise and contradict yourself within it. If you are going to post on this forum, in light of the very nature why people visit it, I would suggest that you think carefully about what facts or opinions you choose to include in your post as their effectiveness may be the opposite of what you intended it to be.
I have read your post, and although I agree that the majority of people who post on this forum have been in 'no risk' situations, all they are seeking is some direct reassurance about their predicament after no doubt finding conflicting information on the subject elsewhere like I have. Surely that is what this forum is for, to offer help and advice to those in need without prejudice?
I believe your motive for this particular post is probably altruistic ( I have not looked at any of your other posts), however having fully digested the content of your post I wish to make the following comments.
"With regard to sexual activity, HIV can only be transmitted through unprotected vaginal or anal sex, and very rarely through unprotected oral sex if you are the one PERFORMING on an HIV positive male.....HIV is not transmitted through saliva unless there is blood in the saliva, which is a rare occurrence. Furthermore, HIV cannot permeate in tact skin. This includes cuts, unless the wounds are fresh and still bleeding."
As you mention blood in saliva I am unable to think of why you would include this unless you were referring to it within the context of sexual activity eg. french kissing or oral sex. It would suggest to me therefore that with blood in the saliva there would be a risk for the person having oral sex performed on them, be it low, which contradicts your first statement about the modes of sexual transmission of HIV?? I am aware that there has not been one documented case of a person being infected through RECEIVING fellatio but that does not mean it is impossible.
Furthermore, this post confuses those whose anxiety is caused by non-penetrative situations such as mutual masturbation. You state the virus "CAN ONLY" be transmitted through Vaginal/anal/oral sex. You then go onto state that the virus can permeate non-intact skin. Mutual masturbation with semen on an open sore (which is my predicament) is a sexual activity therefore carries some risk!
In brief, you appear to have added this post but then generalise and contradict yourself within it. If you are going to post on this forum, in light of the very nature why people visit it, I would suggest that you think carefully about what facts or opinions you choose to include in your post as their effectiveness may be the opposite of what you intended it to be.
well i always feared HIV/AIDS because two of my cousins and a family friend died of it and they were all in their 20's and 30's.. seeing them die was not good so after I have sex Im ready to go to the doctor due to the fear that I have it.... they all got it from having sex... thats scary
we will go crazy waiting until 3 months thats a long time and people have symptoms that we gave ourselves due to anxiety
you don't think there is any reliability in a 3 week DUO - anitibody + p24 antigen?
"75% of people will test positive by 17-20 days after acquiring HIV. And the average person will seroconvert by 10-14 days. "
Gordon, did you pull these stats from some where? I heard average seroconversion was 22 days. Just curious as to your data. I am waiting on a 3 week test and am curious to my percentages when it hopefully comes back negative. I'm pretty stressed right now.
Gordon, did you pull these stats from some where? I heard average seroconversion was 22 days. Just curious as to your data. I am waiting on a 3 week test and am curious to my percentages when it hopefully comes back negative. I'm pretty stressed right now.
"Secondly, take a test of hiv duo (ie vidas hiv duo) in 28 th day. If it is negative there is a chance of 1% you are hiv+."
It's not even close to that. There is maybe a 1% chance that HIV antibodies haven't shown up, but you have to combine that 1% with the original odds of getting HIV to begin with. For example, if you have a one-time encounter with a person of the opposite sex, the likelyhood of you getting HIV from them is something like 1:200, 000. If you test negative at four weeks, you have to multiply the 1% which means something like there is a 0.00000005% chance you have HIV. Which is basically nothing and certainly nowhere near 1%. Even the 'bottoms" during unprotected gay sex with a positive male have less than a 1% chance of acquiring HIV. 0.5% roughly.
It's not even close to that. There is maybe a 1% chance that HIV antibodies haven't shown up, but you have to combine that 1% with the original odds of getting HIV to begin with. For example, if you have a one-time encounter with a person of the opposite sex, the likelyhood of you getting HIV from them is something like 1:200, 000. If you test negative at four weeks, you have to multiply the 1% which means something like there is a 0.00000005% chance you have HIV. Which is basically nothing and certainly nowhere near 1%. Even the 'bottoms" during unprotected gay sex with a positive male have less than a 1% chance of acquiring HIV. 0.5% roughly.
Absolutely.
But, while a single minute does not pass for anxious people, 2 weeks seems like 2 years.
So, to relax, people take hiv duo test.
Duo tests are 4th generation tests.
I am almost sure that, a doctor, whose relative is under risk, will not recommend another test after duo test. But, they have to think all possibilities. That is why they insist on 3 months tests. This is my opinion.
But, while a single minute does not pass for anxious people, 2 weeks seems like 2 years.
So, to relax, people take hiv duo test.
Duo tests are 4th generation tests.
I am almost sure that, a doctor, whose relative is under risk, will not recommend another test after duo test. But, they have to think all possibilities. That is why they insist on 3 months tests. This is my opinion.
What is the different if you just skip the hiv duo and go on with 6 weeks antibody (elisa)
Anyway it will be the same result at the end
Anyway it will be the same result at the end
Of course.
Hiv duo test looks antibody and antigen at the same time.
Search Vidas Hiv Duo test in google. It is the best duo test as far as I know.
Read forum on www.freedomhealth.co.uk
Hiv duo test looks antibody and antigen at the same time.
Search Vidas Hiv Duo test in google. It is the best duo test as far as I know.
Read forum on www.freedomhealth.co.uk
Very good post. Thank you.
Moreover, we should think broader. Think porn sector or prostitutes or shemales etc. This people are 10000 times in danger than me. They should feel anxiety not me.
We are human not robot. We can make mistakes such as cheating girl friend or wife. Sexuality is something you can not refuse sometimes. For instance, I am not gay but I was wondering gay relationship and made sex with a gay without protection. Here was the mistake; not a sex with gay but only unprotected sex. Do not feel guilty. Life is not so rational. We made mistakes and will make mistakes in future. Life teaches sometimes with samples. All of us learnt something about protection. Right?
Know that, no one in this forum (maybe thousands of people) is hiv+.
Another point, the question is that: how can I wait 3 months, this is killing me...
Ok, now, I recommend this:
Firstly relax. You are not alone. There are millions of people who are waiting.
Secondly, take a test of hiv duo (ie vidas hiv duo) in 28 th day. If it is negative there is a chance of 1% you are hiv+.
Thirdly, take an antibody test in 6th week. If it is negative, then you are virtually %100 negative. Know that, if you are positive after 6 weeks you will be famous because they will publish your case! 200 doctors have never seen positivity after 6 weeks.
Then, taking test after 3 months of exposure depends on you. Be sure, you are negative.
Moreover, we should think broader. Think porn sector or prostitutes or shemales etc. This people are 10000 times in danger than me. They should feel anxiety not me.
We are human not robot. We can make mistakes such as cheating girl friend or wife. Sexuality is something you can not refuse sometimes. For instance, I am not gay but I was wondering gay relationship and made sex with a gay without protection. Here was the mistake; not a sex with gay but only unprotected sex. Do not feel guilty. Life is not so rational. We made mistakes and will make mistakes in future. Life teaches sometimes with samples. All of us learnt something about protection. Right?
Know that, no one in this forum (maybe thousands of people) is hiv+.
Another point, the question is that: how can I wait 3 months, this is killing me...
Ok, now, I recommend this:
Firstly relax. You are not alone. There are millions of people who are waiting.
Secondly, take a test of hiv duo (ie vidas hiv duo) in 28 th day. If it is negative there is a chance of 1% you are hiv+.
Thirdly, take an antibody test in 6th week. If it is negative, then you are virtually %100 negative. Know that, if you are positive after 6 weeks you will be famous because they will publish your case! 200 doctors have never seen positivity after 6 weeks.
Then, taking test after 3 months of exposure depends on you. Be sure, you are negative.
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