Risk

[jordanflorida]

Hi Doctor.

I am a gay male.  38 yrs old.  I was involved in a group sex session.  I have never done this before.  There was no anal sex, just oral sex.  I was sucked by several guy. and kissed a guy too.  When i kissed the guy, I tasted blood.  The blood came from me, as my lips were chapped.  I stopped kissing right away.  My concern is one guy inserted his penis in my mouth, just for a very few seconds.  I didnt taste precum or anything like that.  

My question is what kind of risk is there, since i did have chapped lips and could taste my own blood, and have this guy putting his penis in my mouth.  I asked him after and he told me he was def. hiv neg. This was the only penis I had in my mouth,
what about kissing with chapped lips.
I had an hiv test 3 weeks after the event.  what would a 3 week rapid test tell me?
Do I need to be concerned about other guys preforming oral on me?
Should I have a test at 6 weeks?
Thanks

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

HIV can be acquired by oral sex and the risk might be higher in the presence of blood or breaks in the skin or oral tissues.  However, the numerical risk still is tiny for any particular exosure, probably no more than 1 chance in 1000 or so, even if your partner had HIV; and since he almost wasn't infected, your actual risk was too low to measure.  Transmission from mouth/throat to penis probably doesn't occur, or so rarely as to be disregarded (no more often than 1 in 10,000 exposures).

In newly infected people, a standard antibody test at 3 weeks has about a 50:50 chance of being positive, so a negative result would be somewhat reassruing.  But if you remain nervous, have a 6 week test.

As you apparently know, group sex with multiple gay men is a very high risk activity in general. If you limit your exposures the way you did this time, you're probably OK.  But consider joining groups only if every participant is willing to state unequivocally they have been tested and negative for HIV within the preceding couple of weeks; lay off anal sex entirely; and have condoms handy in case judgment (about anal sex) fails in the heat of passion.  Or just lay off the group sex entirely.

Good luck-- HHH, MD

[anxious7]

The only Real Risk was the oral sex that Jordadflorida performed on the other guy(the penis in Jordan's mouth) not the oral sex performed on him by the other guys.

Am I correct in stating that?

[jordanflorida]

Dr.  will a test at 6 weeks pretty much put me in the clear?  In your professional opinion, would you advise me to test over this specific event.  Thanks.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I do not make specific recommendation.  Most people anxious enough to come to this forum and even ask the question probably need testing for peace of mind.  If that applies to you, get tested.  It's your choice.

HHH, MD

[cholny29]

Sorry but in the docs first response he said he is evaluating the risk at 1 in 1000; is  that a typo? From receptive oral sex I was thinking near 1 in 10,000 even with scrapes in mouth I didn't think it was 1 in 1000.  Could someone please clarify, as I may have misunderstood. Thank you!