unprotected oral. (HIV) scared out of my mind

[prayingandhopinginsd]

Hello Doctor,

Im a married 30 man who about five weeks ago did something i regret terribly. I had oral sex with another man (Give and received unprotected.) He did not ejaculate in my mouth. I have been tested for all stds at 3 weeks came back negative. About a week ago I started getting a very dry sore throat and went to a local clinic. They said its looks like just a cold and but me on paxil for the anxiety Im suffering from and tested me for  HIV again it came back negative but this was only 31 days from possible exposure and the clinic said it takes tree months before antibody's show up. They recommended I take a early test to ease my anxiety so I went and took a early test yesterday that checks for the virus rather than the antibody's but results take two weeks. There they said Im at risk but low and should read about antiviral meds. This has made me feel insane, I have not been able to eat and i feel so mush fear.

My Question is what is the risk/changes I have contracted HIV? How accurate is the test i took at 31 days? I did ask this man if he was/is clean he is stating yes but Im still paranoid.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to our Forum. there is virtually no risk of HIV from this exposure.  It is statistically unlikely that your partner had HIV.  Even if he did, the quoted figure for HIV risk, if one has oral sex with an infected partner is less than 1 in 10,000 and, in my estimation that is too high. Some experts state there is no risk at all from oral sex.  Neither of us on this site have ever seen or reading the medical literature of a convincing instance in which HIV was passed by oral sex and we have looked.  In general we do not even recommend testing following exposures such as yours.    

Your test results tend to confirm what I've just said.  At 4 weeks following exposure over 90% of persons who acquired HIV would have positive tests.  Further, if you choose to have additional testing, I think the advice you were given was a bit out of date and overly conservative.  Virtually all HIV is detectable with current tests at 8 weeks following exposure.

Finally, your symptoms are non-specific. Far better to believe your test results than the symptoms

bottom line. You really are not at risk for HIV and have nothing to worry about.  I hope you find my comments helpful.  EWH

[Edward W Hook, MD]

the information you received is incorrect.  A sore in your mouth would not change your risk which is essentially negligible.

There are many, many other illnesses which can cause the sorts of symptoms you describe including all of the usual community acquired, non-STD viruses that are much more common than HIV.  Don't worry.  EWH

[prayingandhopinginsd]

Thank you doctor your comments are helpful. At the early test clinic they said if I had a cut or sores in my mouth it mean Id be at higher risk of infected. I not sure but I think I did have a cut from food or flossing. Would this change my changes? Also when you said "symptoms are non-specific"
I had the soar throat for 6 days and have been very tired. Are they not specific to HIV? I'm hoping it's from the anxiety and not getting good rest. Its been invading my dreams and every second I'm awake.

Thank you again Dr.