Should I be tested?

Hi Doctor,

Over the summer I had sex with two different females.  One was unprotected and the second was protected.  At three months after the unprotected encounter (8 weeks after the protected), I got a HIV test and the results were negative.  

More recently, I performed oral sex on a female about 8 days ago.  The reason I am concerned is that today after lunch I noticed a couple of white spots (2-3mm in diameter) on my gums.  They were not painful to scratch off, and the area is not sore, but kind of tender now, and the spots were not food.  I know that leukoplakia and thrush are symptoms of HIV, but I am not sure if these spots were either of the two.    

I am wondering what are my risks and if I should be tested.  Any help will be much appreciated.  

Thank you.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Your risk is low for several reasons.
1.  Oral sex is a vanishingly rare route for HIV acquisition.  A single exposure makes it even less likely.
2.  Thrush and leukoplakia are signs of advanced, not recently acquired HIV.  I will not venture as to what the lesions you noted were but they were not HIV related.

Based on what you have told me, there is little to be gained by an HIV test.  If you choose to have one, do it once at about six weeks following exposure and get this issue behind you.
EWH

[ping792]

DR.

I know it has been awhile since my last post, but I do appreciate your comments.  I went to the dentist to see what the spots on my gums were and he said they were nothing to worry about.  

I know the test three months after the uprotected sex episode and eight weeks after the protected are considered conclusive.  For some reason, I am still worried about the unprotected oral sex that I performed on the female (for only 5-10 seconds) about 30 days ago.  I took a Home Access Test today, and I will receive the results to those soon.  

I apologize for adding more posts to this forum, but I just can't seem to shake these thoughts.  I would appreciate any words of advice.  Thank you for your time and consideration.

[ping792]

Anyone...?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Dr. Hook is away from the forum for a few days.  Your continued worry is unjustified, for the reasons he explained.  If you want input from other forum users, take it to the HIV support forum forum.  This thread is over.