Sore throat after risky sexual intercourse

[vila89]

Hi
I am a 22 year old male suffering from sore throat / pharyngitis 10 days after having vaginal intercourse with a commercial sex worker . I used a condom , but there was breakage . And now I have this sore throat and nasal congestion being the only  symptoms as of now . I am worried of it might being Acute Retroviral Syndrome . Should I go for HIV testing ? Please reflect on my situation and provide an explanation / solution .

I shall be obliged
Thanking you.

Anonymous

[Teak]

PCR-RNA test is a supplemental test used in conjunction with an antibody test.

[bigboss123]

You can do as RainLover71 advised.

But the main thing is you will really have to wate intill your 3 month window is up. Just to put this to rest. So do not stress. Very good chance you are worried over nothing.

[vila89]

Thanks a lot for your input .
There is one more thing  though , I didnt realize it then but she told me afterwards that she was menstruating . I know HIV spreads from body fluids including cervical secretions and blood , but is transcutaneous infection (via intact skin) a possibility . As far as I am concerned I didnt have any 'open skin' , wounds etc. at the time and the period of unprotected contact must have been more or less 10 seconds , because the first thing I did after the 'break' was to wash my penis thoroughly .
Do the above facts increase my chances of contracting HIV ?

How specific are RNA PCR tests(which can be done anytime after 'contact' ) ?
The 3 month test is ELISA , and I really dont want to wait that long .

In the meantime is there anything I can do ?

[RainLover71]

The RNA by PCR is excellent for early detection--please refer to the doctors expert forum--or a DUO at 4 weeks & an antibody test at 3 months.

[vila89]

Thanks a lot for your input .
There is one more thing  though , I didnt realize it then but she told me afterwards that she was menstruating . I know HIV spreads from body fluids including cervical secretions and blood , but is transcutaneous infection (via intact skin) a possibility . As far as I am concerned I didnt have any 'open skin' , wounds etc. at the time and the period of unprotected contact must have been more or less 10 seconds , because the first thing I did after the 'break' was to wash my penis thoroughly .
Do the above facts increase my chances of contracting HIV ?

How specific are RNA PCR tests(which can be done anytime after 'contact' ) ?
The 3 month test is ELISA , and I really dont want to wait that long .

In the meantime is there anything I can do ?

[bigboss123]

Sorry Teak I did not meen it that way. I ment it the way rainlover said.

So to all the people who are infected with HIV I truely appologize. For the term clean. I really ment to say not infected.

Teak hope you accept my appology.

[Teak]

Then he needs to quit using CLEAN. Use not infected. And having lived with HIV for 28 years I know what the word CLEAN means.

[RainLover71]

You're not understanding what he was trying to say,it's like an IV drug user that stops using or an alcoholic that stops drinking--they use the term,they are clean from their vice.

[Teak]

It's offensive to people that are HIV positive. It insinuates that people that are positive are dirty.  

[RainLover71]

clean meaning HIV free is what he is saying.

[Teak]

CLEAN?

[bigboss123]

If your condom broke you will have to test after your 3 month window. As for your symptoms. Anxiety over HIV most the time has a lot to do with that.
Do not stress over it too much. Most sex workers use condoms for a reason. To protect them selfs. There for most are clean. But get tested in 3 months just to be sure.

[Teak]

Symptoms or lack of will never tell you anything about your status. The only way to know your status is by testing. 3 months post exposure is when you can obtain your conclusive test result.