Aa
Thank god for Statistics
"Today the use of statistics has broadened far beyond its origins as a service to a state or government. Individuals and organizations use statistics to understand data and make informed decisions throughout the natural and social sciences, medicine, business, and other areas."
Ok, that being said, I don't think we should say that odds or statistics are meaningless regarding HIV as some mentioned. How do you think they came up with the 3 month mark for HIV testing? I'm sure it was based on something, right? Research, statistics, etc...
If doctor HHH and Dr. Bob too often use statistics, why should we questioned people that know what they are talking about? Are the statistics wrong? How do you know??? Has anybody here done any real professional research? I am not talking about personal, non-professional research or experience.
Thank God for statistics, they let us know so many things. In this specific case, thinks like how many people are infected today, routes of transmission, and a lot more than that. Research, statistics, surveillance help provide a better understanding of the HIV epidemic and better ways to treat an prevent it.
About people using statistics and odds to back up their high risk behavior, I think just a brainless person would do such thing. Personally, I think that nobody should relay exclusively on statistics regarding their HIV status, but on the other hand statistics also can help one's understand better their risks and probability of being infected.
There is other thing that Mike said in previous thread that I want to reinforce. Let's be nice with one another. Many people here come for anxiety relief and support. Many of them has no other source of information or comfort. I'm sorry if I offended anybody, I just felt I needed to say something. Take care everybody!
Ok, that being said, I don't think we should say that odds or statistics are meaningless regarding HIV as some mentioned. How do you think they came up with the 3 month mark for HIV testing? I'm sure it was based on something, right? Research, statistics, etc...
If doctor HHH and Dr. Bob too often use statistics, why should we questioned people that know what they are talking about? Are the statistics wrong? How do you know??? Has anybody here done any real professional research? I am not talking about personal, non-professional research or experience.
Thank God for statistics, they let us know so many things. In this specific case, thinks like how many people are infected today, routes of transmission, and a lot more than that. Research, statistics, surveillance help provide a better understanding of the HIV epidemic and better ways to treat an prevent it.
About people using statistics and odds to back up their high risk behavior, I think just a brainless person would do such thing. Personally, I think that nobody should relay exclusively on statistics regarding their HIV status, but on the other hand statistics also can help one's understand better their risks and probability of being infected.
There is other thing that Mike said in previous thread that I want to reinforce. Let's be nice with one another. Many people here come for anxiety relief and support. Many of them has no other source of information or comfort. I'm sorry if I offended anybody, I just felt I needed to say something. Take care everybody!
I agree.
Statistics are invaluable to everyday decisions we take.
Of course you don't view them in isolation, but, they can help de-personalise a situation and provide context
Statistics are invaluable to everyday decisions we take.
Of course you don't view them in isolation, but, they can help de-personalise a situation and provide context
What is statistics going to tell you? Are they going to tell you if you are infected or not? NO. Are they going to tell you if the guy or gal you were with has HIV? NO. So what is the point of statistics in assessment and support? Just like symptoms. It
i am a little confused by this answer from Dr.HHH. "As you probably have seen, I never recommend testing because of any particular heterosexual exposure, except of course if symptoms develop; or if there is evidence someone's partner was infected or at especially high risk." I know that most people around 50-90% have ARS, but I heard that symptoms or no symptoms, as long as u have put urself at risk(unprotected sex, hetero or gay) then u need to get tested, but here in his answer he said that if there is no symptoms, no test required???? Can someone clarify this for me????
sam36
4/25/2007
. Hello Dr HHH,
This site is amazing! Great job!
I am a 36 year old male that lives in Texas. I have never had an STD as I test occasionally after unprotected risks with female partners I am unsure about (I do not do it often). I am circumsized and do not have abrasions or open sores on my penis. I am a non IV drug user and only have had hetero sex. I stay away from anal sex.
Well about a week ago I had unprotected sex with someone I just met in a bar. She is 30 and was not a csw or a IV drug user. I engaged in unprotected vaginal sex and oral both ways. The oral sex never concerns me. I am just a little concerned about the unprotected vaginal sex...no blood or anything like that was involved. She wanted to use a condom but I didn't have any with me at the time. But we still proceded. The insertion was for maybe about 5 minutes. Now I just tested last month for everything and all is fine. Testing is too expensive but I still do it. I know you don't recommend testing for this one night stand. At this rate I could be testing way too often. This encounter does not bother me too much but it does bother be a little (not alot). Occasionally I get reminded of the incident. I know the odds and all that other good stuff. 1 in 2000 chance. Better chance of getting struck with lightning. Are my interpretations correct? I should probably just wait until my next scheduled test. Correct?
I have read on your site that you have said your have never seen a man become hiv positive from vaginal sex (not that you thought the person was telling the truth or there were question marks with the person....gay or IV drug user). You also said in 30 years in your clinic you have only seen 1 or 2 that tested positive some vaginal sex. Why would you make this information public? I know it probably calms alot of worried wells but it could do alot more damage as far as other STDs go.
Thanks in advance.
Forum-M.D.-HHH
4/25/2007
sam36 I really don't have much to say. You accurately cite my views and have come to the same conclusions about your risks that I have in many similar threads. You don't say how often you get tested for HIV, but imply it is pretty frequent. Based on the lifestyle you imply, once a year seems plenty. As you probably have seen, I never recommend testing because of any particular heterosexual exposure, except of course if symptoms develop; or if there is evidence someone's partner was infected or at especially high risk.
Your closing comment suggests that people would be sexually safer if they thought sex was riskier than it is. Not so. Research shows that fear-based education never works. Although some people modify their behaviors briefly, over the long run one's knowledge of the risks simply makes no difference in the rate of new HIV/STD infections in the population. In STD/HIV prevention, and in health education in general, it is never wrong to make the truth public.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
sam36
4/25/2007
. Hello Dr HHH,
This site is amazing! Great job!
I am a 36 year old male that lives in Texas. I have never had an STD as I test occasionally after unprotected risks with female partners I am unsure about (I do not do it often). I am circumsized and do not have abrasions or open sores on my penis. I am a non IV drug user and only have had hetero sex. I stay away from anal sex.
Well about a week ago I had unprotected sex with someone I just met in a bar. She is 30 and was not a csw or a IV drug user. I engaged in unprotected vaginal sex and oral both ways. The oral sex never concerns me. I am just a little concerned about the unprotected vaginal sex...no blood or anything like that was involved. She wanted to use a condom but I didn't have any with me at the time. But we still proceded. The insertion was for maybe about 5 minutes. Now I just tested last month for everything and all is fine. Testing is too expensive but I still do it. I know you don't recommend testing for this one night stand. At this rate I could be testing way too often. This encounter does not bother me too much but it does bother be a little (not alot). Occasionally I get reminded of the incident. I know the odds and all that other good stuff. 1 in 2000 chance. Better chance of getting struck with lightning. Are my interpretations correct? I should probably just wait until my next scheduled test. Correct?
I have read on your site that you have said your have never seen a man become hiv positive from vaginal sex (not that you thought the person was telling the truth or there were question marks with the person....gay or IV drug user). You also said in 30 years in your clinic you have only seen 1 or 2 that tested positive some vaginal sex. Why would you make this information public? I know it probably calms alot of worried wells but it could do alot more damage as far as other STDs go.
Thanks in advance.
Forum-M.D.-HHH
4/25/2007
sam36 I really don't have much to say. You accurately cite my views and have come to the same conclusions about your risks that I have in many similar threads. You don't say how often you get tested for HIV, but imply it is pretty frequent. Based on the lifestyle you imply, once a year seems plenty. As you probably have seen, I never recommend testing because of any particular heterosexual exposure, except of course if symptoms develop; or if there is evidence someone's partner was infected or at especially high risk.
Your closing comment suggests that people would be sexually safer if they thought sex was riskier than it is. Not so. Research shows that fear-based education never works. Although some people modify their behaviors briefly, over the long run one's knowledge of the risks simply makes no difference in the rate of new HIV/STD infections in the population. In STD/HIV prevention, and in health education in general, it is never wrong to make the truth public.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
After what Dr.HHH have replied to him this is what he has to say(sam36), hopefully this guy dont keep on doing what hes doing bc he is putting himself at risk and others.
sam36
4/25/2007
C9 Vancouver Vancouver,
Are you kidding me? I have had sex with alot of women who I didn't know the status (unprotected over the years). Just pick your partners wisely. Don't have sex with CSWs unprotected......and I don't mean oral (only vaginal or anal). Anal I can understand because there is blood involved sometimes do to rough sex.
That story I told you about several years ago I convinced myself of symptoms. I thought I had swollen lymph nodes, fever, nausea, headaches, and everything else you search for on the internet. Everything was because of anxiety. My wife at the time thought I was crazy and she was right. Your mind can play alot of tricks on you.
You are going to be ok. Ralax and take care.
sam36
4/25/2007
C9 Vancouver Vancouver,
Are you kidding me? I have had sex with alot of women who I didn't know the status (unprotected over the years). Just pick your partners wisely. Don't have sex with CSWs unprotected......and I don't mean oral (only vaginal or anal). Anal I can understand because there is blood involved sometimes do to rough sex.
That story I told you about several years ago I convinced myself of symptoms. I thought I had swollen lymph nodes, fever, nausea, headaches, and everything else you search for on the internet. Everything was because of anxiety. My wife at the time thought I was crazy and she was right. Your mind can play alot of tricks on you.
You are going to be ok. Ralax and take care.
To me this guy is really misinterpreting the statistic, talking about he have more chance of getting hit by a lightning than catching hiv, this kind of talk is scary!!!! Talk about choosing the girl wisely???And thats y he has been having unprotected sex, people needs to really understand these numbers.
Based on your comment to my initial posting, I can say that you "statistically saying" understood no more than 50% of it.
I agree with u that statistics is good in predicting things and calculate the degree of risk ones take, but this could give people a false sense of security especially when it comes to hiv, example sam36 thinking. From what he says, he still believe that his chance of catching hiv through hetero unprotected sex is low to the point where he might keep on doing what hes doing(I dont know if thats what he thinks now). Yes Iagree that the stats are low for hetero sex but not 0 and yes u can catch hiv that way on the first time, hope he and others understand that and make better judgements.
I agree with u that statistics is good in predicting things and calculate the degree of risk ones take, but this could give people a false sense of security especially when it comes to hiv, example sam36 thinking. From what he says, he still believe that his chance of catching hiv through hetero unprotected sex is low to the point where he might keep on doing what hes doing(I dont know if thats what he thinks now). Yes Iagree that the stats are low for hetero sex but not 0 and yes u can catch hiv that way on the first time, hope he and others understand that and make better judgements.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the HIV Prevention Community
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
Can I get HIV from surfaces, like toilet seats?
Can you get HIV from casual contact, like hugging?
Frequency of HIV testing depends on your risk.
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) may help prevent HIV infection.
