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Unprotected sex with HIV + partner
I have recently found out that a female partner I had unprotected vaginal sex with is HIV +. Scared to death of going for a test, can't sleep, can't eat. Don't know what to do.
You would have to be extremely unlucky to get infected from a single "hetero" exposure. The odds are very much in your favor. Don't bury yourself just yet. Get tested at 3 months and expect a negative result.
What we are generally discussing on the forum about risks is the biological risk of transmission. Of course epidemics are formed on more than biological constructs.
Some other non biological factors for the scale of HIV and AIDS epidemic in South Africa are:
Lack of condom availibility
Economic: even if condoms were available some people don't have money for food let alone condoms.
Sociological: Preference of people to not use condoms (assuming they are available). Though testing stations are set up, many don't want to know their HIV status for fear of stigma. I think that article I linked to above mentioned an AIDS worker who announced she was positive at a World AIDS Day event and was beaten to death by her neiighbours.
Medical: Lack of anti-retroviral medicines, particularly for lower socio-economic groups. Combined with the lack of food, clean water keeping healthy with HIV is next to impossible for some.
Political: A govermment which denies the problem, denies HIV leads to AIDS and a health minister who says beetroot, garlic, onion, african potato and virgin olive oil are treatments for HIV. HIV patients should discuss any complimentary therapies including diet based ones with their doctor.
Education: Lack of educational opportunities in the townships, let alone HIV education. Cultural barriers
Climate: Basic hygiene is challenging with so many flies, ticks and and other insects about. The diseases, bacteria and viruses spread by them can progress HIV patients into AIDS patients.
External aid: simply not enough people to assist and skills shortages in many of those who do.
Some other non biological factors for the scale of HIV and AIDS epidemic in South Africa are:
Lack of condom availibility
Economic: even if condoms were available some people don't have money for food let alone condoms.
Sociological: Preference of people to not use condoms (assuming they are available). Though testing stations are set up, many don't want to know their HIV status for fear of stigma. I think that article I linked to above mentioned an AIDS worker who announced she was positive at a World AIDS Day event and was beaten to death by her neiighbours.
Medical: Lack of anti-retroviral medicines, particularly for lower socio-economic groups. Combined with the lack of food, clean water keeping healthy with HIV is next to impossible for some.
Political: A govermment which denies the problem, denies HIV leads to AIDS and a health minister who says beetroot, garlic, onion, african potato and virgin olive oil are treatments for HIV. HIV patients should discuss any complimentary therapies including diet based ones with their doctor.
Education: Lack of educational opportunities in the townships, let alone HIV education. Cultural barriers
Climate: Basic hygiene is challenging with so many flies, ticks and and other insects about. The diseases, bacteria and viruses spread by them can progress HIV patients into AIDS patients.
External aid: simply not enough people to assist and skills shortages in many of those who do.
I've no idea what it is, I've read abbout it in several sources cited as an extra risk factor in transmission of the virus because it often leads to vaginal bleeding.
I presume from the following article it means without foreflay on the woman and/or the woman drying herself out before sex.
http://www.cirp.org/library/disease/HIV/baleta1/
I presume from the following article it means without foreflay on the woman and/or the woman drying herself out before sex.
http://www.cirp.org/library/disease/HIV/baleta1/
what does dry sex mean/??? I am so sorry for asking, I am not a native and i can't find it in the dex. i suppose it could be non-ejac sex....am i right? if it is, this is very bad news. i knew hiv is likely spread throughout ....ejac sex oral/vaginal/anal..... please answer
HIV transmission in Africa includes cultural factors such as 'dry sex' which I understand carries more risk of blood.
Morning, firstly this forum is proving to be a big help at this time to me. Just a question to throw out there to everybody. have read on here that transmission of HIV is very difficult from female to male vaginal sex - if this is the case then why is the HIV epidemic in Africa spread 90% by heterosexuL sex?
it was a mistake.ul be fine though.its gods lesson to alert us to practice safe sex and to stick to one patner. good luck bro
Thanks for your replies, I will try hold out for the 12 weeks and get the test then. The more I think about the incident, the more sure I am that I have infected myself with HIV, I have a few hours in the day when I believe I am Ok but spend most of my time trying to figure out how to tell my family and friends that I am HIV +.
PCR tests are NOT considered Gold Standard and you can't post any information that states it.
Unreliable, that must be why they are considered the gold standard.
False positive is better than a false negative any day, and for me it was a gamble I was willing to take.
The expense is a hindrance for some, but for me, the way I looked at it, for the peace of mind, it was very affordable.
False positive is better than a false negative any day, and for me it was a gamble I was willing to take.
The expense is a hindrance for some, but for me, the way I looked at it, for the peace of mind, it was very affordable.
Also, don't get a PCR test. Reason being the high prevalence of false-positives. Don't bother, it's expensive and unreliable. Wait until 4 weeks, get tested, and then another at 3 months to confirm.
SH
SH
What to do? Get tested and then post your negative result. It will calm a lot of people down, including yourself.
All the best!
SH
All the best!
SH
You can put up there anything you like, PCR DNA tests are not diagnostic tests approved in the US.
MedHelp International?
MedHelp International?
You can put up there anything you like, PCR DNA tests are not diagnostic tests approved in the US. There is an exceptions for infants born to HIV+ mothers. You should have read what you posted. I believe it says PCR RNA test not PCR DNA.
http://www.dph.sf.ca.us/sfcityclinic/drk/hivaids29.asp
Is San Fran in America?
According to scientific consensus, the accuracy of serologic testing has been verified by isolation and culture of HIV and by detection of HIV RNA by PCR, which are widely accepted "gold standards
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HIV_test
If DNA/PCR testing wasn't considere accurate why then the following?
G.S. 15A-615 authorizes a court to order HIV testing of a defendant who is charged with a sex offense. S.L. 2007-403 (H 118) amends the law to provide that once such an order is issued, the test must be carried out within 48 hours. It further specifies the particular test (HIV-RNA Detection Test) that must be used.
http://www.sog.unc.edu/pubs/nclegis/nclegis2007/14%20Health.pdf
And to finish things off:
http://www.aafp.org/afp/990800ap/535.html
Blood taken during the acute phase of HIV infection (days to weeks after exposure) may show lymphopenia and thrombocytopenia, but atypical lymphocytes are infrequent. The CD4 count usually remains normal. The HIV-1 antibody tests (ELISA and Western blot test), the only tests officially used to diagnose established HIV infection, do not become positive until three or four weeks (sometimes even months) after the infection is acquired.
On the other hand, the quantitative plasma HIV-1 RNA level (viral load) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which is 95 to 98 percent sensitive for HIV,8 becomes positive within 11 days of infection.9 During the symptomatic phase of acute HIV infection, the viral RNA shows in excess of 50,000 copies per mL.3 Three instances of false-positive HIV-1-RNA tests have been reported; in each instance, however, the person was not having symptoms, and the viral load was less than 2,000 copies per mL.10 The presence of high-titer HIV-I RNA (more than 50,000 copies per mL) in the absence of HIV antibodies establishes the diagnosis of acute HIV infection.3,11
So there it is folks, if you want to wait 12 weeks... go ahead. As for me, I opted for the DNA/PCR route followed by a 12 week just to make sure.
Is San Fran in America?
According to scientific consensus, the accuracy of serologic testing has been verified by isolation and culture of HIV and by detection of HIV RNA by PCR, which are widely accepted "gold standards
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HIV_test
If DNA/PCR testing wasn't considere accurate why then the following?
G.S. 15A-615 authorizes a court to order HIV testing of a defendant who is charged with a sex offense. S.L. 2007-403 (H 118) amends the law to provide that once such an order is issued, the test must be carried out within 48 hours. It further specifies the particular test (HIV-RNA Detection Test) that must be used.
http://www.sog.unc.edu/pubs/nclegis/nclegis2007/14%20Health.pdf
And to finish things off:
http://www.aafp.org/afp/990800ap/535.html
Blood taken during the acute phase of HIV infection (days to weeks after exposure) may show lymphopenia and thrombocytopenia, but atypical lymphocytes are infrequent. The CD4 count usually remains normal. The HIV-1 antibody tests (ELISA and Western blot test), the only tests officially used to diagnose established HIV infection, do not become positive until three or four weeks (sometimes even months) after the infection is acquired.
On the other hand, the quantitative plasma HIV-1 RNA level (viral load) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which is 95 to 98 percent sensitive for HIV,8 becomes positive within 11 days of infection.9 During the symptomatic phase of acute HIV infection, the viral RNA shows in excess of 50,000 copies per mL.3 Three instances of false-positive HIV-1-RNA tests have been reported; in each instance, however, the person was not having symptoms, and the viral load was less than 2,000 copies per mL.10 The presence of high-titer HIV-I RNA (more than 50,000 copies per mL) in the absence of HIV antibodies establishes the diagnosis of acute HIV infection.3,11
So there it is folks, if you want to wait 12 weeks... go ahead. As for me, I opted for the DNA/PCR route followed by a 12 week just to make sure.
Actually, you can test 6 weeks post exposure and get a good idea of what will occur at 12 weeks test.
If that is not good enough then get a DNA/PCR test now and get a good idea of what will at 12 weeks test.
Odds of men contracting HIV is 1-2000, so odds are good that you will be OK.
I don't blame you for being scared. I opted for the DNA/PCR route followed with the 12 week test.
If that is not good enough then get a DNA/PCR test now and get a good idea of what will at 12 weeks test.
Odds of men contracting HIV is 1-2000, so odds are good that you will be OK.
I don't blame you for being scared. I opted for the DNA/PCR route followed with the 12 week test.
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