Need to test?

[Accomodel99]

Dear Doctors,
Recently I did something totally out of character and had protected oral and vaginal sex with a  csw. There were no apparent breaks or anything of that nature with the condom. I am very anxious and extremely guilt ridden over the whole ordeal. Is there a need to do HIV or STD testing?
Thanks

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Herpes on average 3-7 days.  HPV, several weeks.  EWH

[Accomodel99]

Can you tell me the time frame for appearance of symptoms of herpes and HPV?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

The exposure you mentioned was protected thus your risk is low.  That said, diagnosis of lesions require examination.  You need to be seen by a health care provdier if you are concerned.  EWH

[Accomodel99]

My "exposure" was on May 12. A couple of days ago I noticed a small pimple-like lesion on my penis, just below the rim (about the size of a pin head). Could this be an STD?

[Accomodel99]

Thank you, Doctor. That reassurance will help with moving on. Now I've go to deal with the guilt, but maybe that will prevent a repeat of this whole thing.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

The short answer is no.  To elaborate, you had a single, protected exposure to a commercial sex worker (CSW).  Your chances of having gotten HIV (or for that matter, any other STD) from this exposure are extraordinarily low.  Here's why:

1,  Chances are, your partner did not have HIV.  Most CSWs do not.
2.  Your chance of getting HIV, if she was infected is less than one in 1000 per exposure from the vaginal exposure and less than 1 in 10,000 for an oral exposure if a condom was not used..
3.  Condoms work.

When you put all of these facts together, your chances of being infected from the exposure you describe approach zero.  If I were you I would forget about this and move on with your life.  There is no need for testing.

Hope this helps.  EWH