hiv

[walleye1993]

hey doc,

i have read some of your posts online many forums.i had a sexual encounter back in i believe mid july.come to find out the guy i met up with had hiv he informed me later of .we had anal sex both giving and receiving for a very short time maybe 2 minute spurts.we both used condoms.we made out a lot and that was about it and also did oral sez.i went to the doctors on september 5th and got tested on september 25 by a blood tube sample. my doctor called and said the std hiv test came back negative but she still wants me to come back in 6 months because of the window period.Should i be worried and is that enough time to come up with a result.im really worried because it was approximately my minimum guess i got tested at 50-60 days after exposure. i went to the doctor and she said to not read things on the internet. i have had no signs beside maybe a cough this week with a lot of phlem and congestion.thanks for your time.

[walleye1993]

Yes I actually getting ready to go for the follow up test.my doctor doesn't think I got it because like you said john it is a very fragile disease .what about the saliva from making out and the blowjob that I gave him? He doesn't believe he gave it to me either and my doctor told me to stay off the internet go figure lol . I am just acting like a fool over this whole thing and worrying myself sick.I constantly check my lymph nodes to make sure they are.normal size and I first went to get tested when my allergies got bad and I though it was HIV my doctor assured me I was worrying to much.is a negative test at 50 days after exposure accurate at all? And what about the saliva from making out what about if I came.into contact with the sperm on my hand or stomach

[John Irlam, DO, FASCP]

Hi Walleye,
Thanks for such a good question, this is one that we can all learn from and maybe clarify a few things.  Firstly, and luckily, HIV is not as easy to catch as we might believe, especially when we use protection.  You and your physician are correct.  The "window period" is a time when some people who are HIV positive and this can last up to six months in some individuals which is why it is recommended that you be re-tested.  Keep in mind that people who test negative in the beginning but test negative at the six month mark is the exception, not the normal.  I don't think I would do much different if I were you.  As far as your cough and phlem just remember that it is cold and flu season.  If you feel that it's anything unusual it may be worth mentioning to your physician but otherwise I don't think I'd worry too much about it.  Hope this info helps to put your mind at ease.  Can you let us all now how the follow up testing goes?  
Happy Thanksgiving,
John