Aa
oral contact
Thank you for taking my question. And I apologize for having posted it in the medical community forum first--I didn't realize the difference between the two.
Four years ago, I kissed a man's penis while it had some pre-ejaculate on it. I did not go further in performing oral sex. Based on reading other questions and answers, I think i know the answer, but do I need to be tested? I am hoping that you will say that oral sex is a virtually no risk activity, and what i did was somewhere even less than that, so that the answer is most emphatically no.
Four years ago, I kissed a man's penis while it had some pre-ejaculate on it. I did not go further in performing oral sex. Based on reading other questions and answers, I think i know the answer, but do I need to be tested? I am hoping that you will say that oral sex is a virtually no risk activity, and what i did was somewhere even less than that, so that the answer is most emphatically no.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I agree there's no point in testing if you don't need it for reassurance. Take care.
Thank you. And actually your words may be sufficient in alleviating my fears, as this is the only sexual encounter I have ever had.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum and thanks for your question. I can help ease your fears -- but for definitive reassurance, I recommend you be tested for HIV.
There is no need for apology. People post questions on both the community and professional forums all the time.
This was a zero risk exposure, and you have correctly predicted my response with "you will say that oral sex is a virtually no risk activity, and what i did was somewhere even less than that, so that the answer is most emphatically no". In fact, that's perfect; I could not have said it better.
So why do I recommend testing anyway? First, as a sexually active person, you should be tested no matter what. CDC recommends that all adults be tested for HIV at least once. Second, experience shows that when someone has the sorts of fears you do, verbal reassurance alone almost never settles things. It would be wonderful if my words are sufficient, but if you are like most people, you'll probably continue to worry about the possibility, no matter how slim, that you could have HIV. Your test result would confirm that you do not.
As for being afraid to be tested -- which you mentioned on the community forum -- I have no patience with that. It isn't the test that gives someone HIV; and in the event you are infected, of course you need to know in order to get proper medical care to extend your life. And when someone is fearful of a test result, in fact getting tested actually resolves the fear even if the test is positive. Typically the stress of worry about it is worse than the stress that comes from knowing a positive result.
So just do it. This is not "code" to suggest I believe you are infected; I do not, and you definitely can expect a negative result. Feel free to return to let me know the result -- but I won't have any more advice until then.
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
There is no need for apology. People post questions on both the community and professional forums all the time.
This was a zero risk exposure, and you have correctly predicted my response with "you will say that oral sex is a virtually no risk activity, and what i did was somewhere even less than that, so that the answer is most emphatically no". In fact, that's perfect; I could not have said it better.
So why do I recommend testing anyway? First, as a sexually active person, you should be tested no matter what. CDC recommends that all adults be tested for HIV at least once. Second, experience shows that when someone has the sorts of fears you do, verbal reassurance alone almost never settles things. It would be wonderful if my words are sufficient, but if you are like most people, you'll probably continue to worry about the possibility, no matter how slim, that you could have HIV. Your test result would confirm that you do not.
As for being afraid to be tested -- which you mentioned on the community forum -- I have no patience with that. It isn't the test that gives someone HIV; and in the event you are infected, of course you need to know in order to get proper medical care to extend your life. And when someone is fearful of a test result, in fact getting tested actually resolves the fear even if the test is positive. Typically the stress of worry about it is worse than the stress that comes from knowing a positive result.
So just do it. This is not "code" to suggest I believe you are infected; I do not, and you definitely can expect a negative result. Feel free to return to let me know the result -- but I won't have any more advice until then.
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
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