to regular joey and teak

Is six weeks long enough to wait to take an "hiv test?"

And also, is a "genital herpes blood test" at six weeks reliable as well?

Reason for testing is:  I received oral sex (cunnilingus) And ever since have been quite concerned about hsv2 and hiv.

sorry to be repetitive.
If anyone could answer,  Id really appreciate it. much thanks as always.

[cliff101]

As Teak and regular will no doubt confirm...

1.  6 weeks is a great time to test.  Results will be 95%-98% conclusive. Therefore, pretty darn reassuring.

2.  Oral sex is low-to-no risk. Teak and co will tell you its No risk and they've been researching this  way longer than me so trust them if you dont trust me.

3.  Test.  Get negative result and move on.  Or try to help others.  

Take Care.

[cliff101]

OK, and having read again and noticed you 'received"...well,everything I have read says NO RISK from the encounter as you describe it!

And the herpes test will definetly be reliable at 6 weeks.

[worried925]

Hi Cliff,
I appreciate youre insight and knowledge. And I think its great that you are helping others. I do aspire to that kind of person. Because, Ive been very nervous about this and I know lots of us are at certain points in our lives.

SO I just want to touch base then,  the herpes blood test (type 2) was reliable at six weeks then. And  receiving oral sex is low- to- no risk.


Thanks again!

[cliff101]

Yes - oral sex is extremely low risk dropping to no risk (as far as all evidence shows) when reveiving.  However, other STI's can be transmitted thru receiving Oral Sex...this is the response from the Singapore CDC Doctor on thier HIV message board to a question much like yours:

"The risk of HIV transmission through unprotected oral sex is low. We do not have any records of a real incident. However, you may be at risk for other sexually transmitted infections(STI) like Syphilis, Gonorrhoea, Herpes etc."

and yes - the herpes test is reliable at 6 weeks.  I know cos my doctor assured mine would be conclusive at 4 weeks (and I tested for just about every damn thing, not just HIV!  Such is my personal paranoia.)

Take care.

[cliff101]

Sorry...correction in my second sentence - it should read, "However, other STI's can be transmitted thru 'giving' Oral Sex"   not receiving as I wrote there.

Take Care.

[worried925]

I can relate to the personal parinoia.
I dont know many people who would test for hsv2. It was just mind consuming these past days.
But yes, thanks again for responding! means a lot .

take care too :)

~J

[OrionQuest]

Herpes can take up to 3 months to show up on tests.  Good news is that herpes makes you sick but won't kill you.

[cliff101]

Well, my doctor said the Herpes test would be acurate at 1 month - though he might have said that to settle my nerves about, um, well, every damn thing!  anyway, its treatable if not curable so no worries, right?

[Teak]

Oral sex can transmit STDS whether one is giving or receiving.

[OrionQuest]

incubation period for herpes is 1 to 3 months.  It's a lifelong infection, but at least it's not life threatening.

[cliff101]

Thanks for that clarification.  Important one.

[regularjoey]

Receiving cunnilingus is negligible risk for HIV or any other STD.
You are wasting your money on these tests, in my opinion.

[Teak]

It's funny the New York Department of Health doesn't say it's a negligible risk to contract STDs by oral sex, they say the complete opposite of what you stated.

[worried925]

My doctor also told me that "six weeks" is enough time to test for genital herpes via blood test as well as a  two Keiser  permenete advice nurses. And I Dont think it was to calm my nerves. So dont worry kay! heres some additonal info.

http://www.dsc-sexualhealth.com.sg/tpl/search.php

As for oral sex, i believe, to my knowledge correct me if im wrong: HIV is a low risk. ANd other stds are low  risk too. Oral sex risk include things such as well chlymidia and gonoreah and herpes (due to type one) but most people have that virus (hsv-1) anyway. Because tHey were exposed to that virus as children in casual contact, like kisses from aunts at family reunions.

[Wear/a/Jimmy]

Those that have contracted STD's/Adenoviruses/or NSU (non specific urithritis) would argue that unprotected oral is safe

Getting an NSU is madening because it is what it is... non specific, and when all there is, is symptoms but no tests that can find something....  you don't know what it is, you don't know how to cure it, & you don't know if it is cured, when and if it is cured etc etc. (or if it can be cured)


http://www.webmd.com/sexual-conditions/guide/20061101/oral-sex-may-spread-common-std

[cliff101]

Yeah...info from the clinic I just started volunteering at!  Cool. ;-)  (Well, the Action For Aids Anonymous clinic is based at the DSC clinic in Singapore.    And thats where your link leads. They are a good resource.)

Thanks.  Take care.

[cliff101]

You are at risk from STD's through unprotected Oral Sex... but no proven cases of HIV have been traced to it.  

And nobody here is dismissing STDs out of hand, mate.  But the original question related to HIV so thats what was answered.

Aside from all that...how you doing?

[regularjoey]

Adenoviruses, HSV-1 and NSU are not classified as STDs.
I am not aware of any documented cases of acquisition of any STDs, including HIV, by receiving cunnilingus, thus the risk is considered theoretical or negligible.

[Teak]

CDC classification- Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the herpes simplex viruses type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2). Most genital herpes is caused by HSV-2. Most individuals have no or only minimal signs or symptoms from HSV-1 or HSV-2 infection.

Oral sex STDs.-What's important is that other STDs like syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia and herpes are definitely transmitted through oral sex, and oral sex has likely contributed to San Francisco's current syphilis outbreak.

STDs by oral sex is not considered theoretical or negligible.

[regularjoey]

take it over to the STD forum

[regularjoey]

Cunnilingus is the last thing responsible for syphilis outbreak in San Fransisco )))
A lot of gay men in San Fransisco.

At any rate, I already gave my opinion on the query here - no point in STD/HIV testing over this incident.
If worried925 wants to discuss more on syphilis or whatever, she should go to the STD forum.