to teak and freak

i wrote to you a few days ago telling you about a incident i had in which the condom broke. i did a hiv and syphilis 6 weeks later, result was negative for hiv and reactive to syphils. the girl did the test at 2 and a half months and her's was negative also but she was reactive to syphilis. you told me to do another test at 13 weeks which i did today and the result returned negative just the same.

is it ok for me to say i'm hiv free now, is this result conclusive now?  thanks in advance for answering all my question. i know you must get tired from answering the same questions from everyone but it means alot to us, i for one appreciate the time you guys take to answer my questions and hopefully this is my last.

thank you guys

[Teak]

You're not off scott free if you are still being treated for syphilis.

[nerviouskid]

why is it that being treated for syphilis cause delay in serconversion even after 13 weeks of negative result?

Also, why is it this the only STD being singled out for treatment while testing for HIV?  And how long does one need to test after the treatment of syphilis?

Let's say that a person does have syphillis (syphilis), but is not treated, does that mean that 13 week negative for HIV is not valid in this scenario as well?  Please clarify...thanks.

[im_scared]

what do you mean? i got 3 weeks of penencilin treatment and is supposed to go back for a another syphilis test in 2 months. you told me to get another test at 13 weeks which i did and it the result is still nagative, so what im asking is if i can take that as conclusive result being the that the girl tested negative too

[nerviouskid]

what symptoms did you have for syphlis that warrented a test for it.  Just curious and wondering.

[Xhost]

Your 13 week HIV test (negative!) is conclusive evidence that you were not infected with HIV. You are indeed able to say that you are "HIV free". Having syphilis (if you do indeed have it) would not delay seroconversion, to the best of my knowledge.

[nerviouskid]

thanks man...for clarifying.  That was a little freaky to know that even 13 weeks results would be not enough even while on treatment for syphilis.  I mean it's the only STD that's being singled out here and it is just so weird.  Thanks.

[nerviouskid]

wow.  Thanks for giving that info. dude.  It helps to understand all this more clearly.

I'm just shocked after reading teak's message though.  A little freaked by this.  I wonder if anyone not treated, but has syphilis still has to wait longer to test beyond 13 weeks of negative result.

oh man...

[im_scared]

none, they were offering a test for syphilis for everyone doing hiv tests at the clinic, i accepted and thats how i found out i even had it so i was shocked. the girl i had sex with didnt even test positive for it syphilis either. i got my last penicilin for syphils on may 22 which is over a month ago so would that mess with the outcome of my hiv result at 13 weeks?, teak i thought you said no form of injection or antibiotics could altar one's result

[freak_2007]

You ARE HIV negative and don't have to wory about it anymore unless you repeat the mistake. 13 weeks is conclusive.

Syphilis is a bacterial infection and is treated with pennicillin (penicillin) which is an antibiotic. Antibiotics don't do anything to viruses nor do they delay seroconversion. So rest easy.

What teak proably meant was that you are not completely disease free if you are still being treated for syphillis (syphilis). so, you are still infectious and have to be careful.

it has nothing to do with HIV. relax.

[Xhost]

Well, if I could read properly, I would have read that you *did* wear a condom. Sorry about that!

[Xhost]

Nervous,

Teak was not saying that syphilis is going to delay you getting an accurate HIV test result, it won't. I think he was saying that you have not come out of all this unscathed - as in, you didn't get HIV, but you did get syphilis. See what I am saying here? He may have also been making a subtle but valid point: wear condoms!

[Teak]

Thanks for explaining it nerviouskid.

[nerviouskid]

Thanks man...That makes sense now.  I'm calm now, but it was freaky last night when I read messages in this thread.  phew...!