Scared and Depressed Female

[blondechick]

Hello,
On August 7, 2008 I had one time unprotected vaginal sex with white male of unknown status ( I'm a female). He ejactulated inside of me even when I asked him not to. A friend of mine later told me that he is HIV+. He denies it but, the fear and anxiety since the incident has been killing me. I went on Oct 13,and got a HIV blood test at Lab corp and my results were negative. Then on October 31 I went to my doctors office and had her take another blood test and the results for those were negative. My anxiety still was killing me and I couldn't get this thing out of my head so I went to Lab Corp again November 10, I figured its the 3 month mark of the incident and my results were negative. My doctor tells me I'm not in the clear until 6 months but, you say 3 months is good enough. How can I put this all behind me and move on? Are my results at 8 weeks, 10 weeks, and 12 weeks good enough? Is there a chance I have it but it hasn't shown up yet? Is there another test I should take to make sure? Do you think I should go again at 4 months or 6 months? My life has been a living hell ever since that day. I really appreciate your time and advice.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I'll try to help.  The bottom line is that you can be 100% certain you didn't catch HIV.  You are in a better position than I am to judge whether the rumor or your partner's own words are more truthful.  However, most people don't lie about HIV status when asked directly, so I doubt he is infected.  And unless your partner is an injection drug user, bisexual, or comes from a country where HIV is especially common, the chance he is infected is very low.

More important, negative test results through 12 weeks is plenty good enough.  For all practical purposes modern HIV tests never take longer to become positive.  You do not need any additional testing, and there are no other kinds of tests you need.

But as to how to get over your anxieties, all this forum can do is state the facts, as I have done.  If you cannot shake your anxieties about it despite the overwhelming evidence you are not infected, you may need to seek counseling about it.  But trust me:  you don't have it.

Best wishes--  HHH, MD

[blondechick]

Thanks again.......so I definitly don't have a chance of becoming positive after 3 months from that incident right? Sorry to be annoying about it, maybe its a mental thing but reassurance helps.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Dr. Handsfield and I started to answeer you at the same time so you get two answers for the price of one.  As you can see, we agree.

With all due respect, I must disagree with your doctor.  Even before we start to discuss your risk and test results, it is important to point out that rumors about persons having HIV are very often wrong. If you have not asked him, you should, not only for your own peace of mind but because if others are spreading malicious rumors about him, he deserves to know it.  Now let's discuss your situation:

1.  Even if he had HIV, you had sex with him just once. Most exposures to infected partners do not lead to infection. In fact, only 1 in 1000 such exposures result in infection.  Pretty good odds.
2.  In addition to the low odds, you now have the results of not 1 but THREE blood tests at 8, 10, and 12 weeks following exposure.  Believe them.

Just putting the two facts about together, your likelihood of having HIV from the exposure you describe is close to zero and, if anything, far, far higher on a statistical basis than the odds of an infection for another woman who has had sex with a partner of unknown infection status and has not been tested.  You have no reason to worry and no reason for further testing.

I hope this helps.  You have no reason to worry.  EWH