unprotected- 4 months ago

[zsomeone]

During my Christmas break (I'm a student) I visited some friends back home and during that time I managed to go out on a date, get very tipsy, and have unprotected (but, very quick) sex.  Later, I found out that my partner is quite promiscuous, and now I'm totally worried.  The situation: I let him stick "it" in for a few seconds, and after a few "pumps", I made him take "it" out.  Well, that wouldn't worry me, except that after a few more hours of making out, I let him stick "it" in, again, and this time, we had intercourse for about a minute.  He didn't stay hard long (apparently he has a problem in that area, turns out), and we just stopped.  Well, after returning home, I started to freak out.  I hadn't had sex in 2 years, and this was the first time I'd had unprotected sex.  So, I went and got tested at the 3-week mark- negative results.  I again went and got tested at the 9-week mark- negative results.  My doctor said that I had passed the main part of the window period, and that I shouldn't worry, anymore.  Well, now I have a steady boyfriend, and I'm worried to do anything sexual with him, afraid that I might pass something along, and I'm absolutely mortified a/b getting tested again.  Have I really passed the window period for HIV infection?  How accurate can 9-week results be?  And should I be worried that I have a dry spot on my throat? (my roommate said that I nervously scratch it, she's noticed, and I stopped, and it seems to be going away)

Thanks,

V

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Welcome to the STD forum.  But apparently your concern is primarily HIV, which belongs on the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex forum (as it clearly states at the top of the forum).  So my reply will be quite brief, with no follow-up discussion or comments.

Like a lot of young people today, you have a hyper-inflated understanding of HIV and its risks.  Heterosexual HIV transmission remains quite rare in most populations in the US and other industrialized countries.  If your partner doesn't have sex with other men and isn't an injection drug user or otherwise at special risk, his being "promiscuous" doesn't mean much.  And if he had it, the chance of transmission from a single exposure is low.  Further, your negative test result proves you weren't infected.  Most people with new infections have postive blood tests by 4-5 weeks and virtually everyone by 8 weeks; even though 3 month testing often is recommended, really it's old news.  The spot on your throat has nothing to do with any of this, and certainly such a thing isn't a symptom of HIV anyway.

In other words, I agree with your doctor.  You can relax about HIV.  However, you should be tested for other STDs, especially gonorrhea and chlamydia, if that hasn't been done.

I hope this helps.  Take care.  HHH, MD

[zsomeone]

I was tested for everything else, as well.  The first test was only rapid oral testing for HIV, and the 2nd was an all-around (herpes, HIV, ghonorreah, etc.) test.

Thanks,

V