HIV Advice and Time Frame

[2months20days]

Hello Dr HHH,

I have been reading the Fourms since yesterday. You guys are indeed doing a great JOB. I had sex with a woman on Nov 22 2005. Did a big mistake I realise , since I dint know the person quite well. I did have protected Vaginal sex but unprotected Oral Sex both ways(She gave me a BJ and I went down on her). I started getting nervous after the encounter,since I have a decayed tooth.I started thinking that there may be a chance for me getting infected with HIV or other STD's And got myself tested after 1 week after the encounter. I tested  positive for Syphilis, but after another conformatory test , the doc said I was false positive on Syphilis.

This left me shaken and worried and after exactly 2 months and 20 days i got myself tested again for everything everything came back negative except Syphilis again and a retesting on Syphilis proved again it was a False positive and the doc said that no matter how many times I test myself I will alwalys get a fasle positive for Syphilis cus in about 10% off the cases people do have false positives like this.

Now My main worry is ..is 2 months and 20 days enuf to rule out any kind of transmission that may have occurred??  Since I was    having sleep less nights I have got myself tested again and the results are awaited. Iam freaking out at the possibility of geting a positive on HIV or any other STD.

Although I do not have most of the symptoms for HIV or anyother STD..I do have pain in my Penis at times ..this started after the encounter on Nov 22nd 2005.

Iam really worried and freaking out .Since I have a decayed tooth,is it  possible that I could have contracted any STD or HIV? and is 2 months and 20 days sufficient ???...I just need your expert advice

Iam just hoping and praying that I will be alright.

[aa12345]

A related discussion, What should I look for? was started.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Immunosuppressive therapy basically is chemotherapy, the sort of treatment used for cancer.  Although it is theoretically possible that immunosuppressive therapy might affect HIV test results, even this is very rare if it occurs at all.  Penicillin doesn't affect HIV test results.

HHH, MD

[2months20days]

What is Immune Suppresive therapy?

I was given Pencillin Injections when I was tested positive for Syphilis. Is that an Immune Suppresent???

Hoping for an early reply

Iam really freaked out

Ashwin

[bigdaddy1992]

Hi, The doc has stated on here many many times that a 6 week HIV test is highly reliable but if yours was a high risk exposure e.g unprotected anal sex then have another test at 3 month. Unless you are on immune supressive therapy then theres no way you need to wait 6 months. 3 months is the conservative window most places in the world but in massetusas ( sp?) an hiv result is considered definitive at 8 weeks, also oral sex even unprotected is considered a low risk to no risk activitie so i would say you are home and dry and to put hiv right out of your mind but let the doc respond and see what he recommends but i would say you have nothing to worry about. Take care - Bigdaddy.

[2months20days]

Hello Doc,

Are you saying that Iam fine. I mean as I said I got myself Tested after 2 months and 20 days ..do I need further tests??

Please respond before I go mad with fear.

Ashwin

[2months20days]

Iam sorry U have already answered me. I dint see your first comment.

Thank you so much

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

With the test results you describe, you can be 100% certain you did not acquire HIV or any other STD during your the sexual exposure you describe.  There is no evidence that having a decayed tooth increases the risk of HIV or any other STD.  False positive test result for syphilis are fairly common and generally do not indicate any kind of health problem.  You do not need further testing for HIV or any STD.

Good luck-- HHH, MD