Aa
Slipped Condom
I am a passive gay man and 10 days ago i received penetrative anal sex from a male of unknown HIV status. We did use lots of lubrication and condoms. Unfortunately after a while the condom slipped inside. My partner pulled out within 10 or so seconds and i had to remove the condom manually from inside. All the pre-ejaculatory fluid was still inside the condom and my partner hadn't ejaculated. What is the risk around this - with regards to HIV? I was pretty calm about it and had forgotten about the incident but 2 days ago (8 days post incident) i started feeling tired (generalise malaise really various pains hear and there). Also diarrhoea as well (2-3 times a day). Also various pains in my neck and armpits but nothing swollen (at least from what i can tell). No fever as such not at least above 37.6 C (taken via electronic thermometer from the ear).
I know the symptoms are very non specific that I am describing but:
1. Could these be initial symptoms?
2. Could symptoms start as early as 8 days?
3. What is the risk involved in this incident?
4. Should I get a PCR test now and have an antibody and p24 test at 1 month (Duo test)?
I hope this is not much to ask. Looking forward to your reply.
Thank you
I know the symptoms are very non specific that I am describing but:
1. Could these be initial symptoms?
2. Could symptoms start as early as 8 days?
3. What is the risk involved in this incident?
4. Should I get a PCR test now and have an antibody and p24 test at 1 month (Duo test)?
I hope this is not much to ask. Looking forward to your reply.
Thank you
Essayos,
I think you still have to wait until the six week mark and even then, you should probably get tested at 12 weeks for good measure. The doc will tell you that your likelihood of infection is low, but remember that "low likelilhood of infection" is not the same as "no infection." So just to be on the super-safe side, follow through on it. It's like the difference between 1 in 1000 and 1 in a million, and zero.
On a side note, I don't quite get all the mystery about gay sex on here. Straight men should ask their partners about their status before jumping in the sack too. But regarding the higher risk of HIV from gay anal sex, as someone who's slept with tons of men but never got HIV, I should say, I would just avoid anal sex altogether until you are in a seriously committed relationship (I'm talking, like a year plus) and even then with a condom. I went buck wild with oral sex but I never did anal, so even though I must have had sex with dozens of men who were HIV positive, I came out okay because I avoided anal sex.
I hope you can get through the remaining window okay. You are probably going to be fine. And I'll be rooting for you.
Best of luck,
J
I think you still have to wait until the six week mark and even then, you should probably get tested at 12 weeks for good measure. The doc will tell you that your likelihood of infection is low, but remember that "low likelilhood of infection" is not the same as "no infection." So just to be on the super-safe side, follow through on it. It's like the difference between 1 in 1000 and 1 in a million, and zero.
On a side note, I don't quite get all the mystery about gay sex on here. Straight men should ask their partners about their status before jumping in the sack too. But regarding the higher risk of HIV from gay anal sex, as someone who's slept with tons of men but never got HIV, I should say, I would just avoid anal sex altogether until you are in a seriously committed relationship (I'm talking, like a year plus) and even then with a condom. I went buck wild with oral sex but I never did anal, so even though I must have had sex with dozens of men who were HIV positive, I came out okay because I avoided anal sex.
I hope you can get through the remaining window okay. You are probably going to be fine. And I'll be rooting for you.
Best of luck,
J
Thank you doctor for your information. I always make a point about asking the other guy above his status and at the time he told me that he had a test a month ago and it was negative. But a couple of days after the incident when i pressured him he admitted that he doesn't know his status, but also pointed out that he always plays safe and doesn't do it at all that often. Meanwhile (day 11 now) I am experiencing a small rash on the upper part of my chest (about 7 or 8 spots all spread out each one is pinkish flatish doesn't hurt about half centimetre in diamteter. And also have a throbbing pain around my neck. Will go and see my doctor today. But what are your feelings on this?
Thank you once again
Thank you once again
Hi there again,
Just an update. I had a p24 antigen test today and an antibody test (2 weeks post exposure). All test came back negative. Waiting still on the PCR test. My doctor says we are over 80% in clear what do u think?
Please respond.
Thank you
Just an update. I had a p24 antigen test today and an antibody test (2 weeks post exposure). All test came back negative. Waiting still on the PCR test. My doctor says we are over 80% in clear what do u think?
Please respond.
Thank you
sorry I dont have a credit card but I really would like to know how acurate a chlamydia gono urine test is 2-3 days after exposure? Is it 90-100% or what? Dr or anyone else if you could please respond it would help me out a lot.
thank you
thank you
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
You should look on this exposure as one with risk equivalent to no condom at all. Even so, and even if your partner was HIV positive, the risk of transmission from any single exposure is pretty low. For example, among the highest risk people at all--methamphetamine use gay men seen in public STD clinics, who regularly have unprotected anal sex weekly (or more often) in bath houses, with people who are HIV positive or whose HIV status is unknown--about 25% acquire HIV each year. That's extremely high at a population level; but even in that group, the risk for each individual exposure obviously is quite low.
I'm not belittling your concern, just pointing out that the odds are strongly in your favor, against having acquired HIV during that exposure. But not low enough to forget about it. To answer your specific questions:
1) Yout symptoms probably mean nothing; even in your situation, many other viruses are collectively much more common than HIV. Anyway, those symptoms are not those of primary HIV infection.
2) 8 days is on the early side; ARS symptoms usually start ~10 days.
3) See above.
4) There is no particular advantage in PCR testing. If you are infected, you might learn it a few days earlier, but not by much more. And I see no particular reason for the duo test. Standard antibody testing probably is fine. But some specialists might recommend otherwise. Don't go entirely by my advice; visit your health care provider or your local STD clinic for their advice.
In the meantime, have you tried to identify (if you don't know him) and/or locate and ask your partner about his HIV status? If he says he is negative, you're probably home free.
Final comment/advice: Your experience is why no gay man should EVER have anal sex, receptive or insertive, even with a condom, without knowing and sharing their HIV status. You should have told him your HIV status and asked his; and he should have told you, even if you didn't ask. If someone declines to tell you or seems evasive, find another partner or avoid anal sex. Short of sexual assault or other setttings that risk physical harm, I can think of no valid exceptions to this rule. If you (or other gay men reading this thread) learn nothing else from this event, learn this.
Good luck to you. Stay safe.
HHH, MD
I'm not belittling your concern, just pointing out that the odds are strongly in your favor, against having acquired HIV during that exposure. But not low enough to forget about it. To answer your specific questions:
1) Yout symptoms probably mean nothing; even in your situation, many other viruses are collectively much more common than HIV. Anyway, those symptoms are not those of primary HIV infection.
2) 8 days is on the early side; ARS symptoms usually start ~10 days.
3) See above.
4) There is no particular advantage in PCR testing. If you are infected, you might learn it a few days earlier, but not by much more. And I see no particular reason for the duo test. Standard antibody testing probably is fine. But some specialists might recommend otherwise. Don't go entirely by my advice; visit your health care provider or your local STD clinic for their advice.
In the meantime, have you tried to identify (if you don't know him) and/or locate and ask your partner about his HIV status? If he says he is negative, you're probably home free.
Final comment/advice: Your experience is why no gay man should EVER have anal sex, receptive or insertive, even with a condom, without knowing and sharing their HIV status. You should have told him your HIV status and asked his; and he should have told you, even if you didn't ask. If someone declines to tell you or seems evasive, find another partner or avoid anal sex. Short of sexual assault or other setttings that risk physical harm, I can think of no valid exceptions to this rule. If you (or other gay men reading this thread) learn nothing else from this event, learn this.
Good luck to you. Stay safe.
HHH, MD
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
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