Aice Please

[freakingoutguy35]

Please help.   I have searched you site and franly got many of the answers I need but a ersonal answer goes much further.  On December 13th I had protected vaginal sex with a csw in Dallas that lasted 2-3 minuts max.  This has been my first and only sex outside my maiage.  The codom was indeed in tact and fine.  The anxiety and stress is killing me as I am maried.  On December 23rd I gae blood and urine for a 7 screen hiv and std test through Labcorp.   Everything was negative.  I have read about hiv symptoms and don't believe I have any excpet maybeswollen lymph nodes in my neck area.

A few questions:
1.   what are my risks
2.  could I actually feel my swollen lymph nodes
3.  any reason for more tests
4.  any other recommendations

I appreciate your help.

Thanks!

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Last answer - NO.  EWH

[freakingoutguy35]

Last question, I promise.  Have either one of you in you careers treated or heard of a male getting hiv from a one time, short, protected instance of vaginal intercourse (where you believed what the individual told you)?  Thx

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Nothing in science or biology is a sure thing and on this forum our answers are based on scientific studies and biological facts.  Your chances of having HIV however, even without any testing are less that 1 in million (lower than having a false positive test).  Further testing will not mathematically or biologically lower your risk in a meaningful way beyond the virtually non-existant risk you already have.

As for the proportion of HIV tests detected over time following exposure, you can search this site and find any of the many, many times that Dr. Handsfiled and I have provided this information.

Stop worrrying and move on.  EWH

[freakingoutguy35]

Thank you , but why in some o you answers would you say no risk in protected sex (lik Teak ad Lizzi always do)?  Ca you giv me a number?  Woul rauik at 3, 4 & 6 weeks giv me comfort? Thx

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Let's work through your questions one by one.  Before I do however, let me cut to the chase and give you the bottom line.  Your risks are very, very low.  It is unlikely that your partner was HIV infected and even if she did, having used a condom correctly makes your chances of having HIV (or for that matter, any other STD) from this encounter just about zero.  Now let's go through the details:

1.  See above.  Vanishingly low.  Although your HIV test at 10 days following the encounter would detect less than half of HIV infections acquired 10 days earlier, the other facts I mentioned in my first paragraph make HIV risks near zero.  As far as STDs like gonorrhea, chlamydia and NGU, your tests at 10 days are reliable and PRVE that you did not get one of these STDs.
2.  Possibly but probably not (we never say never).  Doctors train for a long time to be able to tell lymph nodes from other structures present in the neck.  IN addition, this examination is incredibly hard to perform on one's self. Finally, even if you did happen to feel nodes in your neck, they are a non-specific finding and could reflect just about anything else including a plain old, every day viral sore throat or even cavities in your teeth.  My advice is not to worry about feeling the nodes in your neck.  If my reassurance is insufficient, rather than worry about it, ask a trained professional (i.e. your doctor) to feel them and then believe him or her and their assessment.
3.  Primarily for your own peace of mind.  
4.  Nope,


Hope this helps.  EWH