Aa
Condom use and HIV
Dear Doctors,
First off I would like to thank you for contributing your time to this forum. I know there are a lot of people out there making mistakes and feeling guilty and scared afterwards. I know I am one of them.
Here is my question. 7 days ago, I went to a massage parlor in Orlando, FL. While there, I engaged in a covered blow job that lasted for about 2 minutes and condom protected intercourse that lasted for no more than five minutes with a female masseuse. I believe the condom was intact because if it wasn't I think the female would have told me when she went to take it off. Anyways here are my questions:
1) Did this occurrence put me at risk for HIV or STI? I am not having any symptoms 7 days out but guilty and nervous. The reason for this question is there are some individuals on this site in community forums who have said they have used a condom and acquired HIV or STI.
2) Should I get HIV and STI tested?
3) What are the chances that I could get HIV or a STI from this exposure if the female had either?
Thank you for your time
First off I would like to thank you for contributing your time to this forum. I know there are a lot of people out there making mistakes and feeling guilty and scared afterwards. I know I am one of them.
Here is my question. 7 days ago, I went to a massage parlor in Orlando, FL. While there, I engaged in a covered blow job that lasted for about 2 minutes and condom protected intercourse that lasted for no more than five minutes with a female masseuse. I believe the condom was intact because if it wasn't I think the female would have told me when she went to take it off. Anyways here are my questions:
1) Did this occurrence put me at risk for HIV or STI? I am not having any symptoms 7 days out but guilty and nervous. The reason for this question is there are some individuals on this site in community forums who have said they have used a condom and acquired HIV or STI.
2) Should I get HIV and STI tested?
3) What are the chances that I could get HIV or a STI from this exposure if the female had either?
Thank you for your time
A related discussion, Help me , is it anxiety Or hiv was started.
A related discussion, Genital Wart on Shaft = HIV risk? was started.
A related discussion, CHANCES OF HIV? was started.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Congratulations, but of course no surprise.
1) 16 days probably is 80-90% reliable.
2) Frankly, I don't consider 99.89% and 100% to be different from one another. There are no data on the different performance of duo tests at 4 versus 6 weeks, only experts' best judgment.
3) These details make no difference in risk or in my assessment of your situation. What's important in condom use is whether the condom is in place when the penis is in the vagina or rectum, and whether it breaks. Other details like how it is handled, put on , removed, etc make no known difference, and no logical reason to suspect these things would matter. Any effect they could have is much too small to make any measurable difference in risk.
That will end this thread. Do your best to move on without worry.
1) 16 days probably is 80-90% reliable.
2) Frankly, I don't consider 99.89% and 100% to be different from one another. There are no data on the different performance of duo tests at 4 versus 6 weeks, only experts' best judgment.
3) These details make no difference in risk or in my assessment of your situation. What's important in condom use is whether the condom is in place when the penis is in the vagina or rectum, and whether it breaks. Other details like how it is handled, put on , removed, etc make no known difference, and no logical reason to suspect these things would matter. Any effect they could have is much too small to make any measurable difference in risk.
That will end this thread. Do your best to move on without worry.
Good Afternoon Dr. Handsfield,
I wanted to inform you that I took the 4th generation HIV Duo AB/AG test on 2/12/14 and just received the results today which were non-reactive. I know that this concludes that I didn't acquire HIV from anyone before my exposure on 1/27/2014 but I have a few questions.
1) I know that taking the Duo test at 16 days was too soon but is this a good indicator that I didn't acquire HIV from my exposure described above on 1/27/2014?
2) I have read in other post from Dr. Hook that taking the Duo test at 4 weeks, 28 days and receiving a non-reactive (negative) result is conclusive of not acquiring HIV. Do you agree? I have read that weeks is 99.89% conclusive and 6 weeks is definitely conclusive.
3) Finally, I spoke with the masseuse the other day and she informed me that she always uses condoms and was tested about 3 months ago with negative results. I also asked her if she uses latex condoms and not natural ones like lamb skin. She confirmed the use of latex condoms but what concerned me is that in the process of trying to show me they were latex she showed me that she had them already removed the condoms from their wrappers and placed them in a container that was able to stay closed for easy access and to avoid her boss seeing that she is offering services they don't approve of. I don't remember if she removed the condom she used with me from a wrapper or container but my last question is does it matter if the condom was in the wrapper or a closed container? Or does it only matter that the condom did not break or slip off?
Thank you for your time and consideration. I will keep you updated on my test at 28 days and 6 weeks.
I wanted to inform you that I took the 4th generation HIV Duo AB/AG test on 2/12/14 and just received the results today which were non-reactive. I know that this concludes that I didn't acquire HIV from anyone before my exposure on 1/27/2014 but I have a few questions.
1) I know that taking the Duo test at 16 days was too soon but is this a good indicator that I didn't acquire HIV from my exposure described above on 1/27/2014?
2) I have read in other post from Dr. Hook that taking the Duo test at 4 weeks, 28 days and receiving a non-reactive (negative) result is conclusive of not acquiring HIV. Do you agree? I have read that weeks is 99.89% conclusive and 6 weeks is definitely conclusive.
3) Finally, I spoke with the masseuse the other day and she informed me that she always uses condoms and was tested about 3 months ago with negative results. I also asked her if she uses latex condoms and not natural ones like lamb skin. She confirmed the use of latex condoms but what concerned me is that in the process of trying to show me they were latex she showed me that she had them already removed the condoms from their wrappers and placed them in a container that was able to stay closed for easy access and to avoid her boss seeing that she is offering services they don't approve of. I don't remember if she removed the condom she used with me from a wrapper or container but my last question is does it matter if the condom was in the wrapper or a closed container? Or does it only matter that the condom did not break or slip off?
Thank you for your time and consideration. I will keep you updated on my test at 28 days and 6 weeks.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
1) Yes, that's what I meant.
2) You correctly understand my meaning.
3) I already gave you my risk assessment; see Q&A no. 3 above. Nothing you have added here changes my opinion or advice.
Really, don't worry about this. Nobody gets HIV after exposures like this, if the condom remains intact. And the odds are your massage parlor partner doesn't have HIV anyway. HIV remains rare in the US; even in commercial sex workers, typically under 1% are infected, often less than 1 in 1,000.
But if you remain nervous, see Q&A no. 2 from last time and have an HIV test for reassurance.
2) You correctly understand my meaning.
3) I already gave you my risk assessment; see Q&A no. 3 above. Nothing you have added here changes my opinion or advice.
Really, don't worry about this. Nobody gets HIV after exposures like this, if the condom remains intact. And the odds are your massage parlor partner doesn't have HIV anyway. HIV remains rare in the US; even in commercial sex workers, typically under 1% are infected, often less than 1 in 1,000.
But if you remain nervous, see Q&A no. 2 from last time and have an HIV test for reassurance.
Dear Dr. Handsfield,
I am a little confused on your responses so I will try to clarify to get a better understanding of my risk. I know that oral sex with or without a condom carries no risk of HIV infection. My main concern is the vaginal intercourse. Her are my last few questions:
1) When you described that "If the head of your penis and the urethral opening were covered, you have nothing to worry about." Were you referring to the vaginal intercourse?
2) I know the condom was intact and didn't break but I have read in a few post on this site and on thebody.com about slippage. What are they talking about? Do you and others mean if the condom slips off completely exposing the head of the penis and urethral opening or if it just slips up a little exposing more of the shaft of the penis? I know the head and the urethral opening were covered but the condom may have slipped up a little from the base of my penis.
3) From what you have read from my first post and from this one, what is your risk assessment? I am having a lot of anxiety right now. I am married and have a six month old child and concerned that I made the biggest mistake of my life. Should I get tested from all the information I have given you?
Thank you for your time and consideration.
I am a little confused on your responses so I will try to clarify to get a better understanding of my risk. I know that oral sex with or without a condom carries no risk of HIV infection. My main concern is the vaginal intercourse. Her are my last few questions:
1) When you described that "If the head of your penis and the urethral opening were covered, you have nothing to worry about." Were you referring to the vaginal intercourse?
2) I know the condom was intact and didn't break but I have read in a few post on this site and on thebody.com about slippage. What are they talking about? Do you and others mean if the condom slips off completely exposing the head of the penis and urethral opening or if it just slips up a little exposing more of the shaft of the penis? I know the head and the urethral opening were covered but the condom may have slipped up a little from the base of my penis.
3) From what you have read from my first post and from this one, what is your risk assessment? I am having a lot of anxiety right now. I am married and have a six month old child and concerned that I made the biggest mistake of my life. Should I get tested from all the information I have given you?
Thank you for your time and consideration.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum and thanks for your question.
Below is a link to a thread that discusses condom performance in great detail. Although a few years old, the information remains accurate, with one exception: condoms are somewhat less effective against genital HSV-2 infection than described in the thread:
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/665887
Oral sex carries no HIV risk even without a condom. With an intact condom in place, there is no chance you were infected. If the head of your penis and the urethral opening were covered, you have nothing to worry about. To your specific questions:
1) Anybody can say anything they want on the web. Not only do some people give misinformation intentionally, but many people mis-judge when and from whom they were infected. The fact remains that there are no proved cases of HIV transmission by oral sex from an oral to penile partner. Some other STDs, especially herpes and HPV, are sometimes acquired despite condoms. But this is from vaginal or anal sex, not oral; and typically occurs because of skin contact above the condom -- which is generally not an issue for oral sex.
2) All people who are sexually active and non-monogamous should have routine HIV and STD testing (gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis) from time to time, like once a year. If you haven't been tested recently, this would be a good time, while it's on your mind. But not beause of this particular event.
3) Zero risk for all practical purposes.
I hope this has been helpful. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
Below is a link to a thread that discusses condom performance in great detail. Although a few years old, the information remains accurate, with one exception: condoms are somewhat less effective against genital HSV-2 infection than described in the thread:
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/665887
Oral sex carries no HIV risk even without a condom. With an intact condom in place, there is no chance you were infected. If the head of your penis and the urethral opening were covered, you have nothing to worry about. To your specific questions:
1) Anybody can say anything they want on the web. Not only do some people give misinformation intentionally, but many people mis-judge when and from whom they were infected. The fact remains that there are no proved cases of HIV transmission by oral sex from an oral to penile partner. Some other STDs, especially herpes and HPV, are sometimes acquired despite condoms. But this is from vaginal or anal sex, not oral; and typically occurs because of skin contact above the condom -- which is generally not an issue for oral sex.
2) All people who are sexually active and non-monogamous should have routine HIV and STD testing (gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis) from time to time, like once a year. If you haven't been tested recently, this would be a good time, while it's on your mind. But not beause of this particular event.
3) Zero risk for all practical purposes.
I hope this has been helpful. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
You are reading content posted in the HIV - Prevention Forum
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
Can I get HIV from surfaces, like toilet seats?
Can you get HIV from casual contact, like hugging?
Frequency of HIV testing depends on your risk.
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) may help prevent HIV infection.
