Risk from one time exposure?

[nervous814]

Dear Doc,  
         I am 29yr old white male.  I recently (about 12 days ago) had 10 seconds of unprotected vaginal sex. Did not ejaculate.  I've know the female/lived with her for over 2 years now.  We had protected sex one time 3months ago and the condom broke.  I didn't have any symptoms and was not worried then.  However, this recent encounter is a lot different. About a week after, i noticed aches in my my muscles and joints for the last 3 days.  I've had mild fatigue and slight loss of appetite (could be my high anxiety).  I have not noticed any rashs, swollen lymph nodes, fevers or other flu like symptoms.  I asked her if she was tested/clean.  She said that she was as of May and I've never seen her with another male (does not seem to be very sexually active).  I forgot to add she is a white female, 28yrs old.  I consider myself to be a safe person and practice safe sex.  I just had a lapse in judgement and now I fear the worst!  I am going to get tested tomorrow for STDs and HIV at 13days.  My question is, what are my chances from this exposure of contracting HIV?  I know it may be too soon for conclusive results for HIV but doing it for some peice of mind.  And at 13 days will all my STD test be conclusive.  I am worried sick, since i have never felt aches in different parts of my body like this before...not sure what else it could be.  

[nervous814]

Thank you for your response and advice.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to the Forum. you know this person well and it seems that your assessment is that her risk for HIV or other STDs is quite low.  Further, you have her assurance that this is the case. since you have lived with her, I would assume that you would at least have an idea if she were otherwise engaged in high risk behaviors.

Even in the very unlikely circumstance that she has HIV, your risk of infection is also quite low.  The average risk of acquisition of HIV from a single vaginal exposure is between 1 in 1000 and 1 in 2000.  Further, given the brevity of your exposure, your risk would be lower than average.  

Finally, your symptoms should not upset you.  This is cold and flu season and your symptoms are typical of a community acquired, non STD viral infection.  Their timing is also too early for HIV. this is a coincidence, nothing more.

Testing at two weeks will give definitively rule out other common STDs (gonorrhea, chlamydia, NGU).  It would also detect about half of HIV. I am confident your tests will be negative.

I urge you not to worry about this,  Your risk is very, low.  EWH