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INFECTION FROM USED CONDOM
I had protected oral and vaginal with a Mazatlan MX csw. I was too naive to have made a fuss when I didn't see any packaging. The condom stayed intact and appeared in good shape when I rolled it off. I returned to Canada to my normal life and had unprotected sex with a my partner who complained of itchiness some days later. At day 10, I developed pain (not related urination) in last few cm of my penus and went to the STD clinic on day 13 where they did a swap/urine NAAT and blood, including HIV antibody (there was no mention that a DUO test was available for an incremental fee). I also went to my GP on day 20 to repeat the tests (HIV antibody). The common feedback was "you used a condom so there isn't much to worry about."
I had stopped having sex as soon as the my pain appeared. My GP indicated that it was nothing so get on with my life. My pain subsided after 20 days so I had unprotected sex again and a few days later she subsequently developed vaginal/cervix that was followed a few days later with a day of fever, night sweats, chills and fatigue. I developed a stiff neck and obvious swelling (neck and right clavicle) that lasted for 4 weeks out until week 7. I returned to my GP who repeated the STD panel - negative and the HIV antibody (negative at day 44). I obviously disclosed the situation to my partner who's GP characterized her cervix as having a red halo and discharge which was sampled and ordered a full STD panel and HIV Duo test - we now await the results. Her initial fever/nausea/fatigue lasted a few days and returned 3-4 weeks later, which is her present condition.
I gone over this a 1000 times and the only possible source of infection that I can see was the possibility of an undetectable trick. infection and/or some other infection that came from a used condom. I know the HIV virus dies quickly when outside the body, but we're looking at a possible horrific outcome. Please advise.
I had stopped having sex as soon as the my pain appeared. My GP indicated that it was nothing so get on with my life. My pain subsided after 20 days so I had unprotected sex again and a few days later she subsequently developed vaginal/cervix that was followed a few days later with a day of fever, night sweats, chills and fatigue. I developed a stiff neck and obvious swelling (neck and right clavicle) that lasted for 4 weeks out until week 7. I returned to my GP who repeated the STD panel - negative and the HIV antibody (negative at day 44). I obviously disclosed the situation to my partner who's GP characterized her cervix as having a red halo and discharge which was sampled and ordered a full STD panel and HIV Duo test - we now await the results. Her initial fever/nausea/fatigue lasted a few days and returned 3-4 weeks later, which is her present condition.
I gone over this a 1000 times and the only possible source of infection that I can see was the possibility of an undetectable trick. infection and/or some other infection that came from a used condom. I know the HIV virus dies quickly when outside the body, but we're looking at a possible horrific outcome. Please advise.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum. Thanks for your question. I also scanned your discussions on the community forum.
Given your HIV test results, your continuing concerns about the sexual exposure are now irrelevant. In judging whether or not someone has HIV, test results overrule all other considerations, as long as testing is done sufficiently long after exposure. That interval is 4-8 weeks, depending on the specific tests(s) done.
In your situation, the negative duo test at 20 days was somewhere around 99% reliable, ane the repeat negative at 6 weeks (44 days) nailed it: for sure you didn't catch HIV. It doesn't matter what symptoms you had (and in any case your symptoms really don't suggest a new HIV infection) or how high risk the exposure may have been (yours was essentially zero risk, as your GP told you).
For these reasons, how long HIV can survive on inanimate surfaces, or whether a used condom carries any risk, are entirely meaningless exercises. No matter how high the risk might have been, your test results prove you weren't infected. If you are interested in why official advice is usually for HIV testing at 3 months despite reliable results much earlier than that, take a look at the thread linked at the end of this reply.
For those reasons, "I obviously disclosed the situation to my partner" was an overreaction. You did not place her at risk for HIV or any other STD. So I'm not going to speculate about the appearance of her cervix, which cannot possibly have anything to do with your extramartital activities -- and for those reasons I expect her STD/HIV test results to be negative. (If positive, you'll have to look to sources other than your Mazatlan exposure.)
So try not to worry about this. You'll obviously have to deal with your symptoms, if they persist, and with the emotional/relationship issues. But you can entirely forget HIV or other STD consequences from all this.
Here is the thread on HIV testing intervals:
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/HIV-Prevention/what-is-the-window-period-for-hiv/show/1704700
I hope this is helpful. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
Given your HIV test results, your continuing concerns about the sexual exposure are now irrelevant. In judging whether or not someone has HIV, test results overrule all other considerations, as long as testing is done sufficiently long after exposure. That interval is 4-8 weeks, depending on the specific tests(s) done.
In your situation, the negative duo test at 20 days was somewhere around 99% reliable, ane the repeat negative at 6 weeks (44 days) nailed it: for sure you didn't catch HIV. It doesn't matter what symptoms you had (and in any case your symptoms really don't suggest a new HIV infection) or how high risk the exposure may have been (yours was essentially zero risk, as your GP told you).
For these reasons, how long HIV can survive on inanimate surfaces, or whether a used condom carries any risk, are entirely meaningless exercises. No matter how high the risk might have been, your test results prove you weren't infected. If you are interested in why official advice is usually for HIV testing at 3 months despite reliable results much earlier than that, take a look at the thread linked at the end of this reply.
For those reasons, "I obviously disclosed the situation to my partner" was an overreaction. You did not place her at risk for HIV or any other STD. So I'm not going to speculate about the appearance of her cervix, which cannot possibly have anything to do with your extramartital activities -- and for those reasons I expect her STD/HIV test results to be negative. (If positive, you'll have to look to sources other than your Mazatlan exposure.)
So try not to worry about this. You'll obviously have to deal with your symptoms, if they persist, and with the emotional/relationship issues. But you can entirely forget HIV or other STD consequences from all this.
Here is the thread on HIV testing intervals:
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/HIV-Prevention/what-is-the-window-period-for-hiv/show/1704700
I hope this is helpful. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
Note, I place this question in the wrong forum and subsequently sent it over to the fee-for-service expert advice column and it awaits a reply.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
It's perfectly OK to get opinions on more than one forum.
Thanks Dr. H, I have zero other risks so it's Mazatlan or nothing. My own HIV tests were antibody only so I'm putting reliance on the 44 day antibody test.
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