Test Again, Thoughts?

[ScaredAnxietyHiv]

I am a 39 year old heterosexual white male who is married with a family.  I made the mistake of hooking up with an African American female from the internet.  This happened 6 weeks and 3 days ago and she performed unprotected oral sex on me.  I posted this issue in the public HIV forum and was told by Teak that I do not have an d HIV concern.  I guess i would also like to hear that from a doctor.  At the 4 week mark the woman who performed oral sex on me and I both tested negative for HIV via and antibody test.  Please understand that I have had extreme anxiety over this situation and every little symptom I am having I contribute to HIV when I should probably be chalking them up to stress, anxiety, allergies, and a cold.  I have been told that receiving oral sex is not a risk for HIV, I guess I need to hear it one more time.  Do you agree with Teak that I do not have and HIV concern?  Do I need to test again because I may have a concern?  Can I go back to my normal life with my wife and family?Thank you for your time.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

First let me repeat- she is very unlikely to have HIV and even if she does,  no one has ever gotten HIV from receipt of oral sex.  

Concerns raised about the "window" period overstate the likelihood of this being operative.  This is basically a numbers game.  The window period is the increasingly brief period of time between acquisition of HIV and development of a positive blood test. when this is considered in the context of the inefficiency of HIV transmission and the rarity of infection, it become almost a non-issue, particularly for you given the circumstances of your exposure.  Anyone who was in the "window period" would have a positive blood test 4 weeks later.

My advice is to stay of the internet.  it will mislead you. EWH

[ScaredAnxietyHiv]

Not sure if I am allotted a follow up question.  If not I will gladly  pay again.  My question is in regards to the window period.  What if she were to become infected only a week or so before she performed the oral on me, am I still ok?  I guess i am just concerned about the window period based on some things I have seen on the web.  I do realize my exposure  is really and no risk exposure.  If you could please explain the window period  a little more and explain to me why that makes this event no risk as welk I would appreciate it.  I guess my concern is that maybe she did have it and hadnt seroconverted yet.  Thank You

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Glad I could help. EWH

[ScaredAnxietyHiv]

Thank you Sir, I feel as if a giant monkey has been removed from my back.  Have a wonderful weekend.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to the Forum. I will try to help.  there is no reason to worry further about your concerns.   I say this for several reasons.  These include:

1.  There are no cases of HIV reported in which men have acquired HIV from receipt of oral sex.
2.  Even before testing, there was little chance that your partner had HIV.  Few women, even commercial sex workers, have HIV.
3.  Her tests prove that she did not have HIV when you received oral sex.  Even if she had been in the "window" period before developing a positive antibody test when you had sex, by 4 weeks later her test would have been positive. Thus you can be entirely sure she did not have HIV at the time you had sex.

You have no reason for further concern.  You do not need additional testing and there is no reason related to the event you have described to abstain from sex with your wife.  I hope my comments are helpful. EWH