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Window period and Coinfection
After a dumb mistake of unprotected vaginal sex I tested at 2 months for all STDs, Hepatitis A,B, and C and HIV (all negative). What concerned me was the window period so I decided to test again for HIV at 4 months (ELISA) which was also negative. Now, I know that some say 6 weeks is definitive while others say 3 months and 6 months is definitive. I would be fine with my negative tests but what scares me is the possibility of HCV coinfection that may delay the HIV window period. (I couldn't find anything in the forum about this). I am scared that maybe my 2 month test for HCV was too early and that HCV antibodies, which I heard are deveoloped before HIV, had not shown up yet. Now, 8 months later I have a Nabothian cyst on my cervix which my gynocologist said was normal (I received a normal pap smear result), I am feeling pain in both of my sides by my ribs that have been happenening for about a week, spine pain that lasted about 2 days and now very light tingling (no numbness) occasionally in my feet and hands. Could that be from bad circulation? I just want to know, with these symptoms after 8 months, if I am in the clear? Do you recommend further testing for both HIV and HCV? Its hard to move on and forget with these symptoms. Thank you for your time and I think your forum is great. You definately give people the strength they need to move on.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Contrary to popular belief, HCV is not sexually transmitted, or only rarely so. We never test for HCV in my STD clinic, unless someone has other risks, such as a history of injection drug use.
In any case, almost no medical condition alters the window period for the HIV test, and HCV certainly doesn't do so; even if you acquired HCV simultaneously with HIV, a negative HIV test 4 months after exposure is absolute proof you weren't infected. Your symptoms make no difference; your test results prove they are not due to HIV, and they don't suggest HIV anyway. Your gyn is right about Nabothian cysts; they are normal in many women.
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
In any case, almost no medical condition alters the window period for the HIV test, and HCV certainly doesn't do so; even if you acquired HCV simultaneously with HIV, a negative HIV test 4 months after exposure is absolute proof you weren't infected. Your symptoms make no difference; your test results prove they are not due to HIV, and they don't suggest HIV anyway. Your gyn is right about Nabothian cysts; they are normal in many women.
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Probably just bad luck. Who knows why coincidences occur? And who knows whether the story is true? Even if the person who said so truly believes it, maybe s/he also had another exposure that s/he didn't even know about. There is no point in trying to explain individual rare events, because they teach nothing realistic about prevention that others can put to use.
Doctor, Thank you. Your knowledge and comments have made a big difference now in the way I feel. I am a lot more conifident on my 4 month negative test now. I'm just curious, I've read on The Body website that one person was coinfected with HCV and HIV at the same time (which was why I was so concerned in the first place) and had not tested positive for a year after exposure. What would cause this rare experience to happen? Do you even believe this is true? I am just very curious about that incident. I hope you are able to answer this. Thank you.
Hi, i am a 24 year old male, i had oral sex with a female three months ago and i dont know about her HIV status. I became paranoid after that day coz of the fact that she might have transmitted HIV to me. My doctor performed a lot of tests on me including Urine DR, CBC, ESR, VDRL, Urine Culture and Growth. All came back perfect. These tests were performed 1 month after my contact with the female. I was under really tension and stress throughout thinking that i was gonna die and i still am i beleive. I complained of having a penile dischage so the doctor performed Urine tests on me again but everything came back normal.I wasnt still satisfied, going crazy coz i knew that HIV Antibodies canot be detected before 3 months. 3 days ago, i started having a flu like condition which really had me going crazy and thinking. Finally today, exactly 2 months and 30 days after my exposure to the female i had an HIV test done which came out negative. I was also scared that i might be developing lymph nodes in different parts of my body which the doctor checked and explained me that what u have dont look like lymph nodes and instead he explained me thepossible sites for lymph nodes in a body. Now i beleive that i have lymph nodes in my neck, which i cant see. So i think its all in my mind but my neck feels very stiff, it doesnt hurt but it feels stiff, i dont feel any pain as such but sometimes i have difficulty swallowing and i do have a flu like condition, i dont have a running nose nor do i have a sore throat but i think i started smoking a lot in these past couple of days as well, with that i have smokey eyes at night too. CaN u please explain this situation to me and like i said i just got myself tested at 3 months (approx) so what are my chances and should i have myself retested. Please shed somelight on my current physical situation that i have explained to u as well. Thankyou
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
None.
This is my last reply or comment on this thread.
This is my last reply or comment on this thread.
I know this sounds crazy and I'm starting to think that all my concerns are based on pure anxiety because I just turned the t.v. on and the channel had a commercial about HIV and AIDS which starts to make my mind wander and thinking its some kind of "sign" to me. Just curious, if I wanted to get tested sometime in the future (although I had a neg. 4 month test) what are the chances of my result changing? I like the way you add everything together to give the estimate. I'm just curious thanks!
true , i took it up too year all negative , u are evn safe too gave blood
Doctor,
Just curious, the man I slept with claimed that he was clean but also has a history of being promiscuous with many women. Do you think I could have tested at the 6 week mark and have been done? Thanks. Your words are reassuring.
Also, is it true that symptoms of HIV start way after 8 months of aquiring it anyway? (not meaning ARS)
Just curious, the man I slept with claimed that he was clean but also has a history of being promiscuous with many women. Do you think I could have tested at the 6 week mark and have been done? Thanks. Your words are reassuring.
Also, is it true that symptoms of HIV start way after 8 months of aquiring it anyway? (not meaning ARS)
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Testing at 6 weeks would have been fine.
Symptoms of overt AIDS--meaning symptoms of an opportunistic infection or malignancy, or AIDS wasting syndrome--have average onset somewhere around 5 years after infection, but it can be as short as a few months or as long as 20 years (or never, in a lucky few).
Symptoms of overt AIDS--meaning symptoms of an opportunistic infection or malignancy, or AIDS wasting syndrome--have average onset somewhere around 5 years after infection, but it can be as short as a few months or as long as 20 years (or never, in a lucky few).
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