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Exposure from Pre-Ejaculate
Hi--
I have been scouring the internet and online databases, but still haven't found conclusive statistics about the exposure risk from pre-ejaculate. My situation is that I may have been exposed 8 weeks ago-- was a bit intoxicated and began having vaginal intercourse for no more than 3-4 minutes, then he abruptly pulled out and said that the condom had broken. At this point I realized the dangers of sex while intoxicated and nothing further happened after that. I unfortunately did not check to see where the tear occurred, or if it fact it had happened. The next morning I asked again about the broken condom, and he said that it had slipped, not broken, and that there was no direct exposure. He also said that he had been tested for HIV a week before and had been negative.
I should be reassured by this, but I attend a university in south africa where student infection rates are high, and i am unsure of his sexual activity during the window period. I hope that someone wouldn't lie about getting tested, but I am still freaked out. Also, since about a week after the possible exposure, I began to have symptoms of a sinus infection including post-nasal drip, swollen glands and pressure in my forehead. I was treated with Augmentin and Nasonex, and the congestion has cleared up for the most part but the swollen glands under my chin, and in my neck are still there. I have chronic sinusitis but never remembered my glands remaining swollen for this long.
I have been extremely stressed out-- could the gland still be swollen from stress? Or allergies?
Also, if the condom did in fact tear, what are my chances of being infected from this brief exposure to pre-***?
I am planning on going to get tested soon, but am terrified of getting a positive result-- I always practice safer sex and am terrified that one mistake will result in a positive result.
Please help me get some perspective (if there is any...) Thank you.
I have been scouring the internet and online databases, but still haven't found conclusive statistics about the exposure risk from pre-ejaculate. My situation is that I may have been exposed 8 weeks ago-- was a bit intoxicated and began having vaginal intercourse for no more than 3-4 minutes, then he abruptly pulled out and said that the condom had broken. At this point I realized the dangers of sex while intoxicated and nothing further happened after that. I unfortunately did not check to see where the tear occurred, or if it fact it had happened. The next morning I asked again about the broken condom, and he said that it had slipped, not broken, and that there was no direct exposure. He also said that he had been tested for HIV a week before and had been negative.
I should be reassured by this, but I attend a university in south africa where student infection rates are high, and i am unsure of his sexual activity during the window period. I hope that someone wouldn't lie about getting tested, but I am still freaked out. Also, since about a week after the possible exposure, I began to have symptoms of a sinus infection including post-nasal drip, swollen glands and pressure in my forehead. I was treated with Augmentin and Nasonex, and the congestion has cleared up for the most part but the swollen glands under my chin, and in my neck are still there. I have chronic sinusitis but never remembered my glands remaining swollen for this long.
I have been extremely stressed out-- could the gland still be swollen from stress? Or allergies?
Also, if the condom did in fact tear, what are my chances of being infected from this brief exposure to pre-***?
I am planning on going to get tested soon, but am terrified of getting a positive result-- I always practice safer sex and am terrified that one mistake will result in a positive result.
Please help me get some perspective (if there is any...) Thank you.
"worst case scenario" that is actually the problem here.Worst can be HIV will jump in air and travel all the way inside you...please be optimistic. And yes you should test for HIV ( which to my belief will be -ve ) as only that will relieve you i guess.
Let me tell you story of mine. i had 11 risky encounters ( risky because i didn't know the HIV status of other person and ti was the place where around 48 % of people are positive) It was only after the last encounter i realized what if condom had broken ( i even didn't no whether there was condom break and also i didn't know the HIV status of my partners). And then suddenly i feared HIV. I got tested only after 5 days of last encounter and it came -ve ( no doubts)... After that i started searching over net and realized that minimum of 6 weeks ( for 95 % of us) are required to get sufficient detectable antibodies. I could gather courage only after 1.5 yrs and went for test. It turned out -ve. Then i feared if i am one of those rarest who will never produce antibodies....
See the point is it what we focus on... or really we want to focus....Life is short to keep worrying..or more specific to think negative. we have trained our minds to be pessimist. as you said you are not able to get rid of the thought that condom broke. But important was you guys realized it. that was important. Also the other person was sure of his HIV status. now compare this to situation of mine and just realize to how safer side you are.
i know the agony your have going through and it's well understood as i can easily put myself in your place ( as i have experienced it). but i know that we only laugh when we look back at it.
Well i am not mentioning any statistics or judging your risk as i am not the expert but just one of them ( like you ) who have passed through this dreaded experience.
And let me tell you one thing the best person who can help you in this matter is yourself.
Being worried about HIV is natural; it’s a scary thing, but if that fear is controlling your life, that isn’t natural, and you should overcome it. If you are going through this, you’re not alone, it happens more often than people realize. It even happened to me.
HIV is scary, not only for those who know they are infected, but for everyone. No one is immune. However, if you fear you have been infected and are terrified, it may help to stop to consider what it is about HIV that scares you so much. Is it fear of getting sick and dying? Is it the stigma attached to the disease? Is it a fear of a possible lack of future intimacy? Is it guilt over whatever you did that you feel may have led you to be infected? Is it a fear of taking tons of drugs for the rest of your life, which have terrible side effects? For me, it is “yes” to all of the above. But, once you realize why you’re afraid, you can make steps to control the fear and not let the fear control you. It is good to be afraid of HIV. HIV is frightening, and if you have a healthy fear of it, you will take steps to protect yourself. Don’t let the fear control you though.
Hope this helps you.....
Let me tell you story of mine. i had 11 risky encounters ( risky because i didn't know the HIV status of other person and ti was the place where around 48 % of people are positive) It was only after the last encounter i realized what if condom had broken ( i even didn't no whether there was condom break and also i didn't know the HIV status of my partners). And then suddenly i feared HIV. I got tested only after 5 days of last encounter and it came -ve ( no doubts)... After that i started searching over net and realized that minimum of 6 weeks ( for 95 % of us) are required to get sufficient detectable antibodies. I could gather courage only after 1.5 yrs and went for test. It turned out -ve. Then i feared if i am one of those rarest who will never produce antibodies....
See the point is it what we focus on... or really we want to focus....Life is short to keep worrying..or more specific to think negative. we have trained our minds to be pessimist. as you said you are not able to get rid of the thought that condom broke. But important was you guys realized it. that was important. Also the other person was sure of his HIV status. now compare this to situation of mine and just realize to how safer side you are.
i know the agony your have going through and it's well understood as i can easily put myself in your place ( as i have experienced it). but i know that we only laugh when we look back at it.
Well i am not mentioning any statistics or judging your risk as i am not the expert but just one of them ( like you ) who have passed through this dreaded experience.
And let me tell you one thing the best person who can help you in this matter is yourself.
Being worried about HIV is natural; it’s a scary thing, but if that fear is controlling your life, that isn’t natural, and you should overcome it. If you are going through this, you’re not alone, it happens more often than people realize. It even happened to me.
HIV is scary, not only for those who know they are infected, but for everyone. No one is immune. However, if you fear you have been infected and are terrified, it may help to stop to consider what it is about HIV that scares you so much. Is it fear of getting sick and dying? Is it the stigma attached to the disease? Is it a fear of a possible lack of future intimacy? Is it guilt over whatever you did that you feel may have led you to be infected? Is it a fear of taking tons of drugs for the rest of your life, which have terrible side effects? For me, it is “yes” to all of the above. But, once you realize why you’re afraid, you can make steps to control the fear and not let the fear control you. It is good to be afraid of HIV. HIV is frightening, and if you have a healthy fear of it, you will take steps to protect yourself. Don’t let the fear control you though.
Hope this helps you.....
The only way to know your status is by testing. You had a risk because of condom breakage.
Thanks for your reassurance. I still though, am trying to look at the worst case scenario (that the condom did break), and find some sort of probability of risk from pre-ejaulatory fluids! Anyone??
Also, I wasn't sure I believed that a condom could 'slip' off an erect penis... but i suppose anything is possible...
Also, I wasn't sure I believed that a condom could 'slip' off an erect penis... but i suppose anything is possible...
It's non existent to my knowledge...anxious1199( thats how i know you) but judging from what you have written i am sure that there is no chance of HIV infection...
Below are the positives of your incident.
1. Most importantly the guy had knowledge of his HIV status. He said he was -ve ( you have to believe him as u were ready for sex only after you had faith in him)
2. Condom slipped and he realized it. So he pulled back . So this shows that guy is aware of safe sex practice.
3. He didn't ejaculate. This just reduce the risk of incident to zero.
I would say just think of above three positive sides of the incident. Be optimistic . If you believe in god keep faith in him. He is always there to helps us in moments of crisis.
When i had risky sexual incident with CSW i use repeat following sentence to " My every act of sex was safe and without any hiv infection" often and this helped me to be optimistic about my incident. So if whenever tght of the incident comes to your mind repeat that affirmation and you will feel better...... Hope this helps to relieve you....Please be calm and optimistic...As you are worried for your life please don't waste by bieng bothered...you have done everything to be on safer side...but be careful that from next time you are in total conscious while having sex....enjoy life..you are safe
Below are the positives of your incident.
1. Most importantly the guy had knowledge of his HIV status. He said he was -ve ( you have to believe him as u were ready for sex only after you had faith in him)
2. Condom slipped and he realized it. So he pulled back . So this shows that guy is aware of safe sex practice.
3. He didn't ejaculate. This just reduce the risk of incident to zero.
I would say just think of above three positive sides of the incident. Be optimistic . If you believe in god keep faith in him. He is always there to helps us in moments of crisis.
When i had risky sexual incident with CSW i use repeat following sentence to " My every act of sex was safe and without any hiv infection" often and this helped me to be optimistic about my incident. So if whenever tght of the incident comes to your mind repeat that affirmation and you will feel better...... Hope this helps to relieve you....Please be calm and optimistic...As you are worried for your life please don't waste by bieng bothered...you have done everything to be on safer side...but be careful that from next time you are in total conscious while having sex....enjoy life..you are safe
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