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Concerns over PEP after brief condom breakage.
Hello Teak,
I have a question I'd like to ask you. I engaged in protected vaginal intercourse with a CSW here in a spa in Malaysia. Unfortunately towards the end of the act, my condom broke - I must have had intercourse for about a minute or two before realising. Upon realisation, I immediately stopped intercourse and freaked out. Upon asking the CSW - she assured me that she's HIV negative and that she get's checked every six months in order to maintain employment. Needless to say I was exposed at low risk I understand. In fear of transmission and anxiety I got in touch with a ID specialist here, and requested that I be given a 30 day course of PEP [Tenvir-Em (300mg) & Strocrin (efavirenz - 600mg)] - was told to take Tenvir-Em in the AM and Strocrin in the PM before sleep. I have been following through on this regiment quite stringently but have a few questions that I feel have caused worry in me for the last few days:
1. I am uncircumcised - and assuming my condom had broken and I was having intercourse unprotected for nearly a minute ++ - does this seriously increase my risk of HIV transmission?
2. Is taking PEP this way - Tenvir-EM in the AM and Strocrin in the PM an effective, and internationally recognized method of PEP, and is it effective in inhibiting HIV seroconversion?
3. And this is where I have most concern - I keep my PEP meds in my laptop bag in the front pocket. It says on the meds that they should not be exposed to direct sunlight or moisture - which I havent. But what I am worried about is the fact that I am sure that at time the meds in my bag have been in the boot of my car for a maybe 1-2 hours at a temperature higher than 30 degrees. On the PEP meds it says that these medications need to be stored below 30 degrees - my question is that if these meds have been exposed a few times to higher temperatures - would it mean that these tablets are rendered useless as effective PEP? I'm at my 2 weeks mark now, and plan to go back to the ID specialist and request a change of tablets or refill.
Awaiting your kind feedback sir.
Sincerely,
Benoit Lucent.
I have a question I'd like to ask you. I engaged in protected vaginal intercourse with a CSW here in a spa in Malaysia. Unfortunately towards the end of the act, my condom broke - I must have had intercourse for about a minute or two before realising. Upon realisation, I immediately stopped intercourse and freaked out. Upon asking the CSW - she assured me that she's HIV negative and that she get's checked every six months in order to maintain employment. Needless to say I was exposed at low risk I understand. In fear of transmission and anxiety I got in touch with a ID specialist here, and requested that I be given a 30 day course of PEP [Tenvir-Em (300mg) & Strocrin (efavirenz - 600mg)] - was told to take Tenvir-Em in the AM and Strocrin in the PM before sleep. I have been following through on this regiment quite stringently but have a few questions that I feel have caused worry in me for the last few days:
1. I am uncircumcised - and assuming my condom had broken and I was having intercourse unprotected for nearly a minute ++ - does this seriously increase my risk of HIV transmission?
2. Is taking PEP this way - Tenvir-EM in the AM and Strocrin in the PM an effective, and internationally recognized method of PEP, and is it effective in inhibiting HIV seroconversion?
3. And this is where I have most concern - I keep my PEP meds in my laptop bag in the front pocket. It says on the meds that they should not be exposed to direct sunlight or moisture - which I havent. But what I am worried about is the fact that I am sure that at time the meds in my bag have been in the boot of my car for a maybe 1-2 hours at a temperature higher than 30 degrees. On the PEP meds it says that these medications need to be stored below 30 degrees - my question is that if these meds have been exposed a few times to higher temperatures - would it mean that these tablets are rendered useless as effective PEP? I'm at my 2 weeks mark now, and plan to go back to the ID specialist and request a change of tablets or refill.
Awaiting your kind feedback sir.
Sincerely,
Benoit Lucent.
I will be meeting the ID specialist tomorrow for further enquiry - but is PEP rendered completely ineffective if exposed to slightly higher temperatures for a few hours? Rest assured Teak, I shall be meeting the Infectious Disease Specialist and asking him this however - just wanted to know your opinion sir. Thank you :)
Also Teak - I started PEP 14 hours post exposure. Do you recommend I go and get these medications replaced due to possible exposure to higher temperature?
Hello Teak,
No - I was advised in terms of when to take medications. The ID specialist told me to take Tenvir EM in the AM, and Strocrin in the PM at a generic 12 hour gap. However there wasn't as such any major advice given to me about how I should keep the medication. I don't think they have been exposed to more than 33-35 degrees...but I would like to know what your thoughts are?
No - I was advised in terms of when to take medications. The ID specialist told me to take Tenvir EM in the AM, and Strocrin in the PM at a generic 12 hour gap. However there wasn't as such any major advice given to me about how I should keep the medication. I don't think they have been exposed to more than 33-35 degrees...but I would like to know what your thoughts are?
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