Window period question?

[Ryliee12]

Hi, I want to know how long after being exposed to HIV is one infectious and able to transmit to someone else? For example if someone has sex today at 3pm and gets infected, and then goes and has sex with another person a 3:30pm will they infect that person?
I’m confused because the window period is considered from 10 days to 3 months, but what about the period before those 10 days? From the day of exposure to the 10th day what happens? Are you still infected and can infect others?

[AnxiousNoMore]

First answer the question in more detail. Oral, anal or vaginal?

[Ryliee12]

Vaginal. I’m female. Please help me. I know my test is negative after 90 days but I’m still worried because what if he was in his window period? Would that affect my window period?

[AnxiousNoMore]

1. Any test is conclusive after 3 months so you need to move on.
2.I don't know why you think his window period has anything to do with yours, but 1 makes this idea irrelevant anyway.

[Ryliee12]

But can you also explain how long it takes for a person to get hiv from an exposure and then is she/he immediately infectious? Why does Curfew says it takes days for the virus to replicate? Don’t you get infected immediately and then can immediately transmit the virus?  

[CurfewX]

No - like every other disease in the world, HIV has an incubation period.  Also, this question doesn't make a lot of sense.  IF he had HIV, it doesn't matter when he got HIV - he either transmitted it to you or not, and obviously he did not since your test is conclusively negative.

[Ryliee12]

Ok. And also can a person transmit hiv if he is in the window period and before his antibodies have been made? Or is hiv only transmittable after antibodies?

[CurfewX]

It is only transmittable after it has replicated sufficiently to create a detectable viral load.   Antibodies have nothing to do with it.

Again, it does not matter.  You did not get HIV.

[AnxiousNoMore]

You don't have hiv so move on instead of asking neverending irrelevant questions.

[Ryliee12]

Unfortunately I had a new risk today, I kissed a guy and his chewing gum came in my mouth directly without being exposed to air, would this be a risk? They say pre chewed food can transmit hiv so is a chewing gum the same?

[mike_no]

HIV is essentially a sexually transmitted disease. Chewing some one else's gum is as good as deep kissing and that's not a risk for HIV transmission.

I urge you to read about HIV and it's transmission in the FAQ section of this forum for your knowledge. Also, if you are always bothered with irrational fear of this or any other disease please see a therapist.

Also, I am not sure who are this 'they' that you are referring to, it is widely advertised that causal contact is not a risk for HIV.  

[Ryliee12]

I read on Internet about cases where babies got hiv from pre chewed food! That’s why I was worried that me chewing the guys gum directly from his mouth would be the same as pre chewed food? Are you certain it’s no risk? What if there was blood on the gum? It was never exposed to air it was mouth to mouth transfer!

[CurfewX]

Risks for HIV are:
1) having unprotected, penetrative anal or vaginal sex, or
2) sharing intravenous needles.

Regardless of what incredible stories you have read on the internet. these are the only two risks that are of any concern to you.   You CANNOT get HIV from shared chewing gum.

[Ryliee12]

Even if the chewing gum went directly from his mouth to mine during kissing? That means if there was his blood on the chewing gum it could have gone into my bloodstream directly! I’m worried about that!

[mike_no]

First things first, stop reading too much about HIV on the internet, you are only misinterpreting information. Half knowledge is dangerous than ignorance.

What you read might be a theoretical risk for infants because of their underdeveloped oral muscosal lining, it is suspected that it is an effective route for infection as the virus can reach out to the cells for infection. The credibility of that information is questionable as it is also proven that saliva has proteins and some amount of salt content that inhibits the virus.

You are a full grown adult, that information has no relevance to you.

Do you realize you probably have an issue here, you chose to 'assume' that this other person must be HIV positive, now that's a bigger problem you need to address. You probably have OCD and you need to see a therapist for it.

This is HIV prevention forum, we can't keep educating you on your anxiety driven questions nor can we provide you anxiety support. There is a separate forum for that. I will reiterate, please see a therapist for your irrational fears.

[Ryliee12]

Last concern, does earwax contain hiv? I kicked a guy’s ear and I’m wondering if this could transmit hiv if he had blood in his ear with earwax

[Ryliee12]

Licked* not kicked. I had my tongue inside his ear so could earwax have hiv?

[Kirstie_MHModerator]

You have been fully advised of the only two ways that HIV is transmitted in adults.  There is no need to continue posting about other no-risk concerns.

********* THREAD CLOSED *********

[CurfewX]

This is a risk assessment and testing forum.  Do you have a risk you would like to discuss?

Days, not hours, until someone becomes infectious.  The virus cannot infect until it has replicated within the body.

[Ryliee12]

I had unprotected sex and tested after 3 months negative. But I’m worried because I don’t understand the window period. If the guy I had sex with had gotten infected one day before he had sex with me then could he pass the virus to me one day after he contracted it?