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ORAL Exposure Concerns
I recently posted this question in the STD forum but was told to post my question here with regard to HIV concerns- basically want to know if this should be of concer....
My question is in regard to oral sex exposures which occured fairly recently. Without going into too much explaination and detail :
I have foolishly met a handful of other young 'curious' men like myself online where we performed unprotected oral sex on eachother. I am certain before the last month or two when this all first occured, I was absolutely free of any STI's including Hsv 1&2 (took type specific blood testing a couple of months back after my last girlfriend). I have never had any intercourse with these partners they were only oral exposures but with one, our genitals were close to eachother (ano-genital) without any penetration. I am almost certain I have picked up some form of HpV from simple contact and oral sex. However, my main concerns lie with HIV, Hep's A,B,C, as well as HSV. I am also concerned about Syphilis (which I have heard is quite easily transmitted through oral contact.) My concerns have increased because I have read online that Hiv/syphilis co-infection makes oral sex a high risk activity-how true this claim is, I do not know. I have asked these individuals if they are infact tested and clean and they assured me they are. One of the men, who happens to be openly gay and has had many relations with men had told me he is hiv neg and std free but has had unprotected anal sex with past boyfriends - this high risk behaviour worried me but I will take his word that he is telling the truth. Each oral experience was fairly brief and never led to having any ejaculate in my mouth at any point with the exception os possible pre-ejaculate. Assuming each partner is Hiv possitive, what are the chances that I could have aquired the virus this way? What STD concerns and tests should I undergo with regard to these recent encounters and when should I test for them? I am sure most will tell me that I was never at risk for Hiv even if I was with an infected partner but I needed some reassurance and wanted to ask about the possibility of other STI's. I will take another type specific HSV blood test in about 3 months I just wanted to know the accurate time to test for all of the above mentioned. I believe the HIV testing I will receive when I go for testing will be the 4th Generation Duo p24 antigen/antibody test I just want to know when a reasonable time to take this test is. I understand that 3 months is the official window period but I wanted to find out if I can receive reliable results sooner and then return for a 3 month conclusive test. Hepatitis C is also a concern but I'm not sure if that is actually transmitted via oral sex.
My question is in regard to oral sex exposures which occured fairly recently. Without going into too much explaination and detail :
I have foolishly met a handful of other young 'curious' men like myself online where we performed unprotected oral sex on eachother. I am certain before the last month or two when this all first occured, I was absolutely free of any STI's including Hsv 1&2 (took type specific blood testing a couple of months back after my last girlfriend). I have never had any intercourse with these partners they were only oral exposures but with one, our genitals were close to eachother (ano-genital) without any penetration. I am almost certain I have picked up some form of HpV from simple contact and oral sex. However, my main concerns lie with HIV, Hep's A,B,C, as well as HSV. I am also concerned about Syphilis (which I have heard is quite easily transmitted through oral contact.) My concerns have increased because I have read online that Hiv/syphilis co-infection makes oral sex a high risk activity-how true this claim is, I do not know. I have asked these individuals if they are infact tested and clean and they assured me they are. One of the men, who happens to be openly gay and has had many relations with men had told me he is hiv neg and std free but has had unprotected anal sex with past boyfriends - this high risk behaviour worried me but I will take his word that he is telling the truth. Each oral experience was fairly brief and never led to having any ejaculate in my mouth at any point with the exception os possible pre-ejaculate. Assuming each partner is Hiv possitive, what are the chances that I could have aquired the virus this way? What STD concerns and tests should I undergo with regard to these recent encounters and when should I test for them? I am sure most will tell me that I was never at risk for Hiv even if I was with an infected partner but I needed some reassurance and wanted to ask about the possibility of other STI's. I will take another type specific HSV blood test in about 3 months I just wanted to know the accurate time to test for all of the above mentioned. I believe the HIV testing I will receive when I go for testing will be the 4th Generation Duo p24 antigen/antibody test I just want to know when a reasonable time to take this test is. I understand that 3 months is the official window period but I wanted to find out if I can receive reliable results sooner and then return for a 3 month conclusive test. Hepatitis C is also a concern but I'm not sure if that is actually transmitted via oral sex.
I was actually reading apon that, and I think he is not truthful about what happened or his results. I hope he is okay, but something dosn't add up with his posts. and especialy that the doctor was also shocked by the results, he tested thousands of HIV positive people and has never came across this. at 6 week test you should have a 95% accuate, at 8 weeks almost 100%
Thanks all for the replies. You have helped put my mind at ease. Hopefully others in this situation will read this and benefit from it in the same way.
Yes, you are right. It is not for me to varify his claim, neither of us can. I just thought I would point out what i noticed: he claimed that his Western Blot was positive on march 28th in the Expert forum and the following day (march 29th) stated that the Western Blot was not done yet. I guess its just something to think about. Overall I would really hope the best for this person and that he did not aquire HIV from his oral sex exposure or his anal sex with his partner. I just don't want to have to worry about the thought of me contracting HIV from oral sex and I will take your advice and the advise of others here at MedHelp and believe that I was never at risk. I may test in the near future just to put things at ease and of course I will post my results here when I do.
Can speak on this person being real about his story or not. He may have thought that he aquired it from oral sex while he may have aquired it from anal sex (if he does have HIV). He did state that he made his decision on oral sex based on this forum, yet he never posted before?? Too many questions to verify his claim at this point. So it is not even worth taking his statement as truthful at this point.
I truly appreciate the reply. I only came back to point something out. While reading this individuals post in the expert forum in the link provided above, I also read through another post of his in the HIV prevention forum:
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/HIV-Prevention/Oral-sex-and-prelim-positive-/show/1705051?page=2
What I did come across were conflicting stories about his WB result.
1) In the expert forum he last states on March, 28/2012 that his WB test came back positive. 2)In the link I have just posted in here, he clearly states on March,29/2012 that "OK so Western Blot has not been done yet. The current tests are highly, highly accurate, but I will keep you posted, but I ask sincerely that if that test comes back positive that you please reconsider your message to people...."
Now, I did just realize these differences in his story right after my last post. I am not calling this person a liar I just became filled with anxiety over this. Unncessarily of course, as you and the experts online have stated that oral sex is not a risk for HIV. I only wonder if and why somebody would make up a story about aquiring HIV via oral sex just to spread fear and some sort of awareness to this "risk"
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/HIV-Prevention/Oral-sex-and-prelim-positive-/show/1705051?page=2
What I did come across were conflicting stories about his WB result.
1) In the expert forum he last states on March, 28/2012 that his WB test came back positive. 2)In the link I have just posted in here, he clearly states on March,29/2012 that "OK so Western Blot has not been done yet. The current tests are highly, highly accurate, but I will keep you posted, but I ask sincerely that if that test comes back positive that you please reconsider your message to people...."
Now, I did just realize these differences in his story right after my last post. I am not calling this person a liar I just became filled with anxiety over this. Unncessarily of course, as you and the experts online have stated that oral sex is not a risk for HIV. I only wonder if and why somebody would make up a story about aquiring HIV via oral sex just to spread fear and some sort of awareness to this "risk"
No one can verify his claim, he has not updated his WB results. He does have 2 negative antibody tests, he does have anal sex with his partner. Many different variables that can not be verified.
We stand by no risk as does the Dr's on this site.
We stand by no risk as does the Dr's on this site.
Hi Teak, I came across this thread in the expert forum: http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/1705404
To be very honest I trust what you are saying about HIV not being transmitted via oral sex and I began not to concern myself with the risk that I described to you previously however, this person from what I read has managed to aquire HIV from what he describes as a very similar situation. I do no know if somebody would just make this up or if I could actually possibly have HIV. I am very upset after reading that post and extremely worried about my own sexual health because I clearly have not been wise when making these decisions. I hope maybe you can help explain to me how something like this could happen. :(
Anything will help.
To be very honest I trust what you are saying about HIV not being transmitted via oral sex and I began not to concern myself with the risk that I described to you previously however, this person from what I read has managed to aquire HIV from what he describes as a very similar situation. I do no know if somebody would just make this up or if I could actually possibly have HIV. I am very upset after reading that post and extremely worried about my own sexual health because I clearly have not been wise when making these decisions. I hope maybe you can help explain to me how something like this could happen. :(
Anything will help.
Ok thanks for the advice. I didn't think I was at risk of hiv from these exposures initially but obviously there is a lot of contradicting information on the internet and I have recently noticed some bleeding after brushing my teeth besides this I have always been in very good oral health. I have read either low risk to no risk, however, low risk would still promt me to get tested for clarity. I was just more concerned learning about possible co-infection. I will not make an issue of this, I doubt any of these individuals were actually HIV positive but I wanted to treat the case as if they were. Thanks for clarifying for me that oral sex and the exposures I described did not put me at risk for HIV infection.
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