Possible HIV exposure - worried

[kayvan]

Quick back round on my self. I'm 21yo male in good health, no medical issues what so ever.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Relax.  You can read the forum to see literally hundreds of questions like yours.  The answer is the same as in all those:  according to some experts, receiving oral sex is zero risk for catching HIV, even without condom protection.  Other data put the risk at 1 chance in 20,000.  And that is if the oral partner has HIV, and statistically that's unlikely.  With a condom the risk is zero.  Hand jobs never transmit the infection.  Your risk was so low that you did not need HIV testing at all based on this exposure.  But most important, your negative HIV test proves for all practical purposes you weren't infected, since the large majority of infected people have positive test results by 4 weeks.  Since it can take up to 6 weeks for tests to become positive, for emotional reassurance, you might want to get tested again at that time.  But it really isn't necessary.

You are correct that your cough and other cold symptoms are unrelated.  Also, you were not at significant risk of other STDs either.  It's good you recognize the emotional component of your concerns.  Follow through with your therapist.  In the meantime, try to relax.  You really did not pur yourself at risk for HIV.

Best wishes--  HHH, MD

[kayvan]

A related discussion, risk assemnet was started.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

That is correct.  But most likely kayvan misunderstood the counselor.  That's too basic an error to be believable, which is why I didn't say anything about it.

[badday103]

Also I would hope that the doctor would agree that the concelor was not totally correct.  Hiv from getting oral is basically no risk but i would not believe the concelor when she says that it is" basically impossible for a woman to give hiv to a man" that is not true.  I dont want to see a 21 year old kid get hiv because they think women cant give it to men.  Wear a condom for vaginal and anal sex with women and you will stay safe.

[kayvan]

Thanks again for dealing with my hypochondriac nature haha! I guess it's time for me to move on watch this ridiculous debate! Thanks again!

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

As you describe it, there is no important difference between the counselor you spoke with and what I said above.  The bottom line is that she and I agree that you did not put yourself at risk for HIV from the exposure you described in your question.  Please take that double reassurance at face value and stop trying to look for reasons that you might have been infected after all.  You were not.

That said, it sounds like she is behind the times with respect to modern HIV tests -- or you misunderstood her.  About 90% of newly infected people have positive antibody tests and around 99% by 6-8 weeks.  It certainly does not take 3 months to get useful information out of HIV testing.  Whether it takes 3 months or 6 months for the last 1% to become positive really doesn't matter.

This thead is over.  But that doesn't mean you can start another thread.  If you do, it will just be deleted without response and you will be out $15.  It is time to move on and stop over-interpreting things.  You didn't catch HIV and that's all that matters.

[kayvan]

any ideas doctors?

[kayvan]

Doctor I wanted to ask one last question, I would pay to post a new one but med help actually charged me twice for this last question and I don't want to pay again.

Any ways I went to go talk to an HIV counselor yesterday about some questions. she works for the government and says she has been doing it for over 10 years and she says she knows every thing there is to know. Here is there website http://www.****.***


Any ways I asked her if recieving a blow job put me at risk she said absolutely no way no how. I asked her even if there was blood in the mouth and it went into my urethra she said I had no risk (i dont know if this is true)

Then I asked her about testing which she wouldn't let me do because she said I had no risk. I told her  that I tested negative at 47 days and but she said if I was at risk that the was not good enough and she said all the info on the internet is wrong and that it takes at least 3 months for the anti-body's to show and usually up to 6 months, she was very persistent about this and said stop listening to info on the net.

Now I don't know what to believe! I mean the gov pays and informs her to know this stuff and I would think she is right, but I also hold you guys to the highest regard also so I don't know what to think!

She also said it basically impossible for a women to give a man HIV is this true?

Can you please help out with these questions! If i really have to ill pay the 15 and post a new question I will but if you  can answer here ill really appreciate it!!! thanks :)

[kayvan]

Thank you so much for the response Doctor! I really appreciate the service you guys provide on these forums! Thanks again :)

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

See reply above.

[kayvan]

I cont know why it wouldn't work but here is the rest:

The facts of my encounter that has me worried: I was in Cancun, Mexico on August 5th, that night while I was drunk walking home from a club in downtown I payed for a blow job from a sex worker. She seemed fairly young and in decent health (a little in the thicker side). She gave me a 4 second blow job for sample while I ran up to the room to get money. Then when I got back I think I may have got a little head with out a condom then I put the condom on, I dunno if i put it on wrong or what but she re-did for me with her hands. Then I got head for a little more, then I proceeded to have anal sex with her while I had the condom on. Then I get head for a little more with the condom on then took it off at the end got a little more head while she jacked me off. I wanted to *** in her mouth but she insisted I *** into her hand which I did. I forget to mention at the end she was fingering my *** while giving me head for about 2 minutes I don't know if it matters, from what I read it doesn't seem to. When I got back into the room I freaked out and wash my penis off well.

Ok history of testing: Next day in Mexico I tested negative for syphilis, on the 13th (8days later) I tested for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV and all came up negative and have seen no signs of std's. 1 month later (4 weeks) I went in for HIV testing and came up negative. All HIV testing was done at planned parent hood using the UNI-GOLD finger ***** rapid HIV test. I was a little sick last week coughing and clogged ear and runny nose but I don't think that's related.

Questions: What risk am If any? After 4 weeks is that HIV test reliable? Is there a chance that after 4 weeks another test could come out positive? I really don't want to go in for more testing as it very stressful but I was thinking of doing a 6 week HIV test. Or from a medical stand point should I move on with my life?

This has severely effected my life I'm quite depressed of the whole situation because paying for sex is very unlike me and I have many dreams and aspirations and realize how severely HIV could effect my life. Thankfully I have made an appointment with my therapist this Monday who I have seen in the past fro depression.