Aa
Help!
Hello doctors. I am writing for your opinion/advice about my situation. I am a sexually active female (black), who has consistently used condoms. My last test for STDs and HIV was a couple months ago and they were all negative. Since those tests I've had two sexual partners (I've only had sex with both individuals one time). With the first man (black), we used protection the entire time---from start to finish so I'm not particularly concerned with that one. With the second man --- for the first minute or so (no more than two) we did not use a condom. But I told him he had to stop and if we were to continue, he had to use a condom. Midway through, he made a comment that he hadn't used a condom in a lot of years ---which later worried me. So I asked him about it, he explained that he had ended a long term relationship (his ex is now pregnant with his twins--due in September) in January and hasn't slept with anyone since and that I had nothing to worry about. His says that he and his ex-girlfriend eventually stopped using condoms.
He ejaculated inside the condom, but of course I could have been exposed to pre-seminal fluid during brief time we went unprotected. In your opinion doctor, what are the chances that I could have been infected? I ask this because I'm working to reconcile a previous relationship and of course don't want to risk exposing him to anything.
He ejaculated inside the condom, but of course I could have been exposed to pre-seminal fluid during brief time we went unprotected. In your opinion doctor, what are the chances that I could have been infected? I ask this because I'm working to reconcile a previous relationship and of course don't want to risk exposing him to anything.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Four weeks is too early for a definitive result on the Home Access test, but your it's around 90% reliable -- so that result is reassuring.
Otherwise these comments don't change my opinion or advice. Please don't post anything else until and unless it include a final test result.
Otherwise these comments don't change my opinion or advice. Please don't post anything else until and unless it include a final test result.
I neglected to indicate that the second man is black as well.
Doc: I'm trying to stay mellow until I reach the appropriate time to test. I've been reading through the board and can't find any posts where you were inaccurate or incorrect about a person's test result. Just nervous about being one of those rare cases. By the way: could I rely on the results of a 4 week test? (HIV Home Access) ...
I've had a bit of post nasal drip and a dry cough and it's only feeding my anxiety...
I've had a bit of post nasal drip and a dry cough and it's only feeding my anxiety...
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Greetings and welcome to the forum. Thanks for your question.
Congratulations on an obvious commitment to sexual safety. You're doing all the right things -- consistent condom use (a minor lapse here and there isn't typically a big deal) and an apparently thoughtful approach to partner selection. You probably are aware that HIV risks are quite a bit higher among African Americans than other racial/ethnic groups in the US, but your personal risk seems to be very low. The only thing I would add is that you should be in the habit of directly asking your partners about HIV/STD status before having sex, and then being extra cautious (or saying "sayonara") for those who are positive and not on treatment, don't know, or seem evasive. (You may do this, but you don't mention it.) Below are links to a couple of threads that discuss the origins of special HIV risk in AAs, in case you and other readers are interested.
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/717093
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/1261996
As for these specific exposures, the first is not of concern, with complete and proper condom use. And the second partner seems to be at very low risk. And even with completely unprotected sex, with ejaculation in the vagina, the average HIV transmission risk for any single exposure, if the male is infected, is around once for every 1,000 exposures. Your risk would be even lower, given the brevity of the unprotected exposure, without ejaculation. The risk for other STDs could be higher, but again, it sounds like your partner probably isn't at high risk.
So on the basis of these events, I don't really see a need for another round of STD/HIV testing at this time. Of course you are free to do that, if it would ease your mind better than my verbal assessment can do.
I hope this has helped. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
Congratulations on an obvious commitment to sexual safety. You're doing all the right things -- consistent condom use (a minor lapse here and there isn't typically a big deal) and an apparently thoughtful approach to partner selection. You probably are aware that HIV risks are quite a bit higher among African Americans than other racial/ethnic groups in the US, but your personal risk seems to be very low. The only thing I would add is that you should be in the habit of directly asking your partners about HIV/STD status before having sex, and then being extra cautious (or saying "sayonara") for those who are positive and not on treatment, don't know, or seem evasive. (You may do this, but you don't mention it.) Below are links to a couple of threads that discuss the origins of special HIV risk in AAs, in case you and other readers are interested.
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/717093
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/1261996
As for these specific exposures, the first is not of concern, with complete and proper condom use. And the second partner seems to be at very low risk. And even with completely unprotected sex, with ejaculation in the vagina, the average HIV transmission risk for any single exposure, if the male is infected, is around once for every 1,000 exposures. Your risk would be even lower, given the brevity of the unprotected exposure, without ejaculation. The risk for other STDs could be higher, but again, it sounds like your partner probably isn't at high risk.
So on the basis of these events, I don't really see a need for another round of STD/HIV testing at this time. Of course you are free to do that, if it would ease your mind better than my verbal assessment can do.
I hope this has helped. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
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