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HIV Worry
Hello,
I'm from China, and I will try to use English to describe my question as clear as I could.
Two months ago, I had three intercourses with China local prostitutes, and I used condoms all the time and condoms seemed to be intact. Later, I searched the China CDC website, and it told me that although condom protected sex is relatively safe, it is not 100% efficient, and I can still be infected while using the condom. So I started to get worried, and I went to the local CDC to get a test, but CDC refused to let me take the test until 3 months after my exposure.
I would like to ask that in your experience as a doctor, how frequently will people get HIV while using the condom? As I remember that during one of the intercourse the condom did not cover the bottom of my penis, so some parts of my skin may be exposed to her vaginal secretions, how dangerous is this? If I go to a hospital to take HIV test, how accurate will it be by now?
Thank you for your important opinions.
Best,
I'm from China, and I will try to use English to describe my question as clear as I could.
Two months ago, I had three intercourses with China local prostitutes, and I used condoms all the time and condoms seemed to be intact. Later, I searched the China CDC website, and it told me that although condom protected sex is relatively safe, it is not 100% efficient, and I can still be infected while using the condom. So I started to get worried, and I went to the local CDC to get a test, but CDC refused to let me take the test until 3 months after my exposure.
I would like to ask that in your experience as a doctor, how frequently will people get HIV while using the condom? As I remember that during one of the intercourse the condom did not cover the bottom of my penis, so some parts of my skin may be exposed to her vaginal secretions, how dangerous is this? If I go to a hospital to take HIV test, how accurate will it be by now?
Thank you for your important opinions.
Best,
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum. Thanks for your question. Congratulations on using condoms for these sexual exposures. You need not worry about HIV.
Condom effectiveness can be considered in two ways: biological effectiveness and use effectiveness. The first measures how well a condom protects if it is properly used and doesn't break. Probably 100% or very close to it. "Use effectiveness" measures how well condoms work over time. Because they sometimes break, and other times are not used properly, the protection against HIV over the years is probably around 90%.
In other words, as long as your condoms did not break and covered the head and opening of your penis, you were at no risk of HIV from these exposures -- or at least such low risk you don't need to worry. Below is a thread that discusses condom effectiveness in more detail, for all STDs:
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/How-safe-are-condoms-when-used-correctly/show/665887
If China CDC in fact recommends testing at only 3 months and beyond, then I disagree. The standard HIV tests detect virtually all infections within 4-6 weeks, depending on the specific test or combination of tests that are done. Here is a thread that discusses this in detail:
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/HIV---Prevention/RNA-and-oraquick-swab-test-/show/1891685
For those reasons, you are not at risk and don't really need testing, except for reassurance. For that purpose, you can be tested now with 100% confidence in the negative result.
I hope these comments have been helpful. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
Condom effectiveness can be considered in two ways: biological effectiveness and use effectiveness. The first measures how well a condom protects if it is properly used and doesn't break. Probably 100% or very close to it. "Use effectiveness" measures how well condoms work over time. Because they sometimes break, and other times are not used properly, the protection against HIV over the years is probably around 90%.
In other words, as long as your condoms did not break and covered the head and opening of your penis, you were at no risk of HIV from these exposures -- or at least such low risk you don't need to worry. Below is a thread that discusses condom effectiveness in more detail, for all STDs:
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/How-safe-are-condoms-when-used-correctly/show/665887
If China CDC in fact recommends testing at only 3 months and beyond, then I disagree. The standard HIV tests detect virtually all infections within 4-6 weeks, depending on the specific test or combination of tests that are done. Here is a thread that discusses this in detail:
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/HIV---Prevention/RNA-and-oraquick-swab-test-/show/1891685
For those reasons, you are not at risk and don't really need testing, except for reassurance. For that purpose, you can be tested now with 100% confidence in the negative result.
I hope these comments have been helpful. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
You're welcome. Thanks for the thanks!
I see I don't need to worry about HIV infection. Thank you Dr.Handsfield!
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