HIV why ME! :(

[mukmuka]

Hi Doctors,

I hope your advice would be a LIFE SAVING DRUG for me.

Am 26 Male living in Calgary,Canada.I don't know the status of HIV here in Calgary but am much concerned.Last 5 weeks i had been engaged in sexual activities with the sex workers.I used condoms(i don't have idea about breakage but as only thing i know that the semen was inside after my session ended) but those are provided by girls to me.I had two different unprotected orals by two different girls and 1 unprotected vaginal with the girl in totally unconscious state.

My Questions are as follows Now.I will be greatly appreciate your response.

1.How Many chances that i will contract HIV from my above encounters?

2.Are using Condoms are always safe even if opposite partner is HIV+ AND  HIGH RISK ESCORT?.I asked this question to  Doctor who was testing STI's 30 years and he said" ONLY DEATH AND GOVERNMENT TAXES ARE 100%" nothing else.It was funny for him but i makes me feeling like a HELL!!!

3.I showed symptoms rash,fever(not much high),lymph nodes on neck(4).White trash on tongue and sore throat.My question is what is the normal size of the lymph node?.How long the HIV sore throat remain active and what kinda it is?.

4.I tested after 4 week and i got Negative HIV from STI Clinic Calgary with the ELISA and antigen(i don't know may be it was p24 ??? but no idea) but ELISA am very much confirmed about.How much chances am save after my 4 week result?.

5.I was informed that HIV transmission from HIV+ female to HIV - male is not much easy.Is that true.Really a HIV virus is not easily transmissible?.(AM CIRCUMCISED MALE).

6.I don't have very long sex history.How broken condom Looks alike.If semen remains in the condom after session it means it is safe?.

I don't want to need advice from QUACKS sitting on internet and giving scary opinions.I find you very professional,Discreet and experienced .Millions of Thanks and Respect from my side to both of you Doctors.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Welcome to the forum and thanks for your question.  You are overreacting to a very low risk situation; I will do my best to lower your anxiety level.

Heterosexual transmission of HIV remains rare in much of North America, and in a city like Calgary, the chance your sex work partners had HIV is very low, certainly under 1 chance in 100, probably a lot lower than that.  And condoms work; as long as it doesn't break wide open (which would be very obvious), protection is complete.  And for all practical purposes, oral sex is zero risk for HIV.

4) I'm answering this question first, because it's the most important information you provide.  The combo tests for both HIV antibody and antigen (it's always p24 antigen) are 100% reliable any time more than 4 weeks after the last possible exposure, and your test proves you weren't infected and do not have HIV.

1) You had very low risk exposures; even if they had been high risk, your test result shows you weren't infected.

2,6) Condoms indeed work nearly perfectly in preventing HIV through vaginal or anal sex, if they do not break wide open -- which you would easily notice if it happened.

3) Your negative test result proves your symptoms are not HIV.  See a doctor if they continue or if you remain uncertain.

5) It is true that HIV transmission is more efficient from male to female than in the other direction and that being uncircumcised raises a male's risk if exposed.  But not by very much, and first you have to be exposed.

So all is well.  You really have not been at high risk for HIV and for sure you are not infected.  Of course you should continue to use condoms for such sexual encounters, and all sexually active people should be tested for HIV from time to time, like once a year.

Best regards--  HHH, MD

[mukmuka]

Thanks Sir.Means still am in the safe zone.Will follow your advice.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

The term "ELISA and antigen", which is how you described your test in the original question, suggests it was a duo test.  If it was only an ELISA test, then at 4 weeks the negative result is still 90% reliable, but you'll need to have a second ELISA at 6-8 weeks to be conclusive.

[mukmuka]

Hi Doctor,
Here i need to mention that the test was ELISA not p24 antigen.I dont know the difference but just wana confirm that does ELISA after 4 weeks may be regarded as conclusive to some extent.Your kind reponse will be highly appreciated.

[mukmuka]

Thanks Doctor,I really appreciate your response.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Those all are countries with low HIV rates, but many such sex workers are sex traffic victims and could have been at high risk.  Still, read the rest of my replies:  your risk was low because you used condoms; and your test result shows you don't have HIV.  So it does not matter whether the risk at the time was high or low:  you were not infected.

[mukmuka]

Thanks Doctor,
You Make my Day.
Each word of your counts alot to me.I need some explanation on only my one question while rest am ok.Thanks again!!!

You Said:

"Heterosexual transmission of HIV remains rare in much of North America, and in a city like Calgary, the chance your sex work partners had HIV is very low".

Those girls i had sex with are not purely from North America.
1.China
2.Japan.
3 German
4.Pakistan
5.Egypt.

Wow am tourist.