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MSM top; Condom ripped but head of penis covered. Should I be concerned about HIV?
Hi about 5 weeks ago, I had sex with another male and was the top. I finished inside him and when I pulled out I noticed that the head of my penis was covered but there was a gash on the condom and all the contents were gone. He did say he was negative and on prep but I still worried. After about two weeks I got a horrible cough that lasted pretty much up to now (though subsided) and caused wheezing and a terrible headache/chest pain upon coughing. Also, at week 3 and 4 I experienced nausea with a desire to vomit but nothing would come out. No other symptoms, but wondering if these would be of concern. Also, the nausea was a few hours one day on week 3 and then a few days later on week 4 so not everyday. I am trying to wait to test, but wondered if now I would be able to do it and obtain accurate results. Thank you for your help.
COMMUNITY LEADER
If your urethra was protected, you haven't risked yourself against transmission of HIV.
Your symptoms are unspecific to HIV. Please see a GP for a proper diagnosis. However, it doesn't seem to be difficult to guess that these symptoms are leaning towards anxiety from reading about HIV on the internet.
As a sexually active individual, it won't be a bad idea to test every 6 months.
Your symptoms are unspecific to HIV. Please see a GP for a proper diagnosis. However, it doesn't seem to be difficult to guess that these symptoms are leaning towards anxiety from reading about HIV on the internet.
As a sexually active individual, it won't be a bad idea to test every 6 months.
First, please do not analyze your symptoms. HIV is never diagnosed by symptoms, ever. What you describe sounds like common viruses we all get. Hope you feel better.
With regards to your exposure, it is true that only the head of the penis needs to be covered. It sounds like yours was. However, you will need to be the judge of that with a ripped condom. A 4th generation DUO test is accurate at 28 days and beyond.
With regards to your exposure, it is true that only the head of the penis needs to be covered. It sounds like yours was. However, you will need to be the judge of that with a ripped condom. A 4th generation DUO test is accurate at 28 days and beyond.
2 Comments
Also, two things to keep in mind. In the worst of circumstances such as a couple having unprotected sex and one of them is hiv+, the transmission rate is less than 2 percent. Rare! And the fact that the person you were with uses condoms, means they are likely hiv negative in which case, the risk is always ZERO.
Should add that it is less than a 2 percent risk for a one time exposure with an HIV + individual.
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