I really don't have much to say. You accurately cite my views and have come to the same conclusions about your risks that I have in many similar threads. You don't say how often you get tested for HIV, but imply it is pretty frequent. Based on the lifestyle you imply, once a year seems plenty. As you probably have seen, I never recommend testing because of any particular heterosexual exposure, except of course if symptoms develop; or if there is evidence someone's partner was infected or at especially high risk.
Your closing comment suggests that people would be sexually safer if they thought sex was riskier than it is. Not so. Research shows that fear-based education never works. Although some people modify their behaviors briefly, over the long run one's knowledge of the risks simply makes no difference in the rate of new HIV/STD infections in the population. In STD/HIV prevention, and in health education in general, it is never wrong to make the truth public.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
Thanks doctor for your comments. I was actually testing every 6 months but will push it to a year now. I wanted to post and get your reaction on my second comment. Thanks for answering.
Vancouver,
I know what you are going through. I went through a extremely tough time about 7-8 years ago. I slept with a stripper (unprotected vaginal sex) and convinced myself I had hiv. I tested a total of 6 times for hiv in a 3 month period including a pcr test.....spent over a $1000. I tested for other STDs as well and everything was negative. I let my anxiety get the best of me back then. Now when I have unprotected vaginal sex (with non-CSWs) I worry about it a little because that is just natural.....and then I let it go in a few days. With CSWs I always use protection and never worry. You tested negative at 3 weeks. Congratulations. Relax, and re-read the doctors comments really carefully. Go back and search his answers and you will see where the doctor talks about only seeing 1-2 hetero males turn positive in 30 years (with thousands visiting each year) in his clinic and another post with the doctor saying it just does not happen. I really do trust him. Just look at his credentials. Don't stress so much and take care.
Thaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaanx aloooooooooooooooooooooot Sam I was so worried but u really helped alot ....
:) Keep on the good work ;)
Test now and get your negative if you wish and put it behind you. 10 weeks is more than plenty. Some others that are conservative say 12 weeks. Good luck, although you don't need it.
This sort of conversation belongs in the HIV support forum, not here. This thread is over.
Thanx Sam, but the problem is I am an American living in Kuwait and I will get married to a Kuwaiti man .. and ofcourse we're not supposed to get into any sexual relation unless we get married .. So I wanna make sure that am clean be4 getting into anything ....
Can I take the test now??? it's been only 2 months and a half ..
Thanx alot u've been a great help ............
Vancouver,
Are you kidding me? I have had sex with alot of women who I didn't know the status (unprotected over the years). Just pick your partners wisely. Don't have sex with CSWs unprotected......and I don't mean oral (only vaginal or anal). Anal I can understand because there is blood involved sometimes do to rough sex.
That story I told you about several years ago I convinced myself of symptoms. I thought I had swollen lymph nodes, fever, nausea, headaches, and everything else you search for on the internet. Everything was because of anxiety. My wife at the time thought I was crazy and she was right. Your mind can play alot of tricks on you.
You are going to be ok. Ralax and take care.
The STD clinic in my city and another in the same province (Canada) have said the same thing regarding male hetero transmission rates....next to nil. They see "exposures" everyday. They told me this without me even mentioning Dr.H and his comments. Seems encouraging.
What I do not get though with Dr.H, he says he never recommends testing after a single possible exposure unless the person start showing symptoms. But the thing is around 30% I believe do not show symptoms even if infected.....
Thanks for your story. It definately calmed my nerves down. I always have the worst fears go through my head, which makes me a wreck,
Did you ever experience any type of symptoms after each time of unprotected sex? I'm assuming you had vaginal sex with women whom you didnt know their HIV status.
dumbo,
The doctor just does not recommend testing after a single unprotected exposure because it just does not happen. If you read his previous post he has not seen this happen in his clinics. He is a believer that it usually happens when people are in a long term relationship and they have multiple exposures to an infected person. That is why it is 1 in 1000 or 1 in 2000 exposures.
I posted because he will not respond to this.....since it is in alot of his previous posts.
Take care.
Hi .. I have a very important question ..
I have had oral sex during Feb. ( dont know exactly when ) ,, All I need to know is can i take the test any time soon?? does it have to be ( 6 - 8 weeks?? or 3 months ) it has been over two months now so my question is can I take the test now??? I have to know the answer because my bf has been wondering why I have been avoiding him ..
I know oral sex is a low risk but please I need to get my life back ..
Thank you very muuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuch
This of course applies only to countries like USA,UK etc.
In Asia and Africa, heterosexual transmission is very common and it is the commonest mode.
So you wouldn't recommend HIV testing for a person who has engaged in a one-time unprocted sex encounter who shows no symptoms. Is this because the odds are extremely low and you've never come across this in your career.
I am in the same boat and I have received testing at 3 weeks(no symptoms), came out negative. And Im so worried about getting tested again at 6 weeks.
But if I'm reading your comments correctly, I think my nerves will definately settle down.
miss,
For a oral exposure. There are billions of people that have oral exposures all the time and don't catch anything....not that it couldn't possibly happen assuming the person is telling the truth and the right conditions are in place. Relax!
You are going to need to test just to relieve your anxiety (I have been there as you read from more riskier problems in the past as you see in a previous reply to vancouver).....otherwise you are always going to be thinking about this. Not that any doctor is going to test you over that. Maybe other STDs.
Just get tested periodically (once a year as the doctor suggested to me) if you are sexually active.
Just relax and take care.