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Oral, PEP, and HIV testing
Hi all. I am a heterosexual male who has always played it safe. Not many sexual partners. About a week ago I made a spontaneous decision to meet up with an escort for what was supposed to be a handjob. Intercourse did not take place, but as I was ejaculating she put her mouth on me penis for a few seconds. It was very brief, but I freaked out because I did not know her status and I was caught off guard. I went to urgent care and requested PEP within 10 hours. The next day I saw my PCP to discuss this decision with him. He is not an expert on HIV, but he said "Let's say your chances are 1 percent, maybe you should just continue the PEP and feel better about it." I agreed and I told him my concerns about longer term side effects from the PEP and he told me that for 28 days of this medication that would not be a problem. Still being completely overwhelmed and nervous, I went to an infectious disease physician yesterday. I explained everything to her. She has been in this field for 20 years and she herself had to take a course of AZT over a very minor needle stick. She told me my chances of contracting HIV are very small. She would not commit to 100 percent, and I guess I don't blame her. As a matter of fact, I sometimes find it surprising that people on here are saying "no risk don't get tested" when it comes to oral sex exposure even when it is with a known HIV person! That surprises me. Anyway, I'm still on PEP and I am a nervous wreck. I can't move time, but I wish I could. I will get an HIV 4th gen immediately after PEP is completed. Now I know this won't be conclusive, but my question is with the low risk exposure that I had, if it hopefully (I pray to God) comes back negative should I at least feel good about that? I hear different things about possible delayed seroconversion, but is a negative at least a certain percentage ? What are your opinions on this? I want to feel good about something. I don't want to grasp on to something that isn't real though. Thank you!!
HIV cannot be spread through saliva as it contains bacteria and enzymes that render the virus inactive. There has never been a proven case of anyone contracting HIV from oral sex alone. The doctor is correct in not saying 100% because it's POSSIBLE, but extremely UNLIKELY that someone, somewhere on the planet HAS contracted HIV from oral. But consider that when it was shown oral sex was EXTREMELY low risk for HIV, millions upon millions of people began to practice ONLY oral sex. The rate of HIV actually declined during that period. Also consider that if everyone who engaged in oral sex was put on PEP, we'd ALL be popping it like Pez.
It is possible to get other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), such as syphilis, herpes, gonorrhea, and human papilloma virus (HPV) through oral sex. Did your doctor recommend you have a complete STD panel done?
It IS the stance of this website that oral sex is NOT a risk for HIV, you do not need to test for it and PEP is totally unwarranted.
But you CAN and you WILL find sites, as well as highly respected HIV experts, that disagree. So, what the bottom line comes down to is that after researching all the facts, figures, ratios and percentages of risk, the decision to go on PEP is YOUR decision.
You also stated that you will get an HIV test IMMEDIATELY after you finish your PEP treatment. Whichever doctor put you on PEP should have explained to you the post-PEP HIV testing recommendations are to test at six weeks, three months and six months from the date of exposure for 100% conclusive results.
I'm sorry you are going through something you never had to. PEP is NOT a pleasant experience. What you can grasp onto is knowing that a few months down the road, you will have peace of mind.
I wish you the very best
RubyWitch
It is possible to get other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), such as syphilis, herpes, gonorrhea, and human papilloma virus (HPV) through oral sex. Did your doctor recommend you have a complete STD panel done?
It IS the stance of this website that oral sex is NOT a risk for HIV, you do not need to test for it and PEP is totally unwarranted.
But you CAN and you WILL find sites, as well as highly respected HIV experts, that disagree. So, what the bottom line comes down to is that after researching all the facts, figures, ratios and percentages of risk, the decision to go on PEP is YOUR decision.
You also stated that you will get an HIV test IMMEDIATELY after you finish your PEP treatment. Whichever doctor put you on PEP should have explained to you the post-PEP HIV testing recommendations are to test at six weeks, three months and six months from the date of exposure for 100% conclusive results.
I'm sorry you are going through something you never had to. PEP is NOT a pleasant experience. What you can grasp onto is knowing that a few months down the road, you will have peace of mind.
I wish you the very best
RubyWitch
1 Comments
Hi and thank you for your knowledge and kind words. The infectious disease Doctor did mention the possibility of other stds and I will be getting a complete panel done. My mind is getting the best of me. I know that there are people who take significant sexual chances all the time and they are lucky enough not to test positive and that's great. In my case I just keep thinking what if. And the what if thinking has got me depressed to the point where I have zero appetite and do not want to get out of bed. Your continued support for the would be tremendous. Thank you.
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