Aa
Ready to move on...Scared to without an expert opinion.
Long Story short. I have had gay oral sex for a long time now. Over a year and never anal. I had an anal unprotected encounter in early september sometime and once in July, not sure of exact time. Within the first two weeks though. I became scared of HIV in early December. I had an oraquick. It was negative. That was after 10 weeks from September exposure. I then had another test at the end of december which was an oraquick finger ***** and it was after 13 weeks after september exposure. I also gave blood sometime in december. I am not sure if all centers use NAT testing. I was able to get a hold of the male whom I engaged in the act with. He said he recieves normal testing every six months. He had a negative test in August and a negative test 3 days ago in january, five months after our act. So that is the story.
1. Am I negative? 100%?
2. I am confused about window period and Seroconversion. I wondered if immunosuprression causes late serooconversion or advanced immunosupression. I am overwieght and I am a double major. I get sick about once a month with a cold because of stress and the wieght. Would these factors cause late seroconversion? I have never been in the hospital except for a torn ligament, and mono once. I just get colds a lot, I would think more than the average person. Does late seroconversion exist anymore? WOuld a cancer patiend convert within the three months now? I was thinking that if my partner was a late seroconverter and me I could still be infected. He said he was healthy. He was a bit overwieght but probably by 10 or 15 pounds where I am by 50 or so.
3. I have a girlfriend, soon to be wife. Can we have sex unprotected?
4. Last question. I dont get it. I have heard you say that 3 month is conclusive but why does CDC say 97% percent? Why does massachusetts let people go at 6 weeks. It is such a serious disease. Someone could unknowingly spread it.
Thanks Dr. HHH
Chris
1. Am I negative? 100%?
2. I am confused about window period and Seroconversion. I wondered if immunosuprression causes late serooconversion or advanced immunosupression. I am overwieght and I am a double major. I get sick about once a month with a cold because of stress and the wieght. Would these factors cause late seroconversion? I have never been in the hospital except for a torn ligament, and mono once. I just get colds a lot, I would think more than the average person. Does late seroconversion exist anymore? WOuld a cancer patiend convert within the three months now? I was thinking that if my partner was a late seroconverter and me I could still be infected. He said he was healthy. He was a bit overwieght but probably by 10 or 15 pounds where I am by 50 or so.
3. I have a girlfriend, soon to be wife. Can we have sex unprotected?
4. Last question. I dont get it. I have heard you say that 3 month is conclusive but why does CDC say 97% percent? Why does massachusetts let people go at 6 weeks. It is such a serious disease. Someone could unknowingly spread it.
Thanks Dr. HHH
Chris
I got 6 month tested. Negative. Thank You.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
You have misread other threads; we usually recommend that testing at 6-8 weeks is adequate, not 3 months, especially for low risk situations like yours.
You should be honest with the blood bank and let them decide whether they still want you as a donor. As far as I am concerned, you are safe as a blood donor. Although it is desired that men who have sex with men not donate, that perspective is changing and my own view is that if this applies at all, it's an issue only for men who have anal sex with other men. But your blood bank might have a different policy and you should follow it.
That's all for this thread.
You should be honest with the blood bank and let them decide whether they still want you as a donor. As far as I am concerned, you are safe as a blood donor. Although it is desired that men who have sex with men not donate, that perspective is changing and my own view is that if this applies at all, it's an issue only for men who have anal sex with other men. But your blood bank might have a different policy and you should follow it.
That's all for this thread.
I guess no one will Answer...?
I was looking at my old post today.
I just thought of some questions and they bothered me so maybe you could help.
It was actually 15 weeks after my exposure when I had my last test.
You say the CDC estimate is low it is probably more lik 98 or 99 percent but on this site you tell everyone that is after three months they are good....I am so confused as to who constitutes that 1 percent. Are those the immuno suppressed?
I feel horrible for donating blood to get a test, this should not be done. I would hate if someone got a disease from me....are all banks required to do the other testing besides antibodies..cause I still havent had any sex since that time in Sep but I am thinking about calling the bank and telling them. They already sent me a card to donate again.
Sorry for the questions.
Hope life is well
I just thought of some questions and they bothered me so maybe you could help.
It was actually 15 weeks after my exposure when I had my last test.
You say the CDC estimate is low it is probably more lik 98 or 99 percent but on this site you tell everyone that is after three months they are good....I am so confused as to who constitutes that 1 percent. Are those the immuno suppressed?
I feel horrible for donating blood to get a test, this should not be done. I would hate if someone got a disease from me....are all banks required to do the other testing besides antibodies..cause I still havent had any sex since that time in Sep but I am thinking about calling the bank and telling them. They already sent me a card to donate again.
Sorry for the questions.
Hope life is well
Thanks.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
As sometimes happens, Dr. Hook and I overlapped. I failed to notice that he had started replying when I began my own response. (Sorry, Ned.) Since I spent a few minutes on it, I will go ahead and post it. As you will see and as Dr. Hook predicted, we agree entirely.
I stopped reading after your statement that you had negative HIV antibody tests 10 and 13 weeks after your last possible exposure, plus a negative test when you donated blood. They would have inforned you of a positive result. Therefore, it doesn't much matter what the rest of your message says: For sure you're not infected. Nevertheless, to your specific questions:
1) 100% sure.
2) No illness delays or changes HIV test results and certainly obesity doesn't do so. Whether or not your partner had HIV is irrelevant, because your tests show you were not infected.
3) If I were in your situation, I would not hesitate to have unprotected sex with my wife.
4) This has been discussed many times on this forum. First, 97% is a low estimate for test senstivity at 3 months; 98-99% probably is more accuate, or even 100% with modern tests. CDC and most other government agencies take hyper-conservative positions, for legal reasons; Massachusetts' policy is unusual, but from a scientific perspective it probably is more valid advice than CDC's. Finally, the 97% value refers to antibody tests. You probably also had a PCR test for HIV DNA or RNA (and perhaps also a p24 antigen test), because that is what blood donation centers do routinely.
Let's not have any continuing "yes but" or "what if" follow-up questions. It is unlikely you could provide any information that would change my opinion and advice. All is well. You don't have HIV. Try to put it out of your mind and move on with your life.
Regards-- HHH, MD
I stopped reading after your statement that you had negative HIV antibody tests 10 and 13 weeks after your last possible exposure, plus a negative test when you donated blood. They would have inforned you of a positive result. Therefore, it doesn't much matter what the rest of your message says: For sure you're not infected. Nevertheless, to your specific questions:
1) 100% sure.
2) No illness delays or changes HIV test results and certainly obesity doesn't do so. Whether or not your partner had HIV is irrelevant, because your tests show you were not infected.
3) If I were in your situation, I would not hesitate to have unprotected sex with my wife.
4) This has been discussed many times on this forum. First, 97% is a low estimate for test senstivity at 3 months; 98-99% probably is more accuate, or even 100% with modern tests. CDC and most other government agencies take hyper-conservative positions, for legal reasons; Massachusetts' policy is unusual, but from a scientific perspective it probably is more valid advice than CDC's. Finally, the 97% value refers to antibody tests. You probably also had a PCR test for HIV DNA or RNA (and perhaps also a p24 antigen test), because that is what blood donation centers do routinely.
Let's not have any continuing "yes but" or "what if" follow-up questions. It is unlikely you could provide any information that would change my opinion and advice. All is well. You don't have HIV. Try to put it out of your mind and move on with your life.
Regards-- HHH, MD
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Dr. Handsfield and I share the forum. You got me. FYI, the reason we share the forum is because we have worked together for nearly 30 years and while our verbiage styles vary, we have never disagreed on management strategies or advice to clients.
Let’s get right down to your questions.
1. No, you do not have HIV. You can bb e sure of that. Your partner’s statements as weel as your own test results tell you that. You do not need to worry or to have additional testing. You did not get HIV from the encounters you describe.
2. Being overweight and working hard does not make you immunosuppressed. Late4 seroconversion is, for everyone except people who have taken anti-HIV therapy, is an urban myth. Do not even consider it.
3. 3. As I said above, you do not have HIV. Therefore you can have unprotected sex with your GF/fiancé.
4. The CDC does not have the luxury of knowing about each person’s characteristics and, as a government agency, they must be conservative. They are. Believe me, you do not have HIV.
Finally, if you continue to have sex with casual partners, please use condoms. Take care. EWH
Let’s get right down to your questions.
1. No, you do not have HIV. You can bb e sure of that. Your partner’s statements as weel as your own test results tell you that. You do not need to worry or to have additional testing. You did not get HIV from the encounters you describe.
2. Being overweight and working hard does not make you immunosuppressed. Late4 seroconversion is, for everyone except people who have taken anti-HIV therapy, is an urban myth. Do not even consider it.
3. 3. As I said above, you do not have HIV. Therefore you can have unprotected sex with your GF/fiancé.
4. The CDC does not have the luxury of knowing about each person’s characteristics and, as a government agency, they must be conservative. They are. Believe me, you do not have HIV.
Finally, if you continue to have sex with casual partners, please use condoms. Take care. EWH
You are reading content posted in the HIV - Prevention Forum
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
Can I get HIV from surfaces, like toilet seats?
Can you get HIV from casual contact, like hugging?
Frequency of HIV testing depends on your risk.
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) may help prevent HIV infection.
