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Swallowed breast fluid from HIV positive woman
Hello doctor.
2 weeks ago I had a sexual encounter with a HIV positive woman I met online.
We kissed, I sucked her breasts, and we had protected vaginal sex. We didn't engage in oral sex.
When I was sucking one of her breasts some fluid came out of it. I kept it in my mouth for like 5 seconds and then swallowed it. This happened twice.
Is it possible to contract HIV this way?
2 weeks ago I had a sexual encounter with a HIV positive woman I met online.
We kissed, I sucked her breasts, and we had protected vaginal sex. We didn't engage in oral sex.
When I was sucking one of her breasts some fluid came out of it. I kept it in my mouth for like 5 seconds and then swallowed it. This happened twice.
Is it possible to contract HIV this way?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the HIV forum. I have good news for you: you are not at significant risk of HIV in from this event.
Breast milk is potentially infectious for HIV, but very minimally so. Among infants nursed by HIV infected mothers, only 10-15% become infected through breast milk, after an average of 6 months. In other words, after half a year of swallowing several ounces of breast milk every day, 85-90% do not catch HIV. Breast fluids in non-nursing women probably are similar. Another reassuring factor is that the mammary (milk producing) glands are biologically similar to salivary glands and sweat glands -- and saliva and sweat are not infectious for HIV, or minimally so. Saliva and milk of HIV infected persons contain anti-HIV antibodies that neutralize the virus.
In other words, your risk of HIV is sufficiently low that testing is optional. However, it seems you have a fairly high risk sexual lifestyle -- having sex with partners you do not know well, plus willingness to have sex (even with a condom) with HIV infected partners. On that basis, you should have routine HIV testing from time to time, like once a year. If you have not been tested in the past year, this would be a good time, when it's on your mind. If so, or if your nervousness about this exposure would be relieved (beyond this reassurance) by a negative test result, have an HIV antibody test 6 weeks after the exposure; or a combo test (for HIV antibody and p24 antigen) at 4 weeks. Assuming this is your only exposure, you can definitely expect a negative result.
I hope this helps. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
Breast milk is potentially infectious for HIV, but very minimally so. Among infants nursed by HIV infected mothers, only 10-15% become infected through breast milk, after an average of 6 months. In other words, after half a year of swallowing several ounces of breast milk every day, 85-90% do not catch HIV. Breast fluids in non-nursing women probably are similar. Another reassuring factor is that the mammary (milk producing) glands are biologically similar to salivary glands and sweat glands -- and saliva and sweat are not infectious for HIV, or minimally so. Saliva and milk of HIV infected persons contain anti-HIV antibodies that neutralize the virus.
In other words, your risk of HIV is sufficiently low that testing is optional. However, it seems you have a fairly high risk sexual lifestyle -- having sex with partners you do not know well, plus willingness to have sex (even with a condom) with HIV infected partners. On that basis, you should have routine HIV testing from time to time, like once a year. If you have not been tested in the past year, this would be a good time, when it's on your mind. If so, or if your nervousness about this exposure would be relieved (beyond this reassurance) by a negative test result, have an HIV antibody test 6 weeks after the exposure; or a combo test (for HIV antibody and p24 antigen) at 4 weeks. Assuming this is your only exposure, you can definitely expect a negative result.
I hope this helps. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Exactly as you state yourself: combining your low risk exposure with the test result, it is 100% certain you didn't catch HIV.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Another comment: If you continue to choose to have sex with known HIV infected partners, please ask them whether they are on treatment and their viral load. (Most persons on treatment will know their viral load.) If you limit sexual contact to those with low or undetectable viral load, you will be very safe even in event of a condom failure.
And since you mention avoiding oral sex: that really isn't necessary. Oral sex is very low risk for HIV transmission.
And since you mention avoiding oral sex: that really isn't necessary. Oral sex is very low risk for HIV transmission.
Thank you very much for your service doctor.
By the way I haven't had ANY sexual encounter after that one. That was the last one.
Hello Doctor.
I couldn't wait any longer and took a 4th generation antibody+p24antigen test 26 days after exposure (almost 4 weeks). It came back negative.
If we combine my low risk exposure, with my negative test result, with the fact that I haven't had any symptoms, is it ok to go on with my life and assume that I don't have HIV?
I couldn't wait any longer and took a 4th generation antibody+p24antigen test 26 days after exposure (almost 4 weeks). It came back negative.
If we combine my low risk exposure, with my negative test result, with the fact that I haven't had any symptoms, is it ok to go on with my life and assume that I don't have HIV?
Thank you very much for your answer doctor.
I do test for HIV once every 3 months. My last test was in November and it came out negative.
This is probably the only and last time I have sex with a HIV positive woman though. The anxiety and worry that comes afterwards is just not worth it.
Thanks again.
I do test for HIV once every 3 months. My last test was in November and it came out negative.
This is probably the only and last time I have sex with a HIV positive woman though. The anxiety and worry that comes afterwards is just not worth it.
Thanks again.
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