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Unprotected Oral Sex, Test 9 Weeks & Fingering
I had a questionable encounter with a female i met online. I live in Canada and had a protected sex (latex condom) later to realize that her periods were on and i had blood all over the condom but the condom didn't fail at all. Also I had received Fellatio (BJ) from her without condom though.
I went for the HIV ELISA test (in India 2011) after 9 weeks (63 days) and it came back negative.
Q1 - Is it possible to get HIV from Fellatio unprotected (I was the receiver)?
Q2 - Can I be certain that HIV ELISA test at 9 weeks is accurate and I require no more testing after the unprotected Fellatio & Protected Vaginal?
I met a girl cpl of months back and did some brief fingering only (no cuts on my finger) and 2 months later i suffered from Diarrhea (I was traveling internationally) which got me all anxious again along with occasional burning sensation on my feet.
Q3 - Can fingering cause HIV or is it a no risk?
Do you find the need for me to go for further testing again as I am scared to go for testing again (anxiety kills me) and your suggestions\words would reassure me.
I went for the HIV ELISA test (in India 2011) after 9 weeks (63 days) and it came back negative.
Q1 - Is it possible to get HIV from Fellatio unprotected (I was the receiver)?
Q2 - Can I be certain that HIV ELISA test at 9 weeks is accurate and I require no more testing after the unprotected Fellatio & Protected Vaginal?
I met a girl cpl of months back and did some brief fingering only (no cuts on my finger) and 2 months later i suffered from Diarrhea (I was traveling internationally) which got me all anxious again along with occasional burning sensation on my feet.
Q3 - Can fingering cause HIV or is it a no risk?
Do you find the need for me to go for further testing again as I am scared to go for testing again (anxiety kills me) and your suggestions\words would reassure me.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum. Thanks for your question. However, I would have advised you not to spend good money on opinions from both this and the international forum. Our opinions and advice never differ. You can expect to receive a more or less identical response on that forum.
We also advise users to read other threads with questions similar to theirs. The replies that follow are the same as perhaps 500 others on this forum.
You descibe a zero risk sexual exposure, for all practical purposes, since the frequency of HIV in Canadian women without special HIV risks (injection drug use, etc) are extremely low; and the presence of blood, in the context of condom use for vaginal sex, doesn't elevate the risk of transmission of HIV compared to vaginal secretions without blood.
To your specific questions:
1) Is oral to penile transmission of HIV "possible?" Maybe. But there are no proved cases. See the threads linked below.
2) A negative HIV ELISA at 9 weeks is 100% proof you didn't catch HIV. Contrary to popular beliefs, it isn't necessary to wait 3 months, even though that's the usual official advice. This also is discussed in detail in a thread linked below.
3) This also was a zero risk exposure. HIV has never been reported or suspected to have been transmitted by hand-genital contact or fingering.
Should you be tested again? From a risk standpoint, it isn't necessary. You didn't need testing at all on account of the exposures described, except for the reassurance value I hope you have experienced from the negative result. Only you can decide whether, on the basis of the official advice for testing at 3 months, another negative test would further help you get beyond your fears.
Although I do not recommend testing, I have to comment on your hesitancy due to the "anxiety". You are obviously very anxious already, and experience shows that people who hesitate to be tested for fear of the result actually experience reduced anxiety even if the test is positive. Even when the risk of HIV is sky high -- and yours definitely is not -- fear of the result, or of the stress while waiting for results, is never a rational reason to avoid HIV testing.
Here are the other threads I mentioned above:
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/1415872
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/1700243
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/1704700
Really, this whole business is weighing on you far more than it should. These were non-events with resppect to HIV.
Regards-- HHH, MD
We also advise users to read other threads with questions similar to theirs. The replies that follow are the same as perhaps 500 others on this forum.
You descibe a zero risk sexual exposure, for all practical purposes, since the frequency of HIV in Canadian women without special HIV risks (injection drug use, etc) are extremely low; and the presence of blood, in the context of condom use for vaginal sex, doesn't elevate the risk of transmission of HIV compared to vaginal secretions without blood.
To your specific questions:
1) Is oral to penile transmission of HIV "possible?" Maybe. But there are no proved cases. See the threads linked below.
2) A negative HIV ELISA at 9 weeks is 100% proof you didn't catch HIV. Contrary to popular beliefs, it isn't necessary to wait 3 months, even though that's the usual official advice. This also is discussed in detail in a thread linked below.
3) This also was a zero risk exposure. HIV has never been reported or suspected to have been transmitted by hand-genital contact or fingering.
Should you be tested again? From a risk standpoint, it isn't necessary. You didn't need testing at all on account of the exposures described, except for the reassurance value I hope you have experienced from the negative result. Only you can decide whether, on the basis of the official advice for testing at 3 months, another negative test would further help you get beyond your fears.
Although I do not recommend testing, I have to comment on your hesitancy due to the "anxiety". You are obviously very anxious already, and experience shows that people who hesitate to be tested for fear of the result actually experience reduced anxiety even if the test is positive. Even when the risk of HIV is sky high -- and yours definitely is not -- fear of the result, or of the stress while waiting for results, is never a rational reason to avoid HIV testing.
Here are the other threads I mentioned above:
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/1415872
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/1700243
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/1704700
Really, this whole business is weighing on you far more than it should. These were non-events with resppect to HIV.
Regards-- HHH, MD
Thank you Doctor! Your reply has put an end to my self inflicted misery for last so many months.
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