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Unprotected sex in Africa
Dear Doctor:
I am young American woman working in urban South Africa. I have had sex with 7 different male partners here in the last 3.5 months, and have been with each of these partners from one to three times each. Of these partners, 4 were from South Africa, 1 from Zimbabwe, 1 from France, and one is from Ghana, though all are staying in SA. Many of these men I believe to have frequent safe sex but do not have steady partners. Most encounters included some combination of digital penetration, oral sex, or protected vaginal intercourse.
There is one incident of particular concern: In an idiotic drunken moment, I had unprotected vaginal sex with a 25 yr old Ghanaian man, who came inside of me. While he claims to have been tested (though I do not know how recently) and to not have other partners, of course one cannot be sure. As far as I know, there were no abrasions or other compromised genital tissues at the time of the incident.
I went for a rapid HIV test today, exactly 29 days after unprotected sex, and the result was negative. I plan on going for a test at 7 weeks (instead of at 6 due to traveling), 3 months, and 6 months. I would like to assess my risk factor relative to the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in this region of the world and the potential of a remaining window period. Also, am I being absolutely excessive in testing?
Regards,
9997
I am young American woman working in urban South Africa. I have had sex with 7 different male partners here in the last 3.5 months, and have been with each of these partners from one to three times each. Of these partners, 4 were from South Africa, 1 from Zimbabwe, 1 from France, and one is from Ghana, though all are staying in SA. Many of these men I believe to have frequent safe sex but do not have steady partners. Most encounters included some combination of digital penetration, oral sex, or protected vaginal intercourse.
There is one incident of particular concern: In an idiotic drunken moment, I had unprotected vaginal sex with a 25 yr old Ghanaian man, who came inside of me. While he claims to have been tested (though I do not know how recently) and to not have other partners, of course one cannot be sure. As far as I know, there were no abrasions or other compromised genital tissues at the time of the incident.
I went for a rapid HIV test today, exactly 29 days after unprotected sex, and the result was negative. I plan on going for a test at 7 weeks (instead of at 6 due to traveling), 3 months, and 6 months. I would like to assess my risk factor relative to the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in this region of the world and the potential of a remaining window period. Also, am I being absolutely excessive in testing?
Regards,
9997
3 months is conclusive for most all. Only if you are on chemo, antirejections drugs for a transplant or you are a chronic IV drug abuser my it take longer than 3 months.
Yeah, realized this after I posted... reposted in Doc's forum. Isn't it true that a test is pretty much conclusive at 3 months, but not entirely? There are cases of seroconversion after 3 mos, of course.
Is my 7 weeks test advisable or should I wait until another time (like 8 weeks), or just wait until 3 mos at this point? How far from being out of the woods am I?
Is my 7 weeks test advisable or should I wait until another time (like 8 weeks), or just wait until 3 mos at this point? How far from being out of the woods am I?
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