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condom breaks
I had sex with an elderly woman that I met at a bar and the condom broke. As soon as I realized it (5-20 sec later) i pulled out. I got very scared of exposing my self like that. I immediately asked her if she has been tested before for hiv and she told me that she had about a year ago (negative). She also assured me that during the year that she has been tested, she has been with two other men and she always uses protection. She also told me that she is a mother of two kids. 2-3 days after the incident, I started having a sore throat and a burning sensation on my back and chest. I also had dry lips and mouth which lasted for the first 5-7days. In the meantime, I have lost my sleep just by thinking that my life will be over if I got infected. I have become very depressed. Day 8 now, I only have a sore throat. On day 5 after the incident I went to get tested. I should be getting the results soon.
Question#1 How accurate those results will be? Since was only 5 days after the incident?
#2 Assuming she is + what are the chances of me getting infected?
#3 What about the symptoms that I had and some still have (day 8 now) ? Am I creating all these from anxiety and stress?
Please help with any advice.
Thanks,
George 790
Question#1 How accurate those results will be? Since was only 5 days after the incident?
#2 Assuming she is + what are the chances of me getting infected?
#3 What about the symptoms that I had and some still have (day 8 now) ? Am I creating all these from anxiety and stress?
Please help with any advice.
Thanks,
George 790
have an STD panel done at your local clinic...you can test for a conclusive result any time after 3 days.
Thanks for all your advise. When I went to get tested the doctor even told me that there is only a slight chance of me getting effected with hiv. However, he advised me that regardless of the results of the test (I should get them this week) I should go back 3 months later for another test. By the way, when I went for a blood test (5 days after the incident), he also took blood for other STDs.
Question: Is it too early to detect other STD's besides hiv in such a short time from the time of the exposure?
Question: Is it too early to detect other STD's besides hiv in such a short time from the time of the exposure?
I totally agree with lizzie. Are the odds VERY MUCH on George's side? You bet! And the likelihood of him being infected based on this exposure is minute.
HOWEVER....anyone who has a legit risk....even a small one, needs to do the right thing and test to rule out ALL STD's. HIV would actually be the least of his worries, as many many other STDs are more common and MUCH easier to transmit.
George...have an STD panel done at your local clinic...you can test for a conclusive result any time after 3 days. For an HIV test....test at 6 weeks to help ease your anxiety. A Negative result at this time is VERY reassuring of your final outcome. Then, follow up the 6 week test with a 3 month test for your final, conclusive result.
Until then...stay off the internet and keep your mind occupied....anxiety is a brutal thing that will drive you nuts and make you second guess every single aspect of this situation.
HOWEVER....anyone who has a legit risk....even a small one, needs to do the right thing and test to rule out ALL STD's. HIV would actually be the least of his worries, as many many other STDs are more common and MUCH easier to transmit.
George...have an STD panel done at your local clinic...you can test for a conclusive result any time after 3 days. For an HIV test....test at 6 weeks to help ease your anxiety. A Negative result at this time is VERY reassuring of your final outcome. Then, follow up the 6 week test with a 3 month test for your final, conclusive result.
Until then...stay off the internet and keep your mind occupied....anxiety is a brutal thing that will drive you nuts and make you second guess every single aspect of this situation.
many times i myself have used the statistics in order to try and ease someone's fear. at the same time...i ALWAYS suggest that they test to know their status. never would i tell someone they do not need a test based solely on numbers.
I agree that statistics can potentially be used to justify unsafe behavior but (IMHO) I don't think that is a particular concern on the HIV forums as people who post here like George tend to be hyper-anxious about infection so I'm not concerned that they will suddenly go on a bare-back sex spree based on my comments. In the wrong context, such as a forum for people trying to hook up, I think it would be irresponsible to quote statistics.
I think people just come here for reassurance because they are a mess, and statistics have value in providing some perspective to those particular people. Again, that's just my opinion
But nobody should be interpreting my comments that they will not get infected if they don't wear condoms or that infection from one time exposure can't occur.
That will have to end my contribution to this thread.
J
I think people just come here for reassurance because they are a mess, and statistics have value in providing some perspective to those particular people. Again, that's just my opinion
But nobody should be interpreting my comments that they will not get infected if they don't wear condoms or that infection from one time exposure can't occur.
That will have to end my contribution to this thread.
J
yeah yeah yeah...i read the expert forum too. i just dont post there since ppl are paying money to get an answer from a doctor...not some lay person.
i have seen the doctors go both ways...but i feel their replies are based solely on statistics...something i would not suggest anyone doing. all it takes is one time ! ! ! the odds may be with you...but they may also play against you.
ANYONE WHO HAS UNPROTECTED SEX CAN POTENTIALLY PUT THEMSELVES AT RISK FOR HIV AND OTHER STDS. IN ORDER TO KNOW YOUR STATUS...TEST ! ! ! I WOULD HATE TO SEE HIM/HER GOING AROUND HAVING UNPROTECTED SEX WITH OTHERS...POSSIBLY INFECTING THEM...BECAUSE OF STATISTICS.
i have seen the doctors go both ways...but i feel their replies are based solely on statistics...something i would not suggest anyone doing. all it takes is one time ! ! ! the odds may be with you...but they may also play against you.
ANYONE WHO HAS UNPROTECTED SEX CAN POTENTIALLY PUT THEMSELVES AT RISK FOR HIV AND OTHER STDS. IN ORDER TO KNOW YOUR STATUS...TEST ! ! ! I WOULD HATE TO SEE HIM/HER GOING AROUND HAVING UNPROTECTED SEX WITH OTHERS...POSSIBLY INFECTING THEM...BECAUSE OF STATISTICS.
Chlamydia is known as a "silent" disease because about three quarters of infected women and about half of infected men have no symptoms.
Testing for other STDs is usually not advised after single incidents like this unless there are clear symptoms. Otherwise, routine annual testing is recommended for sexually active people. If you haven't been tested recently, it would not be a bad idea to test for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis when you test again for HIV as you would be at relatively higher risk for these. You may also benefit for additional reassurance from face-to-face counseling at an STD clinic such as planned parenthood or your local health department.
Contact your local STD clinic and explain your situation that you had a condom brake and you don't know the status of the person you were with.
Searching the archives of the Expert HIV Forum should also help relieve your anxiety. Search on broken condom.
The medical experts there usually do not even advise that testing is necessary in these types of incidents, except for psychological assurance.
The medical experts there usually do not even advise that testing is necessary in these types of incidents, except for psychological assurance.
Not only would you test for HIV is that you also need to have and STD panel done before you go having unprotected sex with anyone else.
Regarding question # 2- I did not assume your partner was positive in answering this question as there is no rational reason to do so. But the frequency of transmission if someone is positive from a one time exposure is 1:2000. Since your exposure was so brief I'm sure your chances of infection would be considerably lower, IF somehow she was infected, which is highly doubtful.
George,
I answered your earlier post but unfortunately it was deleted.
Please relax and be assured that your chance of getting HIV in this incident is way too low to worry about.
HIV is very uncommon in heterosexual women in their 40's- the odds your partner was infected was less than 1:1000. If you combine that with the low frequency of transmission (1:2000) your chances of infection are less than 1:2,000,000. You are more likely to get hit by lightning sitting in your living room, trust me.
There is also no reason why a woman would lie to you about her status in this incidence unless she is a psychopath. The odds she was even infected are close to zero.
My other advice is to stop examining yourself for symptoms. It is amazing what the mind can have you believe about yourself when you do that. When people think their symptoms are due to anxiety, they are usually correct. And definitely do not google HIV and symptoms- you will only get inaccurate information and it will make things worse.
To answer your specific questions:
1. Your HIV test was too early and only establishes a baseline. If you are still worried get a test at 6 weeks, which will be ~95% accurate. When you get a negative result at that time your odds of infection will be 1/40,000,000- zero for practical purposes- which you can take to the bank as proof that you were not infected.
2. One in Two MILLION. To put this in context, your odds of dying in an accident in the next 12 months are 1:1700.
3. I have no reason to think that you are different than the 100's of other worried wells who have posted here who experience classic anxiety symptoms (e.g. dry mouth) and hyperawareness of body sensations from worrying about HIV.
Please believe me that you were NOT at significant risk here. When you begin to look it the situation rationally and objectively (I know it is hard when something like a condom break happens to you personally) it will sink in. If you don't worry about getting hit by lightning you shouldn't be worried about this incident.
There are not doctors on this forum and I suggest that if you are still worried that you post in the doctor's forum. They will essentially tell you the same thing as all my statistics and information are derived from their advice but coming from them will be more assuring then any comments that you can get here.
I hope this helps.
I answered your earlier post but unfortunately it was deleted.
Please relax and be assured that your chance of getting HIV in this incident is way too low to worry about.
HIV is very uncommon in heterosexual women in their 40's- the odds your partner was infected was less than 1:1000. If you combine that with the low frequency of transmission (1:2000) your chances of infection are less than 1:2,000,000. You are more likely to get hit by lightning sitting in your living room, trust me.
There is also no reason why a woman would lie to you about her status in this incidence unless she is a psychopath. The odds she was even infected are close to zero.
My other advice is to stop examining yourself for symptoms. It is amazing what the mind can have you believe about yourself when you do that. When people think their symptoms are due to anxiety, they are usually correct. And definitely do not google HIV and symptoms- you will only get inaccurate information and it will make things worse.
To answer your specific questions:
1. Your HIV test was too early and only establishes a baseline. If you are still worried get a test at 6 weeks, which will be ~95% accurate. When you get a negative result at that time your odds of infection will be 1/40,000,000- zero for practical purposes- which you can take to the bank as proof that you were not infected.
2. One in Two MILLION. To put this in context, your odds of dying in an accident in the next 12 months are 1:1700.
3. I have no reason to think that you are different than the 100's of other worried wells who have posted here who experience classic anxiety symptoms (e.g. dry mouth) and hyperawareness of body sensations from worrying about HIV.
Please believe me that you were NOT at significant risk here. When you begin to look it the situation rationally and objectively (I know it is hard when something like a condom break happens to you personally) it will sink in. If you don't worry about getting hit by lightning you shouldn't be worried about this incident.
There are not doctors on this forum and I suggest that if you are still worried that you post in the doctor's forum. They will essentially tell you the same thing as all my statistics and information are derived from their advice but coming from them will be more assuring then any comments that you can get here.
I hope this helps.
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