worrying myself sick about possible HIV infection

[JenJen36]

Something recently came into my mind and I've been worrying about it non-stop, for days.  About a year and a half ago, I had unprotected vaginal sex with a man of unknown status.  Since then I've felt absolutely fine, and have been in perfect health.   I am getting an HIV test done tomorrow (rapid test) but am absolutely SICK with worry that I will be HIV positive.  Can you please give me some advice as to what my risk is? Thank you so much!

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

The chances are overwhelming that you don't have HIV.  HIV is much less common in the general heterosexual population than many people think, fewer than 1 in 1,000 persons.  This includes sexually active people with very active sex lives and many partners.  If your partner was a man who also has sex with men, has been imprisoned, was an injection drug user, or an immigrant from a country with a generalized heterosexual HIV epidemic (e.g., sub-Saharan Africa), that would increase the risk.  But even if had HIV, the chance you were infected is low.  The estimate for the average risk of HIV transmission, from an infected male to his female partner by vaginal sex, is once for every 1,000 episodes of intercourse.

For these reasons, it is very rare for someone with your kind of sexual history to be HIV-positive.  Try not to worry too much while you wait for the result of your test.  You can expect a negative result.

I hope this helps.  Best wishes--  HHH, MD

[JenJen36]

Bless your heart! I had the test done this morning (rapid test with a blood sample) and the test came back negative.  Your advice calmed me down right away, but it's nice to have the actually physical evidence now, too.  

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

The additional information makes no difference in my opinion or advice.  You're fine; you still can expect a negative test.

[JenJen36]

I have a feeling your answer might be the same as above (I hope!!), but here's my other concern:   I've had more than one sexual partner.  Most of the time, it's been protected sex.   Once it was attempted penetration, but it hurt, so I didn't go further.  There may have been one other time in my life that a condom may not have been used ( I quite honestly can't fully remember).   I'm assuming my risk is still relatively low?   In the last 5 years, I've only had 9 sexual partners.  and only once (possibly twice) there was no condom involved in vaginal sex that resulted in  male ejaculation.    I'm hoping that hasn't made my sexual history any wors???

[JenJen36]

Thank you SO much, for your answer.  It's like a verbal hug for me, thank you!  I've had sex since that encounter, but all protected.  I am definitely sure the man I was with when I had unprotected sex had none of those conditions you listed above.  The funny thing is, is that I always felt kind of awkward asking a guy to use a condom (I usually do!!!) but now I TRULY understand how IMPORTANT, even for the sake of peace of mind, it is.  I've had 9 sexual partners in my life (I'm 31) -  and there's only one occurance where a condom was not used  (possibly one other time, but I can't remember, it was so long ago).  

Anyway ... your answer has help put my heart at ease.  I can't thank you enough.  You provide such a wonderful service! Thank you for your time!