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Bad information from Planned Parenthood and Student Health Center on HIV...?
Dear Dr. Handsfield,
I wanted to write you because I am in need of clarification - I feel like there is so much bad information out there.
I am a rape victim (of 8 months ago), and am related to 2 people who are HIV+, so, it has always been on my mind. 8 weeks after having protected sex with a heterosexual male (I have no reason to believe that condom breakage occurred, however the situation scared me because the sex caused me to bleed - let's just say it wasn't the most enjoyable experience, and I was not that aroused), I was tested at my university's student health center with a rapid HIV antibody test - as expected, the result was negative. However, I was told by the Nurse Practitioner (and subsequently by the staff at Planned Parenthood) that HIV could "lie dormant" and not appear for up to a year, and that my 8 week test had little use, or accuracy.
As tomorrow will mark 12ish weeks (82 days) since the original encounter I plan on having another rapid HIV test performed because it is as close to the three month marker that I can get before losing my mind.
I therefore have a few questions for you, which I hope will clear up some things for the community at large:
1. Rapid HIV Antibody Test accuracy at 8 weeks?
2. Rapid HIV Antibody Test accuracy at 3 months?
3. Why are University Student Health Centers and organizations like Planned Parenthood giving information to people that seems to be largely disputed by the medical community?
Hopefully these questions can help many people. Thank you for your time and for your help.
I wanted to write you because I am in need of clarification - I feel like there is so much bad information out there.
I am a rape victim (of 8 months ago), and am related to 2 people who are HIV+, so, it has always been on my mind. 8 weeks after having protected sex with a heterosexual male (I have no reason to believe that condom breakage occurred, however the situation scared me because the sex caused me to bleed - let's just say it wasn't the most enjoyable experience, and I was not that aroused), I was tested at my university's student health center with a rapid HIV antibody test - as expected, the result was negative. However, I was told by the Nurse Practitioner (and subsequently by the staff at Planned Parenthood) that HIV could "lie dormant" and not appear for up to a year, and that my 8 week test had little use, or accuracy.
As tomorrow will mark 12ish weeks (82 days) since the original encounter I plan on having another rapid HIV test performed because it is as close to the three month marker that I can get before losing my mind.
I therefore have a few questions for you, which I hope will clear up some things for the community at large:
1. Rapid HIV Antibody Test accuracy at 8 weeks?
2. Rapid HIV Antibody Test accuracy at 3 months?
3. Why are University Student Health Centers and organizations like Planned Parenthood giving information to people that seems to be largely disputed by the medical community?
Hopefully these questions can help many people. Thank you for your time and for your help.
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