Aa
Serious HIV Questions and Concerns
Hello Dr,
About 4 weeks ago I had protected sex with a female prostitute, however I also suffer from Psoriasis and have it on the base-shaft of my penis, i think most of it was covered by the condom however I noticed when i removed the condom the base of my penis was more raw than it had been prior to sex, I assume because of the friction. I am concerend because ipossible not all of my penis was covered. The very next day i noticed my throat was sore and that my testicles kind of ached, my throat still seems sore, but the aching in the teticles is gone, i went and got tested for HIV and STD's three days later and everything is negative. Since the testing as i said, the sore throat is still there and now i noticed my Psoriasis seems worse and i now have some Jock Itch. I plan on getting another rapid HIV test in like 4 days (that will be about a month after possible exposure), but i worry this may not give me acurate results ( i have read online it can take 2-6, 4-8 or 3 to 9 weeks depending...basically no speciifc period of time. I want to know what should I do.. Should i even worry because i used the condom and more then likely there was not full penetration and the base of my penis was uneffected? Would waiting four weeks be enough time especially since I have psoriasis and have been told that my immune system works much faster and should get a proper reading...(though i don't know how much stock in this i would take). Are there other test availlabe in Essex County, NJ to get done that would be acurate after 4 weeks and if so were do i go to get them, i.e. a normal hospital or clinc or a specialist like an infectious disease doctor. Finally do you know how Psoriasis would even interact with HIV, would i notice a worsening in the Psoriasis or it getting better because my T-cells are fighting a possible HIV infection? I am so confused by the mess of information online that seems different from person to person or site to site...please help.
About 4 weeks ago I had protected sex with a female prostitute, however I also suffer from Psoriasis and have it on the base-shaft of my penis, i think most of it was covered by the condom however I noticed when i removed the condom the base of my penis was more raw than it had been prior to sex, I assume because of the friction. I am concerend because ipossible not all of my penis was covered. The very next day i noticed my throat was sore and that my testicles kind of ached, my throat still seems sore, but the aching in the teticles is gone, i went and got tested for HIV and STD's three days later and everything is negative. Since the testing as i said, the sore throat is still there and now i noticed my Psoriasis seems worse and i now have some Jock Itch. I plan on getting another rapid HIV test in like 4 days (that will be about a month after possible exposure), but i worry this may not give me acurate results ( i have read online it can take 2-6, 4-8 or 3 to 9 weeks depending...basically no speciifc period of time. I want to know what should I do.. Should i even worry because i used the condom and more then likely there was not full penetration and the base of my penis was uneffected? Would waiting four weeks be enough time especially since I have psoriasis and have been told that my immune system works much faster and should get a proper reading...(though i don't know how much stock in this i would take). Are there other test availlabe in Essex County, NJ to get done that would be acurate after 4 weeks and if so were do i go to get them, i.e. a normal hospital or clinc or a specialist like an infectious disease doctor. Finally do you know how Psoriasis would even interact with HIV, would i notice a worsening in the Psoriasis or it getting better because my T-cells are fighting a possible HIV infection? I am so confused by the mess of information online that seems different from person to person or site to site...please help.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
This is the wrong forum for HIV prevention questions. See the opening statement above and the information in the "Disclaimer Please Read" message at the top of this forum.
The quick answer is that any inflammation of the skin, including psoriasis, might in theory increase the risk of HIV infection if exposed. That the inflammation is caused by psoriasis does not itself have any known influence, any more than any other cause. However, the overall risk is so low in situations like you describe that you really don't have significant risk, since few commercial sex workers (in the US) have HIV. And no infection, including HIV, cannot cause symptoms in less than 24 hours; for HIV, 7-10 days is the minimum. Whatever the cause of your symptoms, it has nothing to do with the sexual exposure you describe. You do not need HIV testing on account of this event. But if you insist on following through with more testing, have a final HIV antibody test 6 weeks after the exposure.
If you need more information than this, you will have to re-post your question on the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex forum. But before you pay another posting fee, you might use the search link on that forum. All the other things you ask have been asked and answered many times. There won't be any ongoing comments/discussion on this forum.
HHH, MD
The quick answer is that any inflammation of the skin, including psoriasis, might in theory increase the risk of HIV infection if exposed. That the inflammation is caused by psoriasis does not itself have any known influence, any more than any other cause. However, the overall risk is so low in situations like you describe that you really don't have significant risk, since few commercial sex workers (in the US) have HIV. And no infection, including HIV, cannot cause symptoms in less than 24 hours; for HIV, 7-10 days is the minimum. Whatever the cause of your symptoms, it has nothing to do with the sexual exposure you describe. You do not need HIV testing on account of this event. But if you insist on following through with more testing, have a final HIV antibody test 6 weeks after the exposure.
If you need more information than this, you will have to re-post your question on the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex forum. But before you pay another posting fee, you might use the search link on that forum. All the other things you ask have been asked and answered many times. There won't be any ongoing comments/discussion on this forum.
HHH, MD
Thanks for the help..Sorry for the not reading the disclaimer properly.
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
