Aa
Is this HIV?
I posted a question entitled "problems in my mouth" on Jan. 14, 2005. You stated with great confidence that my symptoms were not from an STD. However you said it could concievably be yeast(thrush).How can you be so sure the yeast isnt the result of an HIV in fection from my sexual encounter this summer? Is it because 2 months isnt long enough for those symptoms to show up? I have a new lesion above my teeth in almost exactly the same spot( 4 MOS AFTER SEX). It is whiteish yellow and when i wipe it away it reveals a slightly bleeding ulcer. Isnt that thrush? I am really only worried about HIV, I think i could handle anything else. I also wanted to know what the risk is for a man who has one unprotected heterosexual encounter(HIV)?I have read that it is extremely low. Why is that? I want to thank you for answering my first question and I am sorry about writting back so soon, but the first answer still left me speculating on some things. Thank you
HHH --
Thanks very much for your response it did make me feel a bit better, until I self-diagnosed myself with Seborrheic Dermatitis, a common symptom of acute HIV. Also, I had recent blood work done, approximately 2 months ago but did NOT get an HIV test. The WBC was 5.9 (up from 2 years ago of 5.5) and the total lymphocyte count was ~1400 (down from 2 years ago ~1800). While both of these numbers are "normal" the fact that they've changed at all bothers me. Additionally, this recent blood test was only 3 months after the "incident", god knows what they might be now.
Are the chances of contracting HIV when using a condom that small? The intercourse did not last long and was not particularily intense. I guess I'm just looking for some reassurance to tide me over until my test next week so I can eat and sleep in the meantime (god knows I'll be a wreck waiting for the results). How long does it usually take to get the results?
I hate the internet, I spend hours self-diagnosing while at work.
Thanks again! Reading and responding to all these messages is truly kind of you!
Thanks very much for your response it did make me feel a bit better, until I self-diagnosed myself with Seborrheic Dermatitis, a common symptom of acute HIV. Also, I had recent blood work done, approximately 2 months ago but did NOT get an HIV test. The WBC was 5.9 (up from 2 years ago of 5.5) and the total lymphocyte count was ~1400 (down from 2 years ago ~1800). While both of these numbers are "normal" the fact that they've changed at all bothers me. Additionally, this recent blood test was only 3 months after the "incident", god knows what they might be now.
Are the chances of contracting HIV when using a condom that small? The intercourse did not last long and was not particularily intense. I guess I'm just looking for some reassurance to tide me over until my test next week so I can eat and sleep in the meantime (god knows I'll be a wreck waiting for the results). How long does it usually take to get the results?
I hate the internet, I spend hours self-diagnosing while at work.
Thanks again! Reading and responding to all these messages is truly kind of you!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
That kind of fluctuation in lymphocyte count is entirely normal; everybody's white blood cells fluctuate continually through a wide rangeon an hourly and daily basis.
When seborrheic dermatitis is in the scalp, it is called dandruff. That's all seborrheic dermatitis is, dandruff. Promiment seb derm that is difficult to treat is more common in HIV infection, but the vast majority of people with it don't have HIV.
Yes, the risk of catching HIV when wearing a condom is "that small".
HIV test results typically are available in a day or so. There now are rapid tests available that give results while you wait, but most providers don't have them in their offices, or limit their use to people at high risk (which you are not).
You clearly are obsessing about this much more than warranted. If you find your anxieties continuing even after you get your negative HIV test result, you may want to see a mental health professional to better understand why.
HHH, MD
When seborrheic dermatitis is in the scalp, it is called dandruff. That's all seborrheic dermatitis is, dandruff. Promiment seb derm that is difficult to treat is more common in HIV infection, but the vast majority of people with it don't have HIV.
Yes, the risk of catching HIV when wearing a condom is "that small".
HIV test results typically are available in a day or so. There now are rapid tests available that give results while you wait, but most providers don't have them in their offices, or limit their use to people at high risk (which you are not).
You clearly are obsessing about this much more than warranted. If you find your anxieties continuing even after you get your negative HIV test result, you may want to see a mental health professional to better understand why.
HHH, MD
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Those symptoms don't sound like HIV, and the chance is zero you acquired the virus from the encounter you describe.
You're right about my response, you need to get tested. Look at it not with dread it will be positive (it surely won't, if the episode you describe is your only high-risk exposure), but how relieved you will be by the negative result.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
You're right about my response, you need to get tested. Look at it not with dread it will be positive (it surely won't, if the episode you describe is your only high-risk exposure), but how relieved you will be by the negative result.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
I'm concerned about possible HIV infection. I had vaginal intercourse with a woman I suspect to be "at-risk" but do not know (in fact, I know nothing of her sexual history). I used a condom, however the penis likely touched the vaginal lips (no penetration) prior to putting the condom on. The episode was 5 months ago and the incident itself lasted 5 minutes. Current and past symptoms include:
- red blotchy skin at base of pubic hair (currently this is Not present)
- small red bumps in pubic hair region which disappear after a couple hours. THey do Not look like pimples or have a white head
- minor white patches on toungue, although I feel I've had this frequently in the past prior to this experience
- dry, iritated, red skin on cheeks which have persisted for the past 2 months
- recently, small red non-itchy bumps scattered on forearm and a large cluster of red bumps on inside of elbow. Was on both arms, became brighter after a day of sun exsposure, disappeared completely after 2/3 days. A few red bumps were also scattered across the chest, but the forearms were most obvious.
AFter reading many symptom webpages I feel that I've self-induced certain symptoms (night sweats, chills, etc) although I only had one night sweat tonight as I was falling asleep which freaked me out. I can't stand the thought of getting a test (which I know will be your advice) since I dread the outcome soo much.
Sorry for piggy-backing someone elses email chain... but "new" questions were not being allowed. Thank you.
- red blotchy skin at base of pubic hair (currently this is Not present)
- small red bumps in pubic hair region which disappear after a couple hours. THey do Not look like pimples or have a white head
- minor white patches on toungue, although I feel I've had this frequently in the past prior to this experience
- dry, iritated, red skin on cheeks which have persisted for the past 2 months
- recently, small red non-itchy bumps scattered on forearm and a large cluster of red bumps on inside of elbow. Was on both arms, became brighter after a day of sun exsposure, disappeared completely after 2/3 days. A few red bumps were also scattered across the chest, but the forearms were most obvious.
AFter reading many symptom webpages I feel that I've self-induced certain symptoms (night sweats, chills, etc) although I only had one night sweat tonight as I was falling asleep which freaked me out. I can't stand the thought of getting a test (which I know will be your advice) since I dread the outcome soo much.
Sorry for piggy-backing someone elses email chain... but "new" questions were not being allowed. Thank you.
Thanks Doc. I do plan on seeing a doctor in the near future. I was just looking for a professional opinion in the meantime. I only thought it was thrush because the first sores were slightly raised and wipeable. Thrush was the only thing to fit that description, and all the information about thrush points to HIV. Can chancres look like that and wipe away? Thanks again
Another possbility that I forgot to raise is syphilis. The timing is right for a primary syphilis lesion (chancre)--i.e., the incubation period typically is 3-12 weeks, so 2+ months is right in there. Chancres sometimes occur on the lips or in the mouth, acquired by oral sex. However, syphilis is rare in heterosexual women (although a big problem currently in gay men), and is unlikely to be acquired by the brief ("barely any") oral contact you described in your Jan 14 message. So I don't really think it is a serious possibility. Still, a syphilis blood test would be a good idea if you haven't had one since the problem started.
HHH, MD
HHH, MD
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
How can I "be so sure"? I'm not and didn't say I was; no online doc can make a firm diagnosis.
Yeast infections of the mouth often occur in people with normal immune systems (I had it myself, once). But your more detailed description this time doesn't sound much like thrush anyway. Maybe just garden-variety canker sore (formal name aphthous stomatitis)?
When one partner has HIV and the other doesn't, the odds of sexual transmission have been estimated to average around 1 chance per 1,000 episodes of vaginal intercourse. It can be as high as 1 in 100 or as low as 1 in 10,000; the odds generally are higher from male to female than the opposite; and are much lower by oral sex than vaginal intercourse. "Why?" is pretty complex; it has to do with how much virus is in genital secretions (which in turn varies with the stage of HIV infection), trauma during sex, presence of other STDs or genital sores, whether or not the man is circumcised, and other factors.
As I said previously, I doubt very much your problem was acquired from a sexual encounter 4 months ago, i.e. over 2 months before your first symptom. But why keep worrying? See a health care provider about the problem in your mouth and while you're there request an HIV test. The result will be negative and you'll rest easier.
HHH, MD
Yeast infections of the mouth often occur in people with normal immune systems (I had it myself, once). But your more detailed description this time doesn't sound much like thrush anyway. Maybe just garden-variety canker sore (formal name aphthous stomatitis)?
When one partner has HIV and the other doesn't, the odds of sexual transmission have been estimated to average around 1 chance per 1,000 episodes of vaginal intercourse. It can be as high as 1 in 100 or as low as 1 in 10,000; the odds generally are higher from male to female than the opposite; and are much lower by oral sex than vaginal intercourse. "Why?" is pretty complex; it has to do with how much virus is in genital secretions (which in turn varies with the stage of HIV infection), trauma during sex, presence of other STDs or genital sores, whether or not the man is circumcised, and other factors.
As I said previously, I doubt very much your problem was acquired from a sexual encounter 4 months ago, i.e. over 2 months before your first symptom. But why keep worrying? See a health care provider about the problem in your mouth and while you're there request an HIV test. The result will be negative and you'll rest easier.
HHH, MD
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.
