HIV testing question

[keb2727]

Dr.,

One month ago I regretably went to see a professional escort. While there, I fingered her vagina and did feel some wetness on my finger. I did not notice any visisble cuts or anything on my finger, but I am still extremely frightned. I have heard of microscopic inperseivalbe cuts being able to accept HIV or Hepatitis. I also kissed her a couple of times, but they were short and not very deep kisses. There is so much information on the internet and I am confused and scared. I have lost almost 15 lbs. from fear and I cannot sleep or function right in the day.

I had an HIV test 20 days following that was negative. I'm not sure how accuarte 20 days is, if at all. I plan on having a 3 month and a 6 month HIV and Hepatitis test and I just pray they will turn out OK.

I just want this nightmare to be over ad my main question is how accurate will the 6 month ELISA test be. I have heard that some people can take over 6 months to develop detectable antibodies. I have 5 months until then, and if by some miracle they are negative I just want this to all end.

Thank You for your time Dr.

[JohnnyV]

Sox,

I'm not an MD, but on many other threads, the doctor has said that oral sex is low risk, and incredibly low in the United States when practiced heterosexually. The question about her breast implants might just be a detail you're grabbing onto, because you want some certainty. Instead of waiting for 3 months, why not just settle your fears with an early test, and then look at the 3-month test as an unimportant procedure to confirm what you already know?

J

[keb2727]

Thanks for your response to my question Dr. I've seen and read so much info on getting STD's it's hard to know what to think sometime. I think I'll still be tested at 3 months for closure.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Your questions have pretty much been answered numerous times; search past threads and the archives.  For a more specific response, please start a new thread.

HHH, MD

[sox111]

Dr HHH...I have a very similiar situation I am dealing with. I also saw a professional escort and I gave and received oral sex and possibly had a cut in my mouth and/or on my penis. I have not been tested and am waiting until I return to school to do so when it will be 3 months (I want to do it only once).

I have had no sickness except a mild sore throat, congestion, tight chest and a rash... some of which these symptoms could be attributed to my allergies but the chest tightness isn't. I tried to ask the escort if she had HIV after the fact but she works for an agency so contact is impossible.

My question is... the escort just recently received breast implants. Would a doctor perform a breast augmentation on someone who is HIV positive? I am thinking probably not so I am pretty sure she wasnt HIV positive. What are my odds that I have it?

Should I even bother to get tested? I am nervous about it because I am very unlucky and knowing my luck I probably got it. Stressing out a little. Let me know  

Thanks

[bigdaddy1992]

dude,if you get tested at 3 months dont bother to test again, if you aint positive at 3 months you are home and dry all official recommendations say 3 months is a clear result however the doc ( and he's the one with all the experiance ) says that if you are negative at 6 weeks that is good enough.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

It is probable that nobody has ever acquired HIV or, to my knowledge, viral hepatitis, from the sort of exposure you describe.  The odds the escort had HIV are low.  (But she'll probably tell you truthfully if you ask.  Have you called her?)  Your symptoms far more likely are due to anxiety than anything else.

Most people who acquire HIV (probably 60-70%) have positive tests within 20 days with modern HIV tests, so your negative result is somewhat reassuring.  Almost all are positive within 6 weeks, so you could be tested then, without waiting 3 months, if it will ease your mind.  You do not need to be tested beyond 3 months; every infected person is positive by then.  To be honest, if you were my patient I wouldn't have recommended HIV testing at all.  But as I have said many times, the negative results will probably ease your mind more than my words.  You clearly are hyper-anxious about all this; your "by some miracle" statement is nonsensical.  There is nothing in your story that suggests you acquired HIV from the exposure you describe.

Good luck--  HHH, MD