Aa
In the clear yet?
I recently found out that my husband was having an affair. I was tested for HIV, syphilis, Hep A, Hep B (antigen and antibody), Hep C, Gonorrhea and Chlamydia, and HSV 1&2 at 3 months since last exposure. All were negative except the chlamydia. I received antibiotic treatment. I was feeling a little more calm about it after receiving the negative results but the more I find out about the affairs (yes, it is plural now), the more panicked I start feeling. There were multiple partners with no protection ever being used and the ones that I have found out about and know in person are quite promiscuous and not safe. So, seeing as my risk of having acquired something else is raised by having the chlamydia, can I trust these results to be completely accurate at this point (3 months)? Do I need to retest at 6 months to be completely safe? if my husband did have anything else, is it possible that I would have a chance of not contracting it even though I had chlamydia (we were together many times since the affairs before I knew about them and there were lot of abrasions/cuts/tears on many occasions since I still have scar tissue from my last daughter's birth...that is probably what is making me the most worried is that I know there was blood and open wounds present). Do I need to be worried still? Thanks so much for your help!!!
Thanks. I don't know why my doctor said 6 months then...he must be ultra-conservative or something. I did tell my husband about the positive chlamydia test. I am unsure if he told the other women about it though...they definitely are not on my list of favorite people right now, but I would hope that he still told them so that they can be healthy too.
thanks so much for your time and help! I feel much more at ease now. I appreciate your service and will recommend it to others!
thanks so much for your time and help! I feel much more at ease now. I appreciate your service and will recommend it to others!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
It's not 6 months and never has been. Most authorities (e.g., CDC) say 3 months but even that is very conservative. With current/modern HIV tests, even 6 weeks generally is fine.
Put things in perspective. HIV was low to zero risk anyway. Heterosexually transmitted HIV remains rare in situations like your husband's; if he had it, the risk of transmission to you was in the range of one chance per 1,000 episodes of unprotected vaginal sex; and if he had it, he probably would know and probably would have told you, regardless of your ruptured relationship. It was smart to be tested, but don't start stringing out far-out rare scenarios about vanishingly rare delayed seroconversion events.
Back to more relevant issues, I meant to mention that I assume you have been treated for chlamydia and told your husband about it. Even if he's not high on your list of favorite persons at this point, he should have the opportunity for treatment to protect his own health and that of his other partner(s).
Put things in perspective. HIV was low to zero risk anyway. Heterosexually transmitted HIV remains rare in situations like your husband's; if he had it, the risk of transmission to you was in the range of one chance per 1,000 episodes of unprotected vaginal sex; and if he had it, he probably would know and probably would have told you, regardless of your ruptured relationship. It was smart to be tested, but don't start stringing out far-out rare scenarios about vanishingly rare delayed seroconversion events.
Back to more relevant issues, I meant to mention that I assume you have been treated for chlamydia and told your husband about it. Even if he's not high on your list of favorite persons at this point, he should have the opportunity for treatment to protect his own health and that of his other partner(s).
Oh yeah...why are doctor's saying 6-12 months for accurate HIV test results now? I had always heard 3-4, but when I had my tests done I was told at least 6. Is it that common to seroconvert after 3 months that they need to change the recommendations? Thanks for all of your help!
Thanks so much for your quick response...I really appreciate it! Thanks for your reassurance and sympathy as well...that was very helpful in this situation. So you wouldn't recommend retesting at 6 months? If necessary for complete accuracy, I definitely can, but I would prefer to save the money if it isn't necessary. Thanks!!!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Relax. The chlamydia is the only issue here. You're responding emotionally and not rationally: If the tests are negative, it doesn't matter how high the risk was before the tests were done and treatment given, and it doesn't matter what cuts or abrasions you had at the time.
In other words, the negative results at 3 months prove you didn't catch any of the infections you were tested for. You obviously have been through a big deal emotionally and you'll have to deal with that. But from the STD perspective, you definitely can move on.
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
In other words, the negative results at 3 months prove you didn't catch any of the infections you were tested for. You obviously have been through a big deal emotionally and you'll have to deal with that. But from the STD perspective, you definitely can move on.
Best wishes-- 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.
