Still very worried after 1 year

[kc26]

Hi doc
Last year July, I received an unprotected oral sex (*******) given by a prostitute in Vietnam. That was my 1st and last. Now that it has been slightly more than 1 year since the exposure, I am still worry about being infected by Herpes and HIV. So far I have no symptoms (like lesions or penile blister or sore with water inside) in my genital since the exposure.

I was tested for HIV after 6 weeks and 12 weeks of exposure with “HIV quick test Abbott” in an international clinic in vietnam. Both results are NEGATIVE. At that time, the doctor advised me that I don’t need to be tested for Herpes since I did not have any symptoms. I am still very worried till this day every time I think if I am infected with Herpes or HIV. And I get very nervous just thinking about taking the test and waiting for results. It terrifies me just thinking about going through the testing again. My wife doesn’t know about all of these.

My wife and I have protected sex ever since the exposure as I wanted to be extra safe. And now my wife and I want to have another child. I am worried that I may infect her with HIV or Herpes. Wiil it be safe to have unprotected sex with my wife? Do I need to be tested for Herpes? Read a lot of confusing result (inconclusive) of Herpes blood test and worried the test results may give false positive and make thing worst.

Part of me just want to move on with no more testing and have no worries about unprotected sex with my wife from now on and have another child. Part of me is scare I may infect me wife in doing so. Also so scare that if test show inconclusive result and make me thinking I am infected even more.

Please give me your opinion for me to move forward.

Lastly, on HIV, Just to double confirm that my test at 12 weeks in 100% conclusive even though i don't know what generation was the "HIV quick tests Abbott blood test" i had.

Thanks in advance.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Your concerns are unrealistic and are more a reflection of your own guilt and anxiety than anything derrived from what you have written about your solitary event.  There is no evidence or reason for you to be worrying about HSV or HIV.   EWH.

[kc26]

Dear Doctor,
Thank you for your comments. Your comment has been very helpful. I just have a few more concerns that I hope to get your opinion.

Even though you said my risk is very low, I still have worries about Herpes. I can’t help but thinking ‘what if’ this or that. The more i read about sometimes herpes show no symptoms eventhough infected, the more i worry this is my case.

What are the odds that I am infected and after 1 year there are still no symptoms present? If so can I possibly infect my wife?
Can you elaborate more as to why you recommend no herpes blood test needed in my case?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

You are in the clear.  Your HIV tests prove that you do not have HIV and there is no evidence that you have herpes.  This is not a situation in which I would recommend a herpes blood test.  The exposure you describe was very, very low risk for HIV, herpes and all other STDs.  Furthermore, there is no reason in the situation you describe for you to worry about having unprotected sex with your wife.  EWH