molluscum contagiosum quesiton

[eyeamsam]

Thanks for your help.  Hoping this is the last.  Full STD testing in June all neg.  Issue raised in july about HIV in July and asked a question here.  HIV test in Oct. neg.  Then a week ago a bump.  Asked question in Community and then went to the Dr.  Was told the bump was molluscum contagiosum and it was lasered off.  I was told that was the end.  The last encounter I had, protected at all times, was three weeks ago, I am guessing the molluscum contagiosum came from that, but I have also had massages and it could be possible I got it there form a towel or drap or even from an encounter longer ago?  None in the last three weeks, but I did sleep (share a bed) with someone during that time.  Questions
1) before the bump showed up, could I have passed it along without evening knowing
2) what I have read says that once the bumps are gone so is the virus, but I also read the people get one taken care of then another pops ups,  so how do you know the virus is gone so you don't pass it to someone else?  It has been 4 days since it was lasered, and no new ones.
Plan wait 3 more weeks and get antother full test to feel comfortable and be at square one, keep an eye out for bumps during that time.  If none show up in the clear?  Does this plan make sense.
3)

[eyeamsam]

A related discussion, Can it recurr was started.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

You got the message.  Take care. EWH

[eyeamsam]

Thank you.  I have had diarrhea this week and groin pain.  Which made me concerned and that is why came back and posted here.  I assumed 6 weeks out was too far out for symptoms of an early infection and that this could just be some other illness.  But still wanted to be clear.   It is good to know that last exposure, which is the only one under 8 weeks ago, would have a 5% of all tests turning positive at this time.  Or to make myself feel even better, as you do for so many people here, If there was a 1 in 10,000 chance my partner was HIV+ and a 1 in 10,000 chance that it was passed along that is a 1 in 100,000,000 that I would get it.  with the 5% chance of turing positive that, if my math is correct give it a 1 in 2,000,000,000 chance of being positive.     Bottom line I have one exposure, protected, to “worry” about and it is not much of a worry at all.  Thanks  

[Edward W Hook, MD]

At 6 weeks an HIV antibody test of the sort you had would detect over 95% of infections.  Given the relaitvely low risk nature of your exposure, further testing is unlikey to give a different result however, if you want to be absolutely positive, you should re-test at 8 weeks.  If I were you I would not bother to re-test.  EWH

[eyeamsam]

Ok, at six weeks past last encounter I was tested- full panel, it is one day short of four weeks since laser treatment.  No new bumps.  Test is negative.HIV test- states-HIV AB, HIV1/HIV@,EIA w/1/2 EIA AB screen- Non Reactive.

I assume that this is not a duo test.

Should I follow up with another HIV test- or am I in the clear, back to square one?  

[Edward W Hook, MD]

There are no data to suggest that having molluscum increases you risk for HIV.  EWH

[eyeamsam]

Is there an increased risk of HIV, with this?  No new bumps.  Just worried about what testing I should have-My guess is that I have little to worry about, but I would like a little assurance.  Would testing at 6 weeks(next week) be good to rule out that I did not catch anything since the last encounter?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to the Forum. For better or worse, molluscum is considered a "minor" STD and therefore the amount of research (and therefore knowledge) about it is limited.  FYI, more molluscum is transmitted between children than adults- it is transmitted by direct contact and that happens more as kids play than adults.  Let's address your questions:

1.  It appears that transmission is associated with the presence of the lesion, thus chances of transmitting it in the absence of a lesion are unknown.  Further, while we can say that most exposures to all STDs do not lead to transmission, there are no specific data on the proportion of molluscum exposures that will then lead to infection.

2.  MC lesions can recur. This is more common if they are simply "expressed" ( i.e. the contents squeezed out) than with laser treatment.  I would agree with you that if you do not have recurrent lesions in 3-4 weeks there is no need to worry.  

Hope this helps and wish we knew more.  EWH