POZ Community Forums
HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: bertram on February 16, 2007, 09:43:23 am
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Hello,
I hope you'll be able to provide me with some advice - I had brief (1 minute max) unprotected vaginal sex just over a week ago and have been in turmoil since about the risk of picking up HIV from this encounter - I'm going through what most of the people have described - not eating or sleeping well etc? What is the risk of female-to-male transmission - is the length of exposure a factor?
Many thanks,
Bert
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In your case I would be worried more about other STDs. Transmission from female to male is a lot harder than male to female. Exposure time does lesson the risk. Have you ever tested? Do you know your status? If not, test. Always use condoms with plenty of water base lube when having vaginal or anal sex or you are in a monogamist relationship that both of you have tested together. If this was your first time you've done this I expect you to get a negative result.
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Hi RapidRod,
Thanks for the quick reply - and yes it's the first time this has happened (lesson learned!)- the usual story of a too much drink and not enough brain. I've been for a test for STI's this week and'll get the results next week. Should I go for an HIV test - my friends think I'm over-reacting to the whole situation given how brief the encounter was.
Thanks.
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Bertram, it's good that you're awake to the dangers of unprotected intercourse. Use this experience as a reminder to always, ALWAYS wear a condom when you have intercourse. No exceptions.
As to HIV and this particular incident, HIV is not an easy virus to transmit. It's significantly harder to accomplish from female to male. But, low risk is not the same as no risk. So I do recommend that you take the standard HIV test at 13 weeks past this incident. I do expect you will test negative, but HIV status is never something to guess about.
Good luck with your test.
Cheers,
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Hi Andy,
Thanks for the support. I'm currently trying to get out of a total anxiety state by not scouring web site after web site for info - wish I'd come across yours earlier.
Is the 6 week test a good indicator at all?
Bert
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6 weeks is a good indication but not conclusive. Your body has to produce enough antibodies for the test to detect.
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bertram, i had an identical experience, i went through all of that anxiety that you have described, all because i was in a girl unprotected for literally less than a minute. the only thing that calmed my mind is knowing my HIV status. so a year and half later i got tested, my test though was real stressful though because i got a false positive and about an hour later they called after my sample had gone to the western blot to tell me that i was 100% negative..it was quite the experience.
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dmav23, don't be posting in others thread. Keep all your concerns in your own thread.
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???? i can't give the guy some support?
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Hi,
Just a bit more detail - the short unprotected vaginal sex was followed straight away by me receiving oral sex and ejaculating - would this increase my risk level?
Thanks
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No, your having received oral after the unprotected incident would not have increased your risk level. In fact, it's totally irrelevant.
Not so incidentally, there's never been a confirmed case of transmission via receiving oral so it's safe to say you won't make history by becoming the first.
A negative result at 6 weeks would be very reassuring since all but the smallest number of those who will seroconvert will do so within 4-6 weeks after an exposure to the HIV virus. You should still confirm that negative result by re-testing at 13 weeks. A negative at 6 weeks is the next-best-thing to an all clear.
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Hi,
I'm afraid the wait for the test in 5 weeks is getting the better of me - early mornings are worse at 4am and the future seems dark and bleak - all the worst scenarios start rushing through my mind.
Is there any data on female-to-male transmission risks? Is there a way to stop this getting the better of me?
thanks again
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Go seek one on one and work with a mental health professional to work out your issues. You have to wait that long to test for your body to build up antibodies. Then you have to get the 6 week test confirmed and conclusive at 13 weeks.
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Hi,
Thanks for the reply. Does anyone know the mechanics of female-to-male transmission - is it through vaginal fluids and how infective they are?
Thanks.
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Hi,
I spoke to an HIV helpline in the UK and was told not to overly worry about the encounter or lose any sleep over it (which is what I've been doing for 11 days now) as the chances of infection are small - they said with that it is unlikely the encounter stimulated enough vaginal fluids. It's the first time I've heard of this - does anyone have any thoughts on this - does this sound reasonable advice?
thanks,
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As I replied to you early on, the likelihood of your becoming infected via this very brief and single incident is very remote. Please re-read what I said to you previously.
Nothing you have said since has changed my opinion. I expect you will test negative.
Just keep those condoms handy for future use and use one everytime for intercourse.
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Hi,
Does anyone know of any places in the North of England that do the rapid HIV tests (2-3 weeks after exposure) - I've been searching on the Internet, but all the places that do these tests are located in London?
Thanks,
Bert
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There are no Rapid Tests for 2-3 weeks after exposure. You can get an antigen test done, but they are expensive and you will still need to get an antibody test.
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Hi,
Thanks - yes the anitgen test is the one I was after.
Bert
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The term "rapid test" is often misunderstood. It means that you can get a result very quickly as in as little as 20 minutes.
But a rapid test still needs to be done at 13 weeks past a risky incident in order to give a reliable result.
Your risk was very low and whenever you test I expect you to test negative no matter what your mind is busily scaring you about.
Cheers,
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Cheers Andy - your a star :)
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deleted this - sorry was in a panic.
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Bert,
Hiv does not cause red, itchy bumps that resemble insect bites. If you're worried about your bumps, please see your doctor. It's nothing to do with hiv.
Ann
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Hi Ann,
Thanks - I deleted my last post as I was in a not very good frame of mind when I wrote it. Thanks for the reply.
bert
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It's day 35 for me today since my encounter which is seen as 'low risk' and I'm getting tested later today - can I rely on the results of this test as an indicator? Also, I know it's said that symptoms are not an indicator, but i developed a mouth ulcer two days ago (day 33) - does anyone think that is ars related (i've had no other symptoms)?
Thanks,
Bert
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Bert,
Symptoms or even the lack of symptoms mean nothing when it comes to hiv infection. ONLY testing will reliably inform you of your hiv status.
A test at the six week mark would be a more reliable indication of your status. The vast majority of people who have actually been infected will seroconvert and test positive by six weeks. I've yet to see a six week negative result change. A six week negative must be confirmed at the three month point.
I'm fully expecting you to test negative.
Ann
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Hi,
The test result was negative last night - but will still be getting re-tested at the 12 week mark. Thanks to all on the forum for the support.
Just a bit more info I got from the staff at the UK test centre (which is what everyone here on the forum has said all along) - female-to-male transmission is very difficult and even harder if the male doesn't ejaculate inside the female. The analogy I was given as to why ejaculation makes it slightly more risky is one of squeezing liquid out of up a washing up bottle - after squeezing the bottle when you release the pressure there is a slight inward pressure of air going back into the bottle to fill the void caused by the loss of liquid - this sort of process may cause vaginal fluids to be pulled into the head of the penis after ejaculation. Hope this isn't too graphic, but it seemed to make sense.
Bert
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Hi,
thought I was getting there with my 35 day negative anti-body test - can I take any comfort from this result? Waiting another 6 weeks or so to get tested again seems like an eternity.
thanks,
bert
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Any negative result is nice, but the only one to rely on is your 13 week test results.