What is my risk?

[yuurei]

Hello,

I understand there are a few very similar questions to this out there, but my situation may be slightly different and also hearing clarification would really help my anxiety right now. I'll be as brief as possible now:

I met a Thai guy in Thailand (not a sex worker, but he insinuated he has had many sexual partners). We went out and kissed a bit before going somewhere more private where we kissed a lot, I licked his anus, and I both gave and received oral sex without a condom. We both masturbated and came on ourselves - we did not ejaculate into each others mouths or on to one another. Two days later, we kissed a lot again, again gave and received oral sex without a condom, then our penises rubbed against each others and then he put his fingers into my anus for a tiny bit before rubbing his penis on and around my anus. It didn't go in (I know I would have felt that) but it may have at one point very very very slightly penetrated as he pushed quite hard. I don't think I bled at all (from the fingering) when we were engaging in "frottage" but I'm not 100% sure of that as when I went to the toilet about 12 hours later there was a tiny bit of blood on the toilet paper but I think that may have been from going to the toilet so many times as I think I ate something bad after all this happened... But yeah, I don't think I bled but just after I saw the blood on the toilet paper I'm not 100% sure.

I called up the PEP hotline (I'm back from Thailand now) and they said PEP wasn't necessary but at the time I didn't remember the blood when I went to the toilet. It's still within 72 hours so I just want to know if you think I'm at risk at all?

Thanks heaps,
Yuurei

[yuurei]

Just to clarify, I went to the bathroom I think once after the exposure and there was no blood, then I went and ate the food that I think gave me some sort of gastro bug and then after about 4 visits to the bathroom I noticed a bit of blood. So it was probably the frequent toilet stops and not the digital penetration but either way I'd like to know for my own peace of mind. If there was no blood during the frottage, what is the risk? And if there was a tiny bit of blood, what is the risk?

Thank you. I also don't know the HIV status of the man but I imagine in making your judgements you assume everyone could be HIV positive?

[Ann]

yuurei,

The hotline gave you correct advice. You do not need PEP as you did not have a risk for hiv infection. Not even with the frottage and possible blood. You're most likely correct anyway - you got the blood from repeated bouts of food poisoning induced diarrhea and all the wiping that goes with it.

Here's what you need to know in order to avoid hiv infection:

You need to be using condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, every time, no exceptions until such time as you are in a securely monogamous relationship where you have both tested for ALL sexually transmitted infections together.

To agree to have unprotected intercourse is to consent to the possibility of being infected with an STI. Sex without a condom lasts only a matter of minutes, but hiv is forever.

Have a look through the condom and lube links in my signature line so you can use condoms with confidence.

ALTHOUGH YOU DO NOT NEED TO TEST SPECIFICALLY OVER KISSING, BLOWJOBS, MUTUAL MASTURBATION, OR FROTTAGE, anyone who is sexually active should be having a full sexual health care check-up, including but not limited to hiv testing, at least once a year and more often if unprotected intercourse occurs.

If you aren't already having regular, routine check-ups, now is the time to start. As long as you make sure condoms are being used for intercourse, you can fully expect your routine hiv tests to return with negative results.

Don't forget to always get checked for all the other sexually transmitted infections as well, because they are MUCH easier to transmit than hiv. Some of the other STIs can be present with no obvious symptoms, so the only way to know for sure is to test.

Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, correctly and consistently, and you will avoid hiv infection. It really is that simple!

Ann

[Andy Velez]

Nothing you have described would put you at risk for HIV transmission. Only unprotected vaginal and anal intercourse without using condoms are confirmed risks for the sexual transmission of HIV. Anything else sexual is only "theoretically) a risk.

You are worrying needlessly. There is no need for HIV testing nor for further concern on your part.

Just remember that other STDs are much easier to acquire than HIV, so we recommend that anyone is sexually active ought to regularly have a full STD panel done at least once a year.

But I don't see any problem for you about HIV.

[yuurei]

Thanks so much for your swift reply.

Just out of curiosity - when making predictions about people's risk of infection, do you assume their partner of unknown HIV status is positive? Also, are you a doctor of sorts or just highly knowledgeable about HIV?

One last thing - could you please modify the post to take my name out? I didn't mean to put my name in and would rather it was not up here... My mistake - thank you.

[yuurei]

Yep, I know other diseases are much more common. I get blood tests regularly as it is and will be getting routine STD checks within the next two weeks anyway. I really appreciate this guys, and the work you guys do. Thanks heaps.

[Ann]

yuurei,

Of course we base our risk assessments on the other person being hiv positive. You should also always assume any partners are hiv positive and protect yourself accordingly by using condoms correctly and consistently. You should only stop using condoms when you're in a securely monogamous relationship where you've tested negative together - and shared the actual results on paper.

Those of us who are authorised to answer questions in this forum are not doctors, but we are all hiv educators and activists with over 100 years of experience between us. Most of us are also living with hiv - and we know how to keep our negative sex partners negative. Those of us who are hiv negative know how to remain negative. It's all about condom use for anal or vaginal intercourse.

It's good to hear that you have regular, routine sexual health check ups. Keep doing that! It's what responsible adults do to protect themselves and their loved ones/sexual partners.

I edited my post. Sorry 'bout that.

Ann

[yuurei]

Thanks for the edit! And good to know you assume the partner is positive. I'm in med school and we are told to always just assume every patient is positive to protect ourselves - and to not treat patients differently too. The work you guys do is great - thanks again.

[Ann]

yuurei,

You're welcome. Good luck with med school - and keep using those universal precautions. They not only protect you, but they also protect the patient and it's not just hiv that you're protecting against.

Keep using condoms as well. Make sure you read through the condom and lube links in my signature line so you can use them correctly and with confidence.

Ann

[yuurei]

Hi,

I know you guys probably get this question a whole lot, but it has now been 9 days since I thought I could have been exposed (main concern was the possibility of that tiny bit of blood) and I have come down with a terribly sore throat and extreme fatigue. I keep on getting so tired throughout the day that I just fall asleep. This started about a day and a half ago. I haven't got a runny nose or anything like that. As far as I can tell, I haven't got a fever and my glands are only a tiny bit swollen. Is this possibly ARS? I know ARS is usually 2 weeks after, but it could possibly be earlier, right? And are these the symptoms or would you say this is most likely something else? My sister just visited me and she had a cold, but she said she didn't have the fatigue or sore throat, just a runny nose so I don't think I got this form her...

Thanks so much guys, I've just started worrying again.

[Ann]

yuurei,

You did NOT have a risk for hiv infection, so why would you be experiencing ARS?

If you feel unwell, see a doctor. It's nothing to do with hiv.

Ann