are these symptoms?

[RND_CHR]

I'm a male. A week and a half ago I was with another male. While he had precum on his hands pressed his fingers against the outside of my rectum. Currently, I'm feeling a little sick. My joints are sore, my body aches. I've had a headache for three days, though not continuously. I also have the chills. Am I potentially infected?

[RapidRod]

No you did not have a risk. Get over your guilt and you won't feel so bad.

[RND_CHR]

No you did not have a risk. Get over your guilt and you won't feel so bad.

THanks for your reply. Could you please elaborate about why that situation doesn't entail risk? Also, I don't feel guilt but I sure have plenty of anxiety.

[RapidRod]

Read the Lesson section. You can find the link in the "Welcome" thread. HIV cannot stay active outside its host.

[Ann]

RND,

What you describe is not a risk for hiv infection. Hiv is a fragile, difficult to transmit virus that is primarily transmitted INSIDE the human body, as in unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse.

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 with a condom lasts only a matter of minutes, but hiv is forever.

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

Although you do NOT need to be tested over this cum-rubbing incident, 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.

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

Ann

[RND_CHR]

RND,

What you describe is not a risk for hiv infection. Hiv is a fragile, difficult to transmit virus that is primarily transmitted INSIDE the human body, as in unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse.

I'm sorry, I know my question was already answered. But, I've read in a few places that the virus can survive outside the body for up to a few hours. None of the sources said anything about how that affects transmission. 

[RapidRod]

The virus cannot stay active outside its host to be viable to cause transmission.

[RND_CHR]

The virus cannot stay active outside its host to be viable to cause transmission.

Could you please elaborate on what you meant. Did you mean that the virus is or becomes active when it hits the air, which prevents its transmission?

[Ann]

RND,

Hiv is a very fragile virus. Small changes in temperature, moisture content and pH levels very quickly damage the outer membrane. This membrane MUST be intact and undamaged in order for hiv to latch on to a very few, specific cell types. This is why transmission primarily happens INSIDE the human body, where it is in the exact environment it needs.

You did NOT have a risk! Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse and you will continue to avoid hiv infection. Really, we wouldn't kid you.

Ann

[RND_CHR]

I have a few more questions because I had contact with this person in multiple places though I've so far asked about one incident of contact . So, I got sick 6-7 days after I had contact. I got tested with the rapid test 10 days after and it was negative. It seems that test was too done early to conclude anything from the negative result. But from my understanding of the cause of flu lik symptoms from hiv infection, caused by the battle between anti bodies and virus, when the flu like symptoms are present the anti bodies are present and measurable.  So does this mean the negative result I got means that the symptoms I currently have are not caused by an hiv infection? Also, how long after exposure to the virus do people who are infected normally begin to experience symptoms?

[thunter34]

We don't do the big "symptoms" conversations here because discussion of symptoms is pointless with HIV.  They vary widely and an individual may experience any or none of them.  All it leads to is more stuff for people to wring their hands over and worry needlessly about. 

We only provide risk assessment based on specific case scenarios, so if you have other concerns you need to spell them out for assessment.  The thing to do is read through the Lessons section thoroughly and THEN decide if you still have additional concerns.

[HIVworker]

Just because the body is having a battle with the virus doesn't mean that antibodies can be detected in the blood...if it were like that - then the window period would be 4-6 weeks and not ~12-13 as it currently is. Antibodies are made early, but can not be detected by tests until the virus has been present for a while....normally >99% of people produce antibodies by ~12-13 weeks.

As has just been suggested, I'm not sure what your symptoms are but know that this board considers the only person you should really be discussing your symptoms with is your doctor. I won't answer any questions on what symptoms might or might not be due to.

R

[RND_CHR]

It's been 6 and a half weeks since my last sexual encounter. I was thinking about getting tested at 8 weeks. How accurate is an antibody test at 8 weeks in the US? I also have another question about transmission. I realized that I don't exactly know what happened because I did not see was going on. I wanted to know about the transmission risks for other possible situations that might have occurred. If my partner's penis had his precum on it and it came in direct contact with the outside opening of my rectum would that that be a risk? Also, I'm pretty sure this didn't happen, but what if I had been fingered and his finger had precum on it?

[Ann]

RND,

Neither of the whatiffs you bring to us would be risky either. You didn't have a risk and a test taken at any time will be conclusive for you.

Ann

[RND_CHR]

I just got tested. It was negative. But right now I am sick. Does being sick affect the results of a rapid blood test?

[RapidRod]

Please go back and read the posting guidelines found in the  "Welcome" thread. Your question will not be answered until you return to your original thread.

[RND_CHR]

Sorry about the new topic. I just had a rapid blood test. It was negative but I was also sick when I got it done. Would the results of the  the rapid blood test be affected by my illness.

[Andy Velez]

I've merged your threads. You've been asked before not to start new threads. Keep all of your entries in the same thread.

To answer your latest, your feeling sick would not affect the accuracy of the test result.

[RND_CHR]

I've been getting pretty sick and sick fairly frequently for awhile. I'm not sure exactly but I think I've been sick 6 to 8 times over the last year. Maybe more. I've lost count. I'm' 23 so I feel like I shouldnt get sick so often. I just got diagnosed with bronchitis the other day. Once, about 4 months ago I acidentally had unprotected homosexual sex. the condom fell off during sex and I didnt realize it because i was drunk and couldnt feel it. Other than that it's always been protected. Should I get tested? Does frequent sickness indicate hiv infection?

[Andy Velez]

If the condom fell off of you during insertive intercourse then you were well protected until that happened. Although the unprotected insertive partner is at risk during anal intercourse, the risk is significantly less than for the receptive partner in that situation. However, given it was a single and relatively brief incident, the likelihood of transmission having occured is very low.

Good sense does warrant your having an HIV test just to be sure. Since the incident occured over 3 months ago you can get a reliable result anytime now. And I do expect it will be negative.

I don't see your symptoms as being HIV specific in anyway. You ought to discuss them with your doctor. And for the future, avoid mixing casual sex with excessive drinking. It's a very dangerous combination.

I expect you to come out of this ok but do get tested just to be sure.

[Ann]

RND,


I've merged your new thread into your original thread - where you should post all your additional thoughts or questions. It helps us to help you when you keep all your additional thoughts or questions in one thread. It doesn't matter how much time has elapsed between posts.

If you need help finding your thread when you come here, click on the "Show own posts" link under your name in the left-hand column of any forum page.

Please also read through the Welcome Thread so you can familiarize yourself with our Forum Posting Guidelines. Thank you for your cooperation.




I agree with Andy. The ONLY way to know your hiv status is to get tested. You had unprotected intercourse and this means yes, you had a risk and yes, you need to test. Stop guessing and worrying, just do it. Like Andy I also expect you to come out of this one-time incident ok.

Ann