Heterosexual Exposures

[Cg]

Firstly thank you for taking the time to reply, I have found this forum a great resource and respect all the work being done. I never even knew about things such as PEP, so it has greatly improved my personal understanding around the risks.

Can you tell me if you've ever had a poster confirm a positive test after an unprotected vaginal exposure? (even higher risk ie with African, CSW or IV user)

I'm not trying to play it down one bit, far from it. In times of anxiety experienced people are better placed to advise. I've noticed another respected forum has yet to have a confirmed case in 9 years. I just wonder whether people would be likely to post a positive test online anyway...

My risks are various vaginal exposures over the years with either girlfriends / dates with a few one night stands. African girl was condom protected and safe but others not.

Had a few common stds (all from girlfriends as it happens) Just seems the only way to avoid them is constant testing and condoms every time.

Due a complete test though, thanks again

[Ann]

Can you tell me if you've ever had a poster confirm a positive test after an unprotected vaginal exposure? (even higher risk ie with African, CSW or IV user)

Cg,

The very first thing you need to understand is that PEOPLE are not high, low or no risk, ACTIVITIES are high, low or no risk.

The only true "high risk" group of people are those people who engage in unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse with persons of unknown or positive hiv status. Let's face it, that's pretty much every sexually active adult on the planet at some time in their lives - and YOU are also in that high risk group, due to your ACTIVITIES.

It's not WHO you do, it's HOW you do it that matters. Make sure you get those three letters in the correct order when you're thinking about sexual health risks.

I know quite a few men who ended up hiv positive after having unprotected vaginal intercourse, my partner and a close friend being two of them (not from me though). I also know quite a few men who ended up hiv positive who only had unprotected insertive anal intercourse.

While it isn't very common that a man ends up hiv positive from one unprotected insertive encounter, it can and does happen. The more you do it, the more you increase your odds that you'll be one of the unlucky.

While I have yet to see a specific poster in this forum test positive after a single incident of unprotected insertive intercourse, that absolutely doesn't mean it doesn't happen. Most people who write in here are talking about one incident.

It is true that hiv is much more difficult to transmit from the receptive to the insertive partner, but it is by NO MEANS impossible. It happens all the time.

You have been putting yourself at risk and you do need to test.

The earliest you should test after your last incident of unprotected intercourse is at six weeks. The vast majority of people who have actually been infected will seroconvert and test positive by six weeks, with the average time to seroconversion being only 22 days.

A six week negative must be confirmed at the three month point, but is highly unlikely to change.

Please stop putting yourself at risk and insist on condoms. Your luck may run out one day.

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.

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

[Cg]

Thanks Ann I truely appreciate your perspective on things.

It's a shame that it takes a scare for someone like me to start educating myself. People just don't talk about it and I can't say I was ever told the real deal growing up.

I know in an ideal world we would all get checked each time we met someone, it's a shame that some people would be offended if you suggested it. I've always been aware of common stds, tested fairly regular but still managed to pick up various stds all from the typical girl next door in the uk. Maybe I'm just unlucky but it seems condoms are the only way to go..