POZ Community Forums
HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: Question 101 on December 04, 2007, 10:06:18 am
-
Hi everyone:
Thank you for putting this excellent forum together. I have heard so much just from reading your posts and patient response. So please excuse my anxiety if I am repeating some of the previous possts.
Here's what happened. I was in Hong Kong 2.5 weeks ago, went to a club and so drunk and ended up taking a Sex Worker to a hotel. We did not have vaginal sex. But she did performed oral sex on me (while I was wearing a condom) and I fingered her a bit (with my index finger). It is now 2.5 weeks later and I am under a lot of stress/anxiety. I am a sore throat and come-and-go diarrhea. Don't know if it's the onset of acute HIV infection.
In any case, please help answer my questions.
1. What is my risk of HIV infection for "protected" oral sex and fingering? I did not notice any cuts on my index finger, but you never know.
2. In some of the earlier posts, it was said that there is NO risk of HIV infection from fingering (and something about no documented case of HIV infection from fingering). Why is that? Someone mentioned that it has to do with how quickly we heal when cut, as well as the cells in our finger being different from those in our genitals (something about CD4 receptors). Would you please help me understand this more?
I am scared, to say the least. Please help me better understand the situation I am in. I will also go get tested for STDs and HIV but dont know when would be a good time. Is the 3-week mark (~22 day) ok?
Thank you so much for your help, in advance.
Question 101
-
1. Zero, no risk.
2. Fingering is not a risk
Read the lessons on transmission. You can find the link in the "Welcome" thread.
-
Addition to my question.
What if the Sex Worker was HIV positive? What is my risk then? i don't fully understand why fingering posts no riks.
-
Wouldn't have mattered.
-
Quest,
When we give risk assessments here, we always assume the other person is hiv positive. You had no risk. Getting a blowjob, with or without a condom, is not a risk. Fingering is also not a risk.
Please read our Welcome Thread (http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=220.0) and along with taking note of our posting guidelines, click on the link and read the Transmission Lesson.
Here's what else you need to know:
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 TEST OVER A BLOWJOB OR FINGERING, 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
-
Thanks Ann and RapidRod.
Earlier I went to see an Infectious Disease specialist, who suggested that I get a PCR test at Day 28 to confirm that all is negative.
If there risks from protected oral and finger were zero, why would she suggest that?
I am just a bit lost/confused and want to get your expert opinion.
Please let me know. Thanks so much.
-
Question,
You did not have a risk and you do not need to test at all. That includes PCR testing.
I don't know what sort of Infectious Disease witch doctor you saw, but you need to be aware that PCR testing is not approved for diagnostic purposes. It returns an unacceptably high rate of false positive results.
Imagine how stressed you would be if you received a false positive result.
MtD
-
I don't know what it is but I am still a bit stressed from my incident. Probably not founded on facts but concerned nonetheless.
Without doing a PCR, when should I do an HIV test? My local health center has Oraquick oral fluid test. Does it test for both HIV-1 and HIV-2?
-
Anyone who continues to post excessively, questioning a conclusive negative result or no-risk situation, will be subject to a four week Time Out (a temporary ban from the Forums). The purpose of a Time Out is to encourage you to seek the face-to-face help we cannot provide on this forum.
-
My apologies ...
Did not mean to cause any problems. Do appreciate all the guidance/suggestions.
-
You absolutely were not at risk for HIV during this incident. If however you decide that for your peace of mind you want to get tested, do it at 13 weeks after the incident for a conclusive result.
The standard ELISA or any test currently in use will cover HIV1 & 2.
You're worrying needlessly. Often guys seem to worry much more when they have been with a sex worker rather than a civilian. Maybe it's shame or whatever. You know yourself so you may know what it's about for you. The truth is as far as risk is concerned it doesn't matter whom you are with. It's what you do. And the real risk for HIV is unprotected intercourse, not anything like what you have described.
Test if you must and collect the inevitable negative result. And get on with your life.
-
Thank you Ann, Rod and Andy.
I can't tell you how appreciative I am of your honesty, and your kicking the "no risk" idea into my worried mind.
-
Hi:
I was doing fine after your earlier posts until today my sore throat and diarrhea returned. I have been on Cipro in the last 3 days ... all was better until today when the diarrhea returned.
I am now worried that this is the onset of acute HIV infection, which I seem to have some of the symptoms.
What's your take? I had protected oral sex (she performed on me) and unprotected fingering (I on her). Is the risk really zero?
someone please. Thank you!
-
Yes it really is zero.
Your symptoms are not caused by HIV. If you really are as ill as you claim to be, my advice is to see a doctor.
MtD
-
Hi all:
At day 22, I tested negative. Also, the CSW i was with got tested too (she emailed me the actual test results) at ~day 10 from possible exposure and she came back negative.
Given that my risks were low (according to some sites on fingering) to non-existent (you all kind people who tell me that there's no documented case of hiv transmission through fingering or receiving protected oral sex), what do you think? Will the negative results continue?
Thanks.
-
Quest,
How on earth will your negative result change when you haven't had a risk?
If you've read the Welcome thread like you're supposed to, you will have read the following:
Anyone who continues to post excessively, questioning a conclusive negative result or no-risk situation, will be subject to a four week Time Out (a temporary ban from the Forums). The purpose of a Time Out is to encourage you to seek the face-to-face help we cannot provide on this forum.
Please consider yourself warned.
Ann
-
Hi all:
I was reading about different tests being used for HIV and noticed that some states have started testing NAAT (PCR) along with Oraquick.
In NY, they do Oraquick, and if it comes back negative, the tester can opt to do a NAAT to see if there's any HIV DNA in his/her blood. The idea is the diagnose HIV infection prior to the window period of 3 months.
What is the window period for NAAT? I was told 10 days by my local STD clinic (which also offers NAAT) and the seattle/King county website is saying 1-2 weeks.
http://www.metrokc.gov/health/apu/rna-testing/
What do you think?
-
They are not approved for diagnosing HIV. They are screening tests for donors.
-
But is the window period really 10 days to 2 weeks?
I understand that this test is expensive and has a high false positive rate (something like 2-5%), that's why it's not recommended for diagnosing HIV.
-
The window period is 3 months not weeks.
-
Question,
You were not at risk so I fail to see why you are continuing with all this palaver. Move on.
MtD
-
A question on safety of testing. Didn't change the topic since the practice is to keep everything in the same thread. Please excuse my ignorance in advance.
I just went in for a blood test at the STD/HIV center in New York City. The nurse was so efficient/fast that I did not see her open the new "needle" package; though I did notice that the plastic cap was still on the needle before she drew my blood.
1. Is it fair to assume that the needle was new and safe?
2. Has there been any patient who became infected with HIV through testing centers or medical facilities?
Thanks. I know these questions are out of the blue but I hope that you will be kind and answer them.
-
Get real.
1. Of course
2. NO
-
OK. I think we've reached the point here where I need to tell you that we've done what we can do for you here. It's not our job to reassure you about every scary thought comes to your mind.
If you are having trouble getting on with your life it just might be time for you to see a therapist or other professional to discuss what's driving your fears. Because they don't have any basis in HIV science. Really.
And we're not here to babysit your fears. Also really.