POZ Community Forums
HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: Cliffgene on December 11, 2008, 09:36:05 am
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Three weeks ago I have protected vaginal and unprotected oral sex with a CSW. When she removed the condom, it got stuck inside her so my penis was exposed upon removal. I'm nervous that some of her vaginal fluid might have contacted my penis.
I took an orquick blood test two weeks post exposure and it came back negative. It's been three weeks and I've been experiencing some coughing, swollen lymph nodes, and headaches. I'm worried that this might be related to ARS. She says she got tested three months ago and everything was negative. However, I'm still worried about possible HIV infection and starting to panic.
Is my panic and stress justified or am I over-reacting (paranoia)?
Thanks.
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Cliff, you're worrying unnecessarily. As you withdrew the condom was protecting you and wouldn not left you exposed while it remained inside of her. You did exactly what you are supposed to do. You used a condom for intercourse. It's not necessary to use one for receiving oral as there is no transmission risk via getting oral.
Whatever is causing your symptoms has nothing to do with HIV. I don't see any need for testing.
If your symptoms persist you should discuss them with your doctor.
It often seems like guys worry more after sex with a professional. The truth is sex workers want to stay healthy too and often are much more careful about using condoms than "civilians."
In any case, this time I don't see any cause for further concern about HIV.
Cheers.
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Thanks Andy for your reassuring words. I also forgot to mention that I went down on her as well unprotected (oral sex) and fingered her vagina for some time. Do these acts have any effect upon my risk on contracting HIV?
Thanks again.
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The added information does not change the response you've received from Andy.
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Thanks for the assurance. I'm just really scared about transmitting it to this girl I just started dating right after the exposure. She's started having a fever and I got really scared, thought I might have gave it to her, but we've only had protected sex.
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Cliff,
It doesn't matter if you're having sex with a sex worker or the woman of your dreams - you need to be using condoms.
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 THE SPECIFIC INCIDENTS YOU BRING TO US, 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.
Ann
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I've now notice a little red bump on the head of my penis. It's been 3.5 weeks since the exposure. Is this possibly related to HIV or another STd?
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You didn't have a risk so your little red bump has nothing to do with HIV. We can't diagonse anything here. If it worries you have it checked out with your doctor.
Yours is not an HIV situation. It's good to read that you're consistenly using condoms. That's exactly what you ought to be doing until if and when you are in a securely monogamous relationship in which both partners test negative at a reliable testing point.
Cheers.