worried over possible hiv exposure

[alittleworried]

Hey everyone, I'm alittle concerned over a possible exposure I was involved in. I am feeling increased anxiety because of the status of the person I was with. The exposure involves deep kissing/making out on two occasions. The only caveat is that I had a bit of a sore throat while making out with him. The first night we made out the throat was only scratchy but the second night it became worse. However, being caught up in the moment I still made out with him. We also did body and genital touching, along with kissing each other's bodies and of course face and neck area. My concern with the face and body  kissing is that I suffer from razor burn and acne on the chest and cheeks. Lastly, I gave him a handjob till completion and got his semen on my hand and nail/cuticle. I wiped it off but was enable to wash it off for an hour or so. Based on this level of explosure and his status, is there any cause for concern? I have a current negative test result, with this being the only exposure which could change that. Should I test over this, given the razor burn, acne, sore throat, and semen exposure? I woke up feeling even sicker today after the incident but that could be just a cold or anxiety. Thanks for any help you can give me!

[Andy Velez]

You are worry needlessly. Nothing you are reporting of your sexual activities was in any way whatsoever a risk for HIV transmission.

As far as the sexual risk for HIV transmission it's really very simple. The ONLY confirmed risks are unprotected vaginal and anal intercourse. As long as you always use condoms for intercourse you won't have any cause to be concerned about the sexual transmission of HIV. Yes, it really is that simple.

So you have no need for further concern nor any need for testing. And yes, I have read all of the details that you are reporting very carefully.

Cheers.

[alittleworried]

Andy, thank you so much for the reply. With all the mismatched information available its hard to determine what exactly is "safe." This ends up making any sexual activity very frustrating. I just have a brief follow up question. Is it saliva that also makes transmission via a sore throat not possible? I just assumed that a sore throat would equate to an open wound, thus magnifying the exposure to something more risky. Perhaps I am still holding onto a bit of anxiety over this. But again, you do not feel testing is warranted? Thanks again.

[Andy Velez]

Saliva contains over a dozen elements and proteins which very effectively prevent the transmission of viable HIV.

No testing is necessary. Get on with your life and just make sure to always use condoms for vaginal and anal intercourse.

[alittleworried]

Hello Everyone,

I hope its okay that I am using my old thread. The warning at the top of the posting said to “please consider starting a new topic.” If I am doing something wrong I apologize in advance. Recently I was made aware that oral sex, mainly receiving oral sex is very low risk, but not “no risk” for HIV. This has led me to rethink a previous incident I had. Would a very brief oral sex encounter (less than a minute) be “zero” risk for HIV, as I speculate it is? I was on the receiving end, it was unprotected and the partner was of unknown status. The kissing, mutual masturbation, and body rubbing I am not concerned with as your previous answers alleviated all those fears. I’m not sure if the person had open sores, bad gums, etc...because I honestly didn’t ask to give him a dental exam before we got involved. For sure, I know he wasn’t spitting up blood or anything. Anyway, any advice you can give me, yet again, would be greatly appreciated. Thank-you!

[RapidRod]

You never had a risk of contracting HIV from Oral sex.

[Andy Velez]

I don't know where your "recent awareness of low risk" came from, but it's wrong. In the entire history of the epidemic there has never been a single confirmed case of HIV transmission to a man through his having received oral. It's safe to say you are not going to make history by becoming the first.

You did exactly the right thing by using your previous thread. All entries should be kept in this same thread. That's a rule of the site. Thanks for your cooperation.

The only confirmed means of the sexual transmission of HIV are unprotected vaginal and anal intercourse. Everything else sexual is only "theoretically" possible.

Cheers.

[alittleworried]

Andy, Ann, and Rod,

I appreciate your quick replies which seem to confirm what I have already read throughout the archives. The information regarding “low risk” came from a site referred to me by a friend called thebody.com. At this particular site the physician frequently categorizes both giving and receiving oral sex as “low risk,” but not “no risk” and recommends testing at three months per CDC guidelines. This was the cause of my confusion on the matter. Being that you guys are always on target with these matters and I’m sure read more literature than I do, I will go with your opinion that testing is not warranted and the risk of hiv acquisition was zero? I again appreciate all that you do and any further information regarding why such conflicting information exists would be helpful. Thanks again.

[Ann]

alittle,

The Body is notorious for publishing conflicting and often just plain wrong information when it comes to transmission issues.

You had absolutely no risk of hiv infection when you got a blowjob. You do not need to test over a no risk situation.

Here's what you need to know in order to remain hiv negative:

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 OVER A BLOWJOB, 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