Do i need to get tested?

[raheja]

Hi, I would like some advice on whether I need to get tested based on the scenario mentioned below:
I am a male. 12 days ago, I met an acquaintance (male) and somehow we ended up in a park where he gave me oral (I inserted) for about 2 minutes. I didn't ejaculate. Then we did a mutual masturbation. Some of his semen trickled onto my hand. Later, while washing my hands (couple of minutes after this activity), I noticed a small abrasion on my thumb (on the knuckle). I remember getting that bruise earlier that morning, some 8 hours before this episode. I am worried now because I think some (a drop or two) of the semen got in contact with that abrasion.

I remember bleeding a bit (couple of drops) when I had injured my thumb 8 hours ago.

Anyways, once I reached home after this meeting in the park, I squeezed the thumb hard and a drop of some clear fluid and very little blood appeared. Note that I am a smoker and I guess smoking delays the healing process in case of minor bumps and cuts. So, I am not sure how much healing had happened in 8 hours.

Symptoms:
About 7-8 days after that meeting, I felt discomfort in my stomach. Next couple of days, I felt unwell and feverish and yesterday I developed a high fever (around 102 F) and mild headache (not sure if the fever and stomach discomfort were related). I didn't take any medicine. Today, the fever is under 100 F. I don’t have any other visible symptoms.

Questions:
1. Assuming, the guy I was with was HIV+ve, are there any chances of transmission via an 8 hour old abrasion/bruise (I don’t think the scab had formed completely by then).
2. Are there any chances of HIV transmission by receiving oral.
3. Can a fever in the range of 102 F or higher be one of the initial symptoms of seroconversion or does it normally remain between 100-101 F (mild fever).
4. Can the symptoms appear as early as 8 days and how long does the initial symptom phase last?

5. Do I need to get tested for HIV?

Your response/advice will be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks..

[Andy Velez]

Nothing you have reported was a risk for HIV transmission. In fact you need to know that the only confirmed risks for the sexual transmission of HIV are unprotected vaginal and anal intercourse. As long as you consistently use condoms for those activities you will be well protected.

HIV is a fragile virus. It is not passed in a viable form through masturbation or through the kinds of circumstances you have described.

There is no need for testing nor for further concern. If your symptoms persist you should discuss them with your doctor. HIV is not the problem.

[Ann]

raheja,

1. NO.

2. NO.

3. Not necessarily.

4. NO.

5. NO. Not specifically over this NO RISK situation. You only need to test if you're a sexually active adult and you've never tested before.

The only proven sexual risks for hiv infection are unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse.

Mutual masturbation, regardless of cuts or whatever, 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 where the virus never leaves the confines of the two bodies.

Once outside the body, small changes in temperature, and pH and moisture levels all quickly damage the virus and render it unable to infect. This is why mutual masturbation is not a risk. The virus is outside the body and exposed to the environment.

Getting a blowjob is not a risk for hiv infection. Not one person has ever been infected this way and you will not be the first.

There have been three long-term studies of couples where one is positive and one is negative. In the couples who used condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, but no barrier for oral activities, not one of the negative partners became infected with hiv. Not one.

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.

ALTHOUGH YOU DO NOT NEED TO TEST SPECIFICALLY OVER BEING BLOWN OR ENGAGING IN MUTUAL MASTURBATION, 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

[raheja]

Thanks Andy & Ann for the quick and reassuring response. Just one more query. As per your expert opinion, the circumstances I mentioned ( receiving blowjob and semen getting in contact with a partially healed bruise) are no-risk activities but since I am married and the last thing I would want is to put my wife in any soft of risk..just wanted to confirm :

Can I continue having unprotected sex with my wife?

Thanks a lot..

[Ann]

raheja,

Yes, you can continue having sex with your wife. You cannot give her a virus you were not at risk for.

Ann

[raheja]

Thanks a lot for the response. I more or less believed that it was a no-risk situation that I indulged in but still wanted an expert on HIV related issues to confirm this for me. Thanks again.
However, the main reason why I am worried is the timing and nature of symptoms I developed( unexplained fever etc after 8-9 days of this incident).

1. Is the timing of these symptoms just a bad coincidence?

2. The symptoms I am having can be due to anything but JUST CANNOT BE DUE TO HIV ( ARS?) . Correct?

I am sure these are the only concerns I have that I would request you to resolve for me please.

Thanks.

[raheja]

I guess I spoke too soon about the last post being my final concern !
As per your last response and few other replies in ‘Am I infected?’ forum you have always maintained that fingering/handjobs are no-risk even with open cuts on fingers.
However, I just came across some information on the healing process the body undergoes in case of cuts/abrasions. What I understand is that soon after the healing of a wound begins, some special types of blood cells including T-helper cells, macrophages etc. arrive at the wound site to help in the healing and 'cleansing' process. I believe these cells are the ones that are the most susceptible to HIV.

Given the fact that T-helper and other hiv susceptible cells are present in abundance in the partially healed abrasion area, isn’t there is higher possibility of infection if this area comes in contact with infectious fluid? (even though the contact with the infectious fuild is OUTSIDE the body, the virus won't disintegrate in the semen as quickly as a few seconds).

As much as I would like you to negate this theory, please throw some medical reasoning behind your response on this one. Thanks.

[RapidRod]

HIV is unable to reproduce outside its living host (unlike many bacteria or fungi, which may do so under suitable conditions), except under laboratory conditions; therefore, it does not spread or maintain infectiousness outside its host.


HIV is transmitted by;
Unprotected penetrative anal and/or vaginal sex
Sharing works with other IV drug abusers
Mother to child

[Ann]

Raheja,

1. Yes, bad coincidence.

2. No, your symptoms cannot be due to hiv as you did NOT have a risk.

One of the first things that happens when you cut yourself is the body works to seal the area off from the outside. Otherwise, you'd end up with a bacterial infection every time you got cut, regardless of the cells that arrive on the scene to take care of such things.

You really are worrying needlessly. Not one person has ever been infected through fingering and you won't be the first.

If you cannot bring yourself to believe us, go test and collect your negative result. Keep in mind that you will not be permitted to use this forum to go on and on about your worries or symptoms while you wait to test. If you need reassurance, re-read the replies you already have. Our answers are not going to change.

In the mean time, if you feel unwell, see a doctor. Whatever is going on has nothing to do with hiv.

Ann