POZ Community Forums
HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: adam7788 on May 06, 2007, 01:20:08 pm
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Hi, having read lessons and some posts here I feel better and try not to panic. However, hearing your opinion would be very appreciated. The case is as follows:
- The encounter was with a male of unknown status. We kissed and practised mutual masturbation.
- There was also brief unprotected oral sex involved: receptive (approx.1 min) and insertive (not more than 30 sec). No ejaculation happened in both cases.
- I had 2-day uncovered cut on my finger. It wasn't fresh, but not fully healed as well.
- No anal sex involved.
My biggest concern is oral sex. The second concern relates to open wound on my finger. I didn't do anything 'strange', but for example I was touching his body when he ejaculated.
Based on what I read here the risk is low. However, as said, your opinion would be helpful.
thanks
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from what i have also read.....no risk
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First off, I hope I'm not treading on the experts space here - if so, I apologize in advance. But Adam, I'd say you had NO risk whatsoever, and there's no need to test. If you need to for your own good, that's fine - but 30 seconds of giving head with no ejaculation isn't a risk for HIV. I'd say that TRUE studies and evidence completely back that up - that is, from all the years of obsessive reading I've done on the subject.
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David and J, do not post in any other thread than your own.
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David, J - thx for reassurance.
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Adam, the various activities involving masturbation, kissing and your being sucked by the other guy were not in any way risky in terms of HIV transmission.
Theoretically there is some risk when giving oral to another guy, but in the real world of HIV transmission has very rarely occured that way, and even those cases are questionable as to accuracy. In some there may have been questionable accuracy involved or extremely poor oral health and ejaculation orally.
On the other side though, there have been longerm studies of both gay and straight sero-discordant couples who had only protected intercourse and lots of unprotected oral sex. The results were that not a single sero-negative partner became infected.
So in terms of oral sex it's a matter of deciding what you are comfortable doing.
From what you have reported of what happened and bearing in mind there was no ejaculation orally, I don't see anything to be further concerned about in relation to this experience. Nor any need for testing.
In general we recommend that anyone who's sexually active should regularly have a full STD panel done. That means at least annually. Other STDs are much easier to acquire than HIV.
In this case I don't see cause for further concern on your part.
Cheers,
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Thanks a lot Andy. It sounds much better to read personalised opinion with reference to my story than the theoretical content in lessons.
thanks
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You're welcome, Adam. Glad you found the exchange to be helpful.
Cheers,
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Sorry, one more question. Does it pose any risk if the guy ejaculated, I touched his sperm with my hands and then I masturbated myself without cleaning hands?
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No risk except for getting sticky hands. ;)
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RapidRod - thank you for quick reply. I'm sorry to be pain in the a** but please let me ask for some clarification (BTW, I haven't found the answer to this question in the Lessons). Why is it so that this doesn't pose any risk? I do believe you of course - just trying to understand the topic. Assuming pessimistically that the guy was infected and I touched his sperm and immediately after I touched my penis (incl. head) with the same hand, why this is not risky activity? Is it because the virus is dying immediately after ejaculation or ...?
Thanks you again for help.
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HIV is a fragile virus. It can not stay active in the environment. Once it is exposed to air it starts to degrade and becomes unable to infect.
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Adam-
The virus is only passed internally, not outside the body. That is the simplest explanation I can provide to answer your question.
Brent
(Who knows a more scientific explanation will eventually arrive)
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Again thx guys for quick replies.
RapidRod - does the virus degrade immediately or over some time (5min? 30? 1h?)
Brent - sounds simple ;-). With reference to waht you said, why ten people are anxious when ejaculations reaches the eye? But maybe I messed up something here... ;-)
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It starts to degrade immediately.
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Guys, I'm really trying not to panic, but today it's 7th day after and I got fever 37.4! I know I had low risk, but it's not imaginative fever and it's 1 week. Can seroconversion start after 1 week?
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adam,
That is NOT a fever.
You aren't going to seroconvert. You didn't have a risk.
Ann
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I gotta ask you sth more...
I have penile yeast infection. It started 3 days after my exposure, on 6th day I went to the dermatologist and she gave me some cream.
Question to you: is penile yeast infection associated with ARS? Is it a type of rash (which is common sign of ARS)?
thanks
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No
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Off topic: I admire the patience you Experts have to all of us ;-)
Back to business:
1) Good that it's not type of rash. But is then penile yeast type of genital ulcer?
2) To be sure: penile yeast is not associated with ARS, right?
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Adam, what parts of this thread aren't you reading? You didn't have a risk, without a risk, no HIV and without being infected no ARS. So take your penis to the doctor and have him/her take a look at it again.
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RapidRod - I read everything carefully - believe me. It's actualy to great extent thanks to your advice that I'm not going mad. I really try and want. Do you think I really want not to believe you? No, no, no. As said I want to believe you and to great extent I do. But then I read that one of the ARS symptoms is genital ulcer. And because I got my yeast after this sexual contact, I'm starting to freak out.
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Adam, the thing is you are not paying attention. You didn't have a risk, that's the end of it. NO HIV, NO SYMPTOMS AND NO ARS. You do not have anything that's related to HIV. You are the one keeping this fear trip of yours going. You need to read the guidelines about the 4 week time out, because that is where you are headed.
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Your mind may continue to churn up scary thoughts and feelings for who knows how long. None of that changes the HIV-science based reality that you weren't at risk in this incident for transmission. Period.
A yeast infection is not an ulcer. It's a very common occurence that is not remotely HIV-specific. It can be very persistent. See your doctor if it's still concerning you.
This is not an HIV situation no matter what your mind may say otherwise. Get on with your life.
Cheers,
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Dear Experts,
In order to get on with my life (waiting 3 months would just destroy me mentally), I took PCR test at 10 days. I am aware of low risk, but I decided to take test for my own peace of mind. Results came back today - negative (as you said). Because my GP is on holidays till Monday, can I ask you for help with understanding why they mention on the results 4 tests? The results are as follows:
HIV-1 env proviral DNA: Not detected
HIV-1 LTR proviral DNA/RNA: Not detected
HIV-1 gag proviral DNA/RNA: Not detected
HIV-1 pol proviral DNA/RNA: Not detected
Thank you in advance
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Well it would have helped if you would have taken the test at the correct time, which is 28 days at the least. Which has to be followed up with an antibody test.
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Hi RapidRod...
Yep, I know about PCR at 28 days... Of course I still plan to take 3-month ELISA. I couldn't just wait without any indication and that's why I took the test. And it's said to be pretty accurate even at 48-72h post exposure,what even Andy mentioned: It's a very sensitive test which OFTEN is accurate within 48-72 hours. But 28 days is when is recommended to do that test.
I was told in the clinic (and also read about it in the web) that PCR at 10 days is very good indication of the status. Must be confirmed though with 13 week ELISA.
Anyway, coming back to my question: do you know why they did 4 tests intead of one?
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It didn't matter in your situation, because you didn't have a risk.