POZ Community Forums
HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: Extremely Worried 4 on November 01, 2012, 04:53:08 pm
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Please help.
I tried on a pair of jeans at a local clothes store and when pulling the jeans up I felt something cut me. I looked in the jeans pocket and found half a security tag (sharp side), which must have been put there by someone trying to shoplift? Not sure.
Very concerned about who might have tried these jeans on before me and did they cut themselves, etc. I have even been back to store to watch video footage of anyone trying these same jeans on that same morning, but no-one did.
Very concerned, am I over reacting? Is there a possibility of HIV infection?
Please help, I really would appreciate your advice.
Thanks very much.
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Worried,
YES! You are overreacting in the extreme.
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. For this reason, you are not going to be infected by hiv that is outside the body in the environment, and that includes blood on security tags.
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 ABSOLUTELY DO NOT NEED TO TEST SPECIFICALLY OVER THIS SECURITY TAG SITUATION, 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. Some of the other STIs can be present with no obvious symptoms, so the only way to know for sure is to test.
Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, correctly and consistently, and you will avoid hiv infection. It really is that simple!
Ann
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Hi Ann,
Thank you for your response and reassurance.
Do you mind if I ask if you are a qualified medical practitioner? I have never stressed so much in my life than these last 3 days, everyone says different stories, etc. and it really just makes the situation so much more stressful.
Thx again.
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Worried,
I'm someone who has been advising people on how to stay hiv negative for over eleven years now. I've read the studies and I live and breathe hiv prevention every day of my life.
Seriously, you did NOT have a risk.
Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, correctly and consistently, and you will avoid hiv infection. IT REALLY IS THAT SIMPLE!!!
Ann