Condom breakage???

[worriedcanadian]

Hey everyone, first of all I just want to say that I greatly appreciate the work that you guys do to deliver some peace of mind. I had "protected" oral intercourse done on me by a street prostitute in the Vancoucer area. I than had "protected" vaginal intercourse with her, this was on 12/7/13. Im afraid that the condom may have broken but it looked and felt intact(was dark out) what I am afraid of is that i threw it on the side of the road, and the next day i analyzed it and i could see a small tear, i am concerned that it may have ripped during the encounter, ofcourse trafic could have ran over it as it was on the road. This was a one time mistake i made while drunk. (First sexual experience) Am i at risk for Hiv? I am really afraid because i felt flu like symptoms 2 days after with a fever. It is now been one week since exposure and i have experienced a ongoing very mild sore thtoat. A white blister on sole of foot and skin peeling on palms of hands. My hands also get itchy when i wash them. When can i get tested? 6 weeks? What about for stds? Please assess my risk. Thankyou once again for all your wonderful work.

[RapidRod]

Had you had a condom failure you would have known when you took it off. When a condom fails it fails catastrophically.

[Jeff G]

Rod is correct that you would have known if the condom failed . Your symptoms are not specific to HIV so I would see a doctor if you are sick . 

ALTHOUGH YOU DO NOT NEED HIV TESTING AT THIS TIME for this incident , 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 STDs 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!

[worriedcanadian]

Thanks for your responses. Is it possible that a condom can only tear? Are you guys aware of an insertive partner being effected? I feel swollen lymph nodes in the groin area.. Do you guys think i require testing? Im very paranoid and worried! please help!! Thank you. -wC

[Jeff G]

Condoms are designed in such a way as the leave no doubt when or if they fail, its unlikely the condom failed but if you are uneasy you can test at 6 weeks past any possible exposure and again at 3 months to confirm the results .

Its rare for the insertive partner ( you ) to test positive after a condom break so you should expect a negative result . I really doubt a condom failed and you didn't know it so I offer the testing advice for peace of mind only and not because I think you have had a risk in this incident .

Its no use discussing symptoms , the only way to know your HIV status is to test and not by guessing about symptoms .

[Ann]

Worried,

Part of being sexually responsible is disposing of your condoms correctly. You're not supposed to throw them on the street - that's what garbage bins are for. Not only is it bad for the environment, but people don't want to see the evidence of your sexual activity lying around on the street. It's disgusting. How would you feel if a small child or animal you're close to picked it up and put it in their mouth? It happens.

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 FOR HIV SPECIFICALLY FOLLOWING PROTECTED INTERCOURSE OR ORAL SEX, 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

[worriedcanadian]

Yes Ann i totally agree with you, I was very drunk that day(thus why i am in this situation) I disposed of it properly the next day when i went to analyze it.Thank you all for your replies. I have started to feel pain right after masturbation in testicles and pelvic area, also when I urinate. If my encounter was indeed a safe one, could i have these symptoms due to a sti that transmits even with condoms used? Are any of you aware of an sti that would cause this? Sore throat still persists and am very worried. Greatly appreciate all your great work.

[Jeff G]

We deal in HIV assessments but we did tell you that .... 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.

Symptoms tell you nothing , the only way to know your status is to test for ALL std's and HIV if you think you had an exposure . If you are sick go see your doctor, we don't discuss symptoms and we cant diagnose you over the internet .