POZ Community Forums
HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: worryman on October 12, 2008, 09:11:26 am
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Hello experts...
I am very worried about one incident where I may have been in contact with bodily-fluid that may be infectious with HIV. I recently visited a swinger club and there were many couples in "live-action" settings. I did not participate in any sexual activity only that I come up-close to a group/many couples action (about 3 feet) (sorry for the graphic) and did masturbate myself on a dry/washed towel provided by the place. I am wondering if I would have got in contact with any semen/vaginal fluid/blood on the mattress where all had been happening. The contact between myself and the mattress is limited to the legs (I am no so sure what you mean by unbroken skin, But i do remeber some scratches on my legs which may pose a risk...)
After 10 days, I do start to feel weak and fatigue and some hot temperature sensations on extremeties and shortness in breath.
Did I have a risk to HIV? How are the chances...
Very worried... thank you.
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worry,
You can stop worrying. Hiv is not transmitted from environmental surfaces. It is also not possible to become infected by getting body fluids on your skin.
Make sure you read the Transmission Lesson. The link is found in our Welcome Thread (http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=220.0)
Here's what else 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 with a condom lasts only a matter of minutes, but hiv is forever.
Have a look through all three condom and lube links in my signature line so you can use condoms with confidence.
ALTHOUGH YOU DO NOT NEED TO TEST OVER 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.
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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Thanks for for your response... Just another quick question to end my worries completely...
What if I had some body fluids (semen/vaginal fluids) which was released very shortly before contact to my skin? I am not sure if my skin is really "ünbroken" as I may have scratch it a bit when i too shower before. Can you please also defined what do we mean by "unbroken skin" an, how long does the HIV virus live outside the body and if I should need any testing after this incident? Had there been any case like this before that caused HIV/HEP C infections?
Please also take into account that I have body/joints aches now, itchy skin and also body increase in temperatures that started about 6-7 days after the event and that lasts till now (about 14 days from day 0).
Thank you so much and I hope you can bring my worries to an end....
Thank you and God bless.
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Just to remind you what Ann has already told you:
"You can stop worrying. Hiv is not transmitted from environmental surfaces. It is also not possible to become infected by getting body fluids on your skin".
When we talk about "unbroken skin" we are talking about serious wounds or large open cuts.
HIV dies very quickly when exposed to air and is rendered harmless.
You do not need to test over this.
Jan
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hello again experts.
I am really sorry for posting again here but I just need a final reconfirmation that I am worrying needlessly...
Can you please explain to me what's really meant by "unbroken skin" in relation to HIV transmission? Also, what do you mean by serious wounds and large open cuts? If my blood is not flowing out from my skin, does it mean that the skin is intact????? As I may have got in contact with sperm on skin surface and I don't know if my skin is really "unbroken" ???
I am feeling a lot of body aches recently around areas in tighs, armpits and neck... Very worried... :-[
Thank you... you guys are doing a great job...
Last question... is there any slight chance for me to doubt about this and get tested?
Thanks.
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See a your doctor for your body aches. As you have already been told you didn't have a risk of contracting HIV.
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No, you did not have any risk possibility in what you have reported. You are worrying needlessly about HIV.
As others have suggested, if you have troubling symptoms you should be discussing them with your doctor. This is absolutely NOT an HIV situation. Period.