POZ Community Forums
Main Forums => I Just Tested Poz => Topic started by: srmn98 on October 14, 2006, 08:09:00 pm
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Hello,
I have a curious question. Although I do not have my viral counts or my CD4 counts, my western blot said that I am HIV positive. I am accepting this and taking all the proper steps.
I understand HOW I was infected is not important and that I just need to move forward.
But I cannot help be curious, there is little information on the web. Does anybody know of cases where somebody is infected with proper condom use ? I am a heterosexual female. I have never used drugs or had a blood transfusion.
My boyfriends that I did not use condoms with have all been tested and are all negative. With all other partners (not very many), I used condoms. I never had a condom break, I never had vaginal contact with fluids. I used latex condoms. What are the statistics on HIV transmission from male to female when condoms are used correctly ? I always thought that condoms were nearly 99% effective... did I just fall into the 1% ?
Thanks,
s
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If you used a condom correctly like you said and there was no breakage then you didn't contract HIV in that manner.
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Hi SR,
I've moved your thread from the Am I Infected forum as that wasn't really that approprate place for this discussion.
Correctly used condoms have been proven to prevent hiv transmission. Hiv does NOT pass through an intact condom.
There are only two things I can think of in your case that might have led to your infection despite condom use. One is maybe there was a condom that broke that you weren't made aware of. The other thing is that perhaps not all the men who you didn't use condoms with have been honest with you.
There is also the possibility that you were one of the rare people who was infected through giving a blowjob. It is rare that this happens, but it does now and again.
The best thing now is to concentrate on today and the future.
Ann
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Thanks, Ann.
Sorry if I posted in the wrong spot... intaking a lot of information all at once and trying to be respectful of this board as it is a godsend right now.
Thanks for the response. The two boyfriends did show me their test results ... and I always checked the condoms. Guess maybe sometimes we fear the very thing that we cannot avoid.
I incorrectly (ignorantly) thought the possibility of oral transmission was negligible. Will have to do some more research on that. thanks for the info.
s
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SR,
The risk for giving blowjobs IS negligible and unlikely, but it does seem to happen once in a blue moon. A broken condom is a more likely culprit.
Ann
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I agree with Ann on this one. It doesn't sound like all of your ex-partners were honest with you on their test results.
At this point, though, who gave it to you is irrelevant. Ten to one says that he now knows his status, anyways, and if he has a conscience, that's his demon to face.
The important thing for you is to start living your life with your diagnosis. Tell people when you are ready, but don't let the mystery of how you got it interfere with the life you have to live.
The rest of your life starts today. How are you going to live it?
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One thing to consider. I've thought about if a certain former partner calls and asks if I have had a test or ask if I am posititive because they are that I may be untruthful and tell them no on both. The reason being that it doesn't help anything in their case if they know or not and that particular person is one who's life has always been an open book to everyone around her. I just don't want to get my status outed in that manner.
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its possible thru oral if you have gum disease(bleeding gums/poor gums) and you are performing the act and person (guy) cums in your mouth.
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There is said to be a minute chance. But more than likely you would have contracted HIV by a much more riskier event. Unprotected anal sex/unprotected vaginal sex or using someone Else's works.
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Correct condom usage without breakage is 100% safe. Ive seen numerous studies of serodiscordant couples, Ive done alot of condom research myself. You may read elsewhere they arent 100%, only because they factor into the statistics "UNCORRECT usage,resulting in breakage" and/or unsafe activity BEFORE or AFTER the condom was used. Strip away all the bullshit, the money and politics, and the fact remains Latex or Polyurethane condoms WILL and DO protect you and your partner from HIV 100%, when used CORRECTLY and CONSISTANTLY, FROM START TO FINISH.
Keep in mind....everything you read or find about HIV, is not always accurate truth*
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SR, I can appreciate the nagging thoughts you're having about how becoming infected happened. I also encourage you to not linger very long over this because what's most important is that you are getting proper medical care now and making all the necessary efforts to keep you healthy.
Also, any of the guys you were with who said they are/were HIV negative may have done so in good faith. But an HIV test result is only reliable if done at the proper time and with no subsequent risks. Very unfortunately, approximately half of those who are HIV positive these days have not been tested and don't know their HIV status accurately.
In any case, I again urge you to focus on here and now and moving forward. You're always welcome here to ask questions as well as to discuss anything that's on your mind.
Cheers,