HIV Risk from Incident?

[Mfs1009]

Good day, I have a concern regarding HIV
I am a South African Male who is circumcised and living in South Africa, I have had sex (protected) with 11 escorts and prostitutes, I am not proud of this, but it has happened.

I am concerned about the my latest exposure (7/07/2013), this is how it happened:
I gave and received unprotected oral sex, she went down on me without protection and i licked her labia but not her vaginal opening. I also fingered her without any barrier/protection. After this, I had condom protected sex with her, and all went well. When I had sex with her for a second time (new condom) from behind, and I am unsure as to whether or not the condom slipped off whilst I was inside her, but, when i withdrew, the condom remained inside. This incident has given me extreme anxiety, and now I have the following symptoms: a sore throat, a headache and a burning sensation in my torso. (I don't know if they are caused by HIV, or if it is just my anxiety)

I have taken an ELISA HIV DUO test (4th Generation), Taken on the 15th to establish a baseline and it came back non-reactive. I am really worried that I have contracted HIV, I am planning on taking a PCR test on Monday, as my anxiousness is horrendous. Did the aforementioned exposure put me at risk of HIV or am I just being paranoid??

Mfs1009

[Ann]

Mfs,

Getting a blowjob, with or without a condom, is NOT a risk for hiv infection.

Going down on a woman (cunnilingus) is also NOT a risk for hiv infection. Not one person has ever been infected with hiv in either of these two ways and you will not be the first.

Unless the woman had to literally dig the condom out from within her vagina (or anus, it's not totally clear where you were when you were behind her), then it's clear that it came off as you withdrew. Proper condom usage includes holding on to the base of the condom as you withdraw, so it doesn't end up being left behind.

Having a condom slip off as you withdraw is NOT a risk for hiv infection.

You do NOT need PCR testing. It's not really a diagnostic tool as any PCR test result must be confirmed with antibody testing (and a Western Blot, if the antibody is positive), regardless of the outcome of the PCR test. Don't waste your money and don't waste the resources of your clinic on PCR testing.

Also, don't waste your energy on feeling guilty over using the services of sex workers. As long as you treat them with respect and dignity, there is no shame.

While you do not need further hiv testing at this time, you would be wise to have a FULL sexual health check up. Hiv isn't the only STI out there and the others are MUCH more easily transmitted than hiv. For example, while you won't end up with hiv from getting a blowjob, you can end up with gonorrhea, syphilis or herpes.

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 FURTHER HIV TESTING AT THIS TIME, 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

[Mfs1009]

Hi, thanks Ann!

I just came back from the doctor and he says my symptoms are not typical of HIV seroconversion, he advised me to take the Pcr test on Monday and if anything untoward should appear, I will have to take medication. Although you told me that I have no HIV risk, I just can't put my fears to rest, I don't know how accurate his information is, but he thinks that I did put myself at risk for HIV. I am frankly just scared and confused.

MFs

[Ann]

mfs,

A lot of GPs don't know diddly-squat about hiv transmission. It sounds like yours is one of them.

As I said yesterday, if you'd actually had a risk, any PCR result would still have to be backed up with antibody testing. False positive results can and do happen, that's why they're not normally used as a diagnostic tool. But if you want to waste your money on an expensive, unnecessary test, knock yourself out. There are no short-cuts to hiv testing.

Ann