POZ Community Forums
HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: Trust1nG0d on April 16, 2009, 08:03:28 pm
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Hello,
I have had a recent exposure risk that I am nervous about. A little more than a week ago, me and the girl that I have been seeing had finally decided to have sex for the first time. Let me preclude that I have ALWAYS worn condoms on previous occasions and will do so from now on. But for some reason, unbeknown to me, I decided to for go using a condom on this occasion. I will first point out that prior to this event, I was tested for sexually transmitted diseases and HIV and was negative on all. I am also circumsized, the only reason I bring that up is because I was told that circumcision decreases the risk of HIV transmission in a male. Back to my story though, about a week ago, said girl and myself had engaged in unprotected oral and vaginal sex for no more than 5 minutes, if even that. Since then, the thought of STD's and HIV have made me ponder why I had such a slip up and decided against using a condom. I was just being a young, dumb fool. Anyways, I am planning on doing a home HIV test at 6-7 weeks and then getting a final test at 13 weeks. Now for my question, HONESTLY, how likely am I to have gotten HIV from a one-time unprotected sexual encounter, being a circumsized male? And just for the fact to be know, since the incident, the girl, whom I am still talking to, and myself have not engaged in any further sexual contact and if we do so, I can assure you that it will be with a condom, no if's, and's or but's about it.
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You have your game plan on testing down. Follow what you have set up for yourself.
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Trust,
Honestly? You're much more likely to have picked up something like chlamydia. Chlamydia is the world's leading STI, and the most prevalent one in the 16-30 age group. Bacterial infections like chlamydia can be tested for ten days to two weeks following an unprotected incident, or sooner if you develop symptoms such as a discharge. You need to know that STIs like chlamydia often show no obvious symptoms. Up to 60% of women and 40% of men show no symptoms of chlamydia when infected.
Unlike the other STIs, hiv is a fragile, difficult to transmit virus and more so from a woman to a man. However, you have put yourself at risk for hiv and so you must test.
As the vast majority of people who have actually been infected will seroconvert and test positive by six weeks, a negative six week result is unlikely to change, but MUST be confirmed at the end of the three month window period.
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 all three condom and lube links in my signature line so you can use condoms with confidence.
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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Another curious question, and it's probably a dumb one. Ann, you said, and I have read many posts about you guys/gals saying that HIV is a very fragile virus. My question is, since it is a fragile virus, does it piggyback with other viruses? i.e Herpes Simplex or HPV (Genital Warts)?
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If someone who has herpes simplex is having an outbreak, that does knock down their immune system. During that time period, if they have unprotected vaginal or anal intercourse they are more vulnerable to HIV transmission.
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Thanks Andy.
But let me rephrase my question a bit, We'll take HPV for example.
Since HPV is VERY EASILY spread, will HIV piggyback on HPV and inturn, be easy to transmit or does it not work like that?
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HIV doesn't piggyback with anything. You can contract other STDs along with HIV. But the risk doesn't increase unless you already have an untreated STD.
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Okay cool.
Thanks Ann, Andy and Rod! ;D
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Okay. I have another weird question for you guys/gals (Ann ;) ) I know you all say that symptoms OR lack of symptoms is no way to tell a persons HIV status. But I have noticed that since my sexual encounter with the girl, the one that this thread is about. That my amount of ejaculate has decreased. or So it seems. Maybe it's all in my head? This isn't a sign of an HIV infection is it? I think it relates more towards being stressed out?
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Then I suggest you quit masturbating quite so much.
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Haha.
I had a feeling that someone would say that.
So should I seriously not worry about it?
I mean, I don't masturbate everyday, just...when I'm in the mood.
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Trust,
A decrease in the amount of ejaculate could be a sign of many things, but it is not a sign of hiv infection. It could be as simple as you being a little less hydrated than usual. Or maybe, as you yourself suggested, it just might be all in your head. If it continues to worry you, see your doctor.
Try not to be so hyper-critical of your body while you wait to test. Get busy with other things in your life and the time will go much more quickly.
Ann
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Thanks Ann! ;D
You all do so much for people like myself, and others. Without you, I would have been a nervous wreck for 6 weeks until I could test. But this whole time, I have been educating myself on everything there is to know about HIV. and I am thoroughly great-full for all of your help! I expect that my test will be negative, mainly because I am an optimistic person. Although, I have not ruled out that there is a slight chance that I could be positive. However, I will hold my head up high and keep myself busy until the six week mark, in which I will go test and I promise, whether positive or negative, that I will come back here and let you guys know the ending to the story. Thanks for everything that you all do here, and Have a great day everybody!
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Almost 5 weeks. Will be on this coming Tuesday actually (May 12th). The nervousness is slowly building. I am trying to keep my mind on life hoping that it will make the time go by faster.. The 19th of May will be the six week mark. For which I will test at that time.
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My nervousness is killing me. I went out, bought the home access test and sent it off today. My question is, is there a lot of difference between testing at 5 weeks and 4 days vs 6 weeks exactly?
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Even though it seems that I am talking to myself in this thread, I am going to express my feelings.
I honestly believe that I am going to test positive when I call for my results. I basically just threw my whole future away. Here are my symptoms...and I'm not good with dates, so I am guessing at the best of my ability.
3 weeks- Runny nose started
3.5 weeks- Sore throat started
4 weeks- Head aches started, noticed a swollen node in my neck and under my chin.
5 weeks- feels as if I have swollen lymph nodes in my clavicle area. I'm going to ask my doctor when I go to my appointment on Wednesday. And today, I got super car sick, I haven't been car sick since I was a young kid!
Right now, it is a couple days shy of week 6, and my symptoms have still not subsided. The runny nose isn't as bad, also, the sore throat is not as sore. The headaches seem to come at random, some day's I get them, some I don't. I'm tried to convince myself that I just had a post nasal drip and that's what caused all three, but since I think my lymph nodes are swollen around my clavicle, I have been doing nothing but freaking out. I don't know how my family will take it. I really wish that at the time, I would have thought with my brain instead of my cock. Now I'll have to live with my choice for the rest of my life...
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Sound like a common cold or sinus infection. Symptoms don't come on one at a time over weeks they come all at once and they leave the same way.
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So this doesn't sound like ARS to you?
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Trust,
We don't discuss symptoms here because neither the absence nor presence of symptoms means anything when it comes to hiv infection. ONLY testing at the appropriate time will reliably inform you of your hiv status. But no, that doesn't sound like ARS. If you continue to feel unwell, see your doctor.
A test this next week (six week point) will be a very good indication of your status. I suggest you go test and put your mind at ease. Iin the meantime, don't bother bringing more symptoms here, and re-read your thread when you feel nervous. There's nothing new to tell you, other than test at the appropriate time.
Ann
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I already sent my test off on friday. Is there much of a difference between getting results at 5 weeks and 4 days rather than at 6 weeks? Does those 3 days account for that much?
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No because a conclusive negative test result is 3 months post exposure.
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I realize that, but I mean in comparison to a 6 week test, which is supposed to be a good indicator. Do those three days account for that much when compared to a test exactly, or right after six weeks?
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Like I said it doesn't matter one way or the other.
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Okay, thanks Rod!
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I called and got my results today. Negative! I was totally surprised. I know that I am not out of the woods yet, but this really helped calm my nerves. I will check back in at 13 weeks!