Protected sex with CSW - risk assessment?

[shaworried]

Hi. 24 days ago I had protected vaginal sex with a female CSW in Asia (Singapore). She was either from Russia or Ukraine, there for a "working trip" I believe.

Anyway, we had protected oral then protected vaginal (same condom). I do not believe the condom failed--it was on from the beginning (oral), stayed on for the vaginal, and was on when I pulled out. It looked intact when I took it off. (And afterwards I filled it with water and squeezed to see if any leaks, and there weren't.)

I understand that this is a "virtually no risk" situation because of the condom. I'm looking for some reassurance of this.

I have had some odd symptoms (not jumping to conclusions):
- feeling a bit tired (not terrible fatigue, though)
- white coating on my tongue that started around day 16 and hasn't gone (today is day 24)
- red rash on my ankles and my thighs that started around day 22 and hasn't gone
- no fever (i've been monitoring this closely)

I took an Oraquick rapid test (oral fluids) on day 21 and it was negative.

So, all things considered, what do you think? Should I keep on testing? Would a duo test now (24 days) be near-conclusive? I appreciate any advice you can give me on my situation. Note that I've been freaking out a lot about this, so anxiety levels have been pretty high, too.

Thanks.

[Andy Velez]

Of course your test result was negative. Nothing you have reported put you at risk for HIV. You are worrying needlessly.

If the condom had failed you would have known it. It's never about itty bitty little holes as people sometimes imagine. When a condom fails it's very visible because the whole thing goes and ends up looking like a hoop with strands of latex on the penis. So that didn't happen.

Even without a condom receiving oral is not a risk for HIV transmission.

There is no need for concern nor for further testing. Let this go and get on with your life.

As for your "symptoms," they have nothing to do with HIV. If they persist you need to discuss them with your doctor. This is not an HIV situation. Period.

[Jeff G]

Hi Shaw , you did not have a risk . There is no need to water test a condom , they are designed in such a way that they fail catastrophically so there is no doubt it is defective or used incorrectly .

The risk from sexually acquiring HIV comes from unprotected vaginal and anal sex , the sex you had was protected so you did not have a risk so no need to test again over this incident . Your symptoms are not specific to HIV , so go see your doctor and find out why you are unwell .

If this is your only concern about HIV in the last 3 months you can count your oraquick test as proof that you do not have HIV .

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!   

[shaworried]

Thanks Andy and Jeff for your very quick replies to my question. I actually had a full STD/HIV screening only about 6 weeks ago and all was clear. In between that and this CSW encounter I didn't have any sex.

Okay so based on your description of a failed condom, mine definitely didn't fail. Might have slipped a bit when pulling out of her but the "business end" of my penis was certainly covered.

So I guess from what you have both said that I'm in the clear. No risk. No need to test, and negative Oraquick at 21 days anyway.

I tell you, the last few weeks have not been fun. Stress, anxiety, guilt, regret...these are not enjoyable emotions.

Thanks.

[Jeff G]

You can put this behind you now , there was no risk and if there had been we would have told you so that you could protect your health and the health of others .

Stop worrying and go have some fun .

[Ann]

She was either from Russia or Ukraine, there for a "working trip" I believe.

Oh, is that what they call human sex trafficking these days? A "working trip"? What a quaint euphemism.

Ann