exposure 5 years ago

[reallyreallyworried321]

I have been with my boyfriend for 8 years but we split up 5 years ago and I had hetrosexual unprotected sex with a guy that I know.  I dont why but HIV has been playing on my mind a lot lately.I think it might be guilt because I got back together with my boyfriend and never told him that Id slept with someone else. I dont know the status of the guy but he is fine(although I know you cant tell if someone has HIV)
Should I get tested.?

[ACinKC]

Well since you had unprotected intercourse with a person of unknown status I would say you should have a full STD panel done including HIV.  But we reccommend that to all sexually active adults, and that they do it once a year at a minimum.

So, if 13 weeks has passed go get tested.  If 13 weeks hasnt passed try and wait out the time and stay productively busy and collect what I would suspect to be a negative result.

And remember to use those condoms for intercourse unless you are in a securely monogamous relationship where both of you have tested negative TOGETHER.  

HIV is nothing to guess about.  Go get tested at 13 weeks past your exposure.

[reallyreallyworried321]

thanks for your reply.
 I know that I need to get tested but I cant seem to do it. I keep thinking that 5 years later is a good indication that it will be negative seeing as Im ok?

[RapidRod]

thanks for your reply.
 I know that I need to get tested but I cant seem to do it. I keep thinking that 5 years later is a good indication that it will be negative seeing as Im ok?

Are you serious? I tested positive in 1984 and was never ill till 2005. Now do you think that you are really okay or are you going to do the responsible thing and TEST?

[reallyreallyworried321]

can you give me some idea of my risk factor ?
I know the easiest thing would be to get tested but Im scared

[RapidRod]

You had unprotected sex. The risk is high, though not as high as unprotected anal sex. Just test..

[Andy Velez]

HIV is not something to guess about.

Being scared makes perfect sense BUT it is not a good enough reason to not get tested. How long are you going to allow this cloud to hang over you. Given what you have described I would say the odds are in your favor that you'll test negative.

Only a test can tell you for sure. You've dragged this around for way too long. Get your butt in there and get tested.

We'll be expecting to hear your test result soon.

Cheers,

[Ann]

really,

Yes, you do need to test. A test three months past your last incident of unprotected intercourse (with ANYONE) will be conclusive.

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 STIs together. To agree to have unprotected intercourse is to consent to the possibility of being infected with a sexually transmitted infection. 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.

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.

Hiv is nothing to guess about, whether it be your hiv status or that of your partner. Make sure you're using condoms until you're securely monogamous and have tested together. Anything else is to play roulette with your health. As the receptive partner, you're at high risk during unprotected intercourse.

Condoms have been proven to prevent hiv infection so use them and avoid hiv. It really is that simple.

Ann