Author Topic: Condom Effectiveness (Read 6908 times)

unsure1 · « **on:** January 26, 2007, 08:17:15 pm »

OK so I ended up having protected sex last week with a woman but before we had sex I had fingered her to get her wet. Afterwards we spooned for a bit and my erection was nearing/touching her vagina (did not insert though) from the rear which I don't know if it had vaginal secretions or not. What are the chances of an HIV infection? Could any secretions have gotten into my urethra and infected me?

RapidRod · « **Reply #1 on:** January 26, 2007, 09:05:23 pm »

NO....

Andy Velez · « **Reply #2 on:** January 27, 2007, 11:25:53 am »

The vaginal secretions which would be of concern IF the woman you're with is HIV+ are in the cervical area. None of the activities which you mentioned would have brought you into contact with her cervix.

And if she is HIV+ as long as you are always wearing a condom during intercourse the poz status of a partner is irrelevant. Condoms provide very effective protection against HIV transmission.

Cheers,

unsure1 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 29, 2007, 11:17:15 pm »

I've read on websites that condoms are effective, but none say that they are 100% effective. Are they referring to when condoms break, used improperly etc... or are they just saying that a virus can penetrate the latex barrier? I had sex with a girl who has potentially had other partners who have been positive, but she has not been tested. I used a latex condom the whole time which was used properly and did not break. Can anyone tell me what the probability of me contracting HIV is?

Thanks,

A Very Scared & Concerned Individual

RapidRod · « **Reply #4 on:** March 30, 2007, 04:23:12 am »

Keep all your questions, thoughts and concerns in your orginal thread.

Ann · « **Reply #5 on:** March 30, 2007, 04:43:18 am »

unsure,

I've merged your new thread into your original thread - where you should post all your additional thoughts or questions. It helps us to help you when you keep all your additional thoughts or questions in one thread.

If you need help finding your thread when you come here, click on the "Show own posts" link under your name in the left-hand column of any forum page.

Please also read through the Welcome Thread so you can familiarize yourself with our Forum Posting Guidelines. Thank you for your cooperation.

Condoms have been proven to prevent hiv infection. The reluctance of the condom companies and others to say they are 100% effective does indeed come from the fact that they can sometimes break. If you read through the condom and lube links in my signature line, you will learn how to use them the right way. A correctly used condom rarely breaks. And no, the virus does not leak through the latex of the condoms. Polyurethane is also effective for people with latex allergy/sensitivity.

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.

Again, have a look through the 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.

Ann

unsure1 · « **Reply #6 on:** April 08, 2007, 07:11:45 pm »

Out of curiosity, if a male has genital herpes and uses a condom, what is the risk of infection for a male if there is a sore at the base of the penis. Also, what if the sore has scabbed over and is not a fresh open wound? If vaginal secretions make their way to the base of the penis what is the potency of the virus being in open air assuming the famlale positive? Thanks.

-An Unsure 1

ACinKC · « **Reply #7 on:** April 09, 2007, 10:11:32 am »

You shouldnt be having sex with people when you are having an outbreak.

Andy Velez · « **Reply #8 on:** April 09, 2007, 11:44:50 am »

You seem to be thinking only about yourself in this situation.

If you are having an outbreak you are highly infectious to others and as AC has indicated you should not be having sex with anyone.

unsure1 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 10, 2007, 12:55:56 am »

I agree wholeheartedly, and I don't think I had an outbreak at the time. I was just curious. I'm asuming transmission can occur either way then if an outbreak is present. How about a healing outbreak?

unsure1 · « **Reply #10 on:** January 28, 2012, 12:13:33 am »

Last week I foolishly received a 30 minute massage that ended in a handjob. While I know that handjobs do not constitute a risk, I am concerned because when I got home I noticed that I had a cyst at the base of my penis (where the penis meets the pelvis). The cyst was actually on the crease of where the penis meets the body and was somewhat tucked under the skin. When I applied pressure to the cyst, some blood did come out which has caused alarm that it might be a point of entry for possible infection. While I do not think the masseuse touched the cyst at all nor do I "think" she had blood on her hands, but I am not absolutely certain. While I had a massage for a half hour before the hand job she did go out of the room a couple of times to get a wet towel etc... The hand job mainly concentrated around the top of the penis and some sort of lotion/oil was used.

The following night, I started to feel my left gland swell. Since that time I have had gland swelling in my neck and armpits (mostly left side) come and go that seemed to connect to my ear (ear ache). I have not had any fever that I know of or any apparent rash other than dry skin on my arms.

Is getting symptoms within a week of exposure too early for ARS? How long does the virus live outside the body? Is it possible to get infected this way and how much blood would need to enter my body? I cannot seem to find an authoritative source. I am very anxious and nervous that she may have had blood on her hand for whatever reason and that I may have become infected. Any insight into my situation is greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

RapidRod · « **Reply #11 on:** January 28, 2012, 02:14:28 am »

You never had an exposure.

HIV is transmitted by;
Unprotected penetrative anal and/or vaginal sex
Sharing works with other IV drug abusers
Mother to child

unsure1 · « **Reply #12 on:** January 28, 2012, 08:09:26 am »

Thank you for the response. So even if she had a little blood (I would have noticed if there was a lot) on her hands for whatever reason, it is not possible to get infected through little sore?

Can you also answer my questions about ARS timing and fleeting symptoms?

Much appreciated.

Andy Velez · « **Reply #13 on:** January 28, 2012, 09:55:55 am »

You are bothering yourself needlessly. HIV would not be transmitted in a viable form through blood on her hand.

Neither the presence nor the absence of symptoms will ever tell you anything accurately about your HIV status. If you have a for real risk only an HIV test taken at the right time will give you a reliable result.

Symptoms associated with ARS are so like the symptoms of other illnesses that they can't tell you anything about HIV status. ARS symptoms, if they show up at all, all come at one time and last anywhere from a week or two to slightly longer and then are gone.

unsure1 · « **Reply #14 on:** January 28, 2012, 05:00:14 pm »

Thanks Andy. I appreciate your feedback. I think my last question is, what is the time frame that ARS usually occurs after exposure? I started feeling off the following night and have since felt that way for a week. I have read that ARS doesn't occur until 2-4 weeks after exposure. Is this accurate? Thanks much.

unsure1 · « **Reply #15 on:** January 28, 2012, 07:04:18 pm »

Also, if I did have a case of SARS, is it possible to only occur primarily on one side of the body ie swollen glands etc... ? Thanks.

unsure1 · « **Reply #16 on:** January 28, 2012, 07:04:58 pm »

I mean ARS... sorry for the typo.

RapidRod · « **Reply #17 on:** January 28, 2012, 07:56:42 pm »

ARS if one has it, signs and symptoms do not happen just on one side.

Ann · « **Reply #18 on:** January 29, 2012, 05:35:28 am »

Unsure,

You have not had a risk for hiv infection. Hiv is not transmitted in the way you're imagining and nobody has ever been infected this way. You won't be the first.

Seroconversion symptoms, when they happen at all (not everyone gets any symptoms), they happen two to three weeks after the infection has taken place. Whatever was wrong with you the following night was NOT hiv seroconversion.

Make sure you re-read your entire thread. We've already given you the information you need to know in order to remain hiv negative.

You have NOT had a risk and you do NOT need to test over this happy ending massage. You only need to test if it is part of a COMPLETE sexual health check up. You should be having one of these check ups at least once a year so if it's been more than a year, book an appointment.

Ann

unsure1 · « **Reply #19 on:** January 29, 2012, 10:41:33 am »

Hi Ann,

Thank you so much for your response. I guess my last question for everyone is, if HIV can be transmitted through blood, why is it not possible for infection through this route if i had a cyst at the base of my penis? I am just trying to understand the logic... ie is it too fragile to be transmitted this way? does there have to be a certain amount of blood etc...?

Thank you!

RapidRod · « **Reply #20 on:** January 29, 2012, 12:10:58 pm »

Quote from: unsure1 on January 29, 2012, 10:41:33 am

Hi Ann,

Thank you so much for your response. I guess my last question for everyone is, if HIV can be transmitted through blood, why is it not possible for infection through this route if i had a cyst at the base of my penis? I am just trying to understand the logic... ie is it too fragile to be transmitted this way? does there have to be a certain amount of blood etc...?

Thank you!

HIV is unable to reproduce outside its living host (unlike many bacteria or fungi, which may do so under suitable conditions), except under laboratory conditions; therefore, it does not spread or maintain infectiousness outside its host.

unsure1 · « **Reply #21 on:** January 29, 2012, 12:26:20 pm »

Thanks a million!

Forums Index

Welcome

Welcome to Do I Have HIV?

Author Topic: Condom Effectiveness (Read 6908 times)