URGENT: Another "do I need PEP?!" question

[ben89]

First and foremost I know that only a doctor/HIV specialist can answer this question definitively, but I still want advice.

Today I had a very casual encounter with a top that I didn't know previous to our encounter. He talked about drug use so I assume he uses drugs. I also assume he has lots of casual sex. He claims he is HIV negative and recently tested. But I have no reason to believe him.

He covered his penis in spit and partially inserted it into my anus for max 5-10 seconds without a condom. There was no thrusting, no full penetration, no pre-cum, no blood, and after he partially inserted it I stopped him and we stopped having anal sex altogether. It did hurt (he has a large penis) and my anus is a little sore from the partial penetration.

As I don't trust this guy and I feel that he's sketchy, part of me wants to get PEP. I definitely do not want to contract HIV. However, I know about and have seen the terrible side effects of PEP on others and I am very hesitant to start the process if my risk is extremely low. I contacted a friend that work for a HIV prevention organization and he advised me not to worry, the risk is low.

Thoughts? Should I go to an Emergency room and request PEP? Or are my chances low enough to learn my lesson, suck it up, and wait to be tested and hope for the best?

[Jeff G]

The incident you described wasn't a risk for HIV and you do not need PEP for a no risk situation .

[Andy Velez]

Ben, the bottom line in your story is that yes, you did have a risk if you were penetrated. Unprotected receptive anal (and vaginal) intercourse is the highest level a sexual risk for the transmission of HIV. And although as described your "brief" incident was relatively low level risk, low risk is not the same thing as no risk. I know I am disagreeing with Jeff here, but penetration is penetration.

You make a number of negative comments about your partner in this situation. When we evaluate a situation for risk it is always with the assumption that the other partner is HIV positive. You have to accept your responsibility for what happened and hopefully avoid putting yourself at risk similarly again in the future.

As to whether you should do PEP or not, ultimately that decision has to be yours to make. Are you likely to test negatively without doing PEP. I'd say yes, but is it worth taking the chance to be infected just because you don't want to experience some discomfort you might if you do PEP. Such discomfort is temporary. HIV is forever.

If you are going to do PEP you need to get to it as soon as possible. The earlier you do it with the 48-72 period after a risk, the higher the chances are of its effectiveness.

If you do PEP, you can test initially at 6 weeks after concluding the 28 day treatment and conclusively at 3 months after completing PEP.

Good luck with whatever you decide. 

[Jeff G]

Why was this not a risk for HIV? An erect penis was partially inserted in my anus without any kind of protection. Isn't that risky?

My apology's to you Ben . I was answering a question on another page and was interrupted and then I posted incorrectly in your thread .

Andy gave you the correct advice and Im sorry for any confusion I may have caused . Im going to remove the question you posted that I quoted above so that you didn't use a question to ask about my mistake .