Over thinking it....

[OverthinkingIT]

Hello, 

I had an encounter with a female and had unprotected vaginal sex. The moment got the best of me which landed me in this predicament. From the very first day after encounter, I had this feeling that I might have been exposed to something but didn't know what. I had terrible itching all over my body. There was no rash or anything that suggested other wise. But then other symptoms started to show up- "hairy tounge" all white not brown or black. I had these very small slightly raised red bumps ( very small in size ) around 8-9 of them total mostly around the neck and my left arm showed up but they did not hurt or itched or burned or anything. At this point, I was stressed out, panicked, and lost all appetite. On Day 42 after said encounter I went got a HIV-1 blood test done. It came back negative.

The itching has subsided but those raised red bumps are still there but they look to be drying up. I do plan to get another test done on the 3 month mark. I haven't had any fever, night sweats, sore throat, joint aches or any other symptoms associated with HIV. I did have a mild cough for one night but it didnt repeat after.

I was wondering if anyone could tell me what this might be? Or did the test show up negative because it was too "early". Before some says, I should head to a doctor and get the bumps looked at, I'm and the earliest I could get in is 12/5/11.

I appreciate any input anyone can share with me.

Thank You

[Andy Velez]

OK, unprotected intercourse is definitely a risk.

However, HIV is significantly harder to transmit from female to male than the other way around. And it was a single incident. The average time to seroconversion is 22 days. All but the smallest number of those who are going to seroconvert will do so within 4-6 weeks after an exposure. So that negative result you received is very significant and is a strong indication you will continue to test negative at 3 months.

If your symptoms persist you should discuss them with your doctor. We can't diagonose anything here.

You do need to learn from this experience. In the future everytime you have vaginal or anal intercourse you need to wear a condom. No exceptions. Unprotected intercourse is the only confirmed risk for the sexual transmission of HIV.

Good luck when you re-test. I expect you to come out of this ok.

[OverthinkingIT]

Andy,

Thank you for your input. Yes it is a very valuable lesson and I'm confident in my self not repeat this mistake ever again.

I do have a question on what kind of test should I get done. Is blood test in other words called a western blot test? Is this the most reliable for the 3 month mark?

Thank You Again for your help.

[RapidRod]

WB are confirmatory tests not diagnostic. Any antibody test for HIV will suffice.

[Ann]

OTI,

You need to make sure you test for all the other more easily transmitted STIs as well. You're much more likely to end up with chlamydia or gonorrhea from a situation like this. These (and other) STIs can often be present with no obvious symptoms, so the only way to know for sure is to test.

Here's what you need to know in order to avoid hiv infection:

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 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.

Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, correctly and consistently, and you will avoid hiv infection. It really is that simple!

Ann

[OverthinkingIT]

RR and Ann, thank you both for your input.

Ann I scheduled a test for getting a blood test checkup on most common STI. I will report my finds soon.

Thank You

[OverthinkingIT]

Hello Again,

I did end up going to the doctor and I was infected with chlamydia. I start antibiotics today and hopefully it will be out of my system when the cycle is complete. 

I will still get tested on the 3 month mark for HIV.

I learned an extremely valuable lesson here, practice safe sex!

Thank You

[Andy Velez]

Good lesson to have learned. I am expecting a negative result for you.

[Ann]

OTI,

I'm happy to hear that you got tested for the other, more easily transmitted STIs. All too often people here focus on hiv to the exclusion of everything else.

Make sure you get re-tested after your course of antibiotics is finished to make sure it's been cleared.

Like Andy, I also fully expect you to continue to test hiv negative.

Make sure you read through the condom and lube links in my signature line.

Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, correctly and consistently, and you will avoid hiv infection (and chlamydia too!). It really is that simple!!!

Ann