Recent exposure and now have most ARS symptoms!

[smeyer459]

Hello,

I would appreciate any and all advice on my situation.  I recently had an exposure with a CSW 53 days ago (7.5 weeks ago). I remember fingering her (I'm a nail biter so I'm worried that somehow her vaginal fluid might have entered by bloodstream) and then having vaginal intercourse for about 20 minutes with a condom (the condom didn't slip out but I think it might have been broken..not sure).  I wasn't too worried until 49 days ago (7 weeks later) when I developed a fever, sore throat, night chills, diarrhea, muscle pain (pretty much all the symptoms of ARS and then I started FREAKING out).  I still have the fever/flu four days later but yesterday I went to get a rapid HIV test from the clinic (52 days post exposure...7.5 weeks) and it came back negative.

I have two questions:
1. Even though I got a negative test 7.5 weeks later, the fact that I had a fever (potential ARS symptoms) during the test, could that compromise the results of the test? They say that a compromised immune system may result in inaccurate tests?

2. I've also heard that it can take up to 7-10 days post ARS symptoms for you to develop HIV antibodies so I'm still worried now?

Thanks so much in advance as I'm extremely worried!

[Ann]

smeyer,

1. You tested negative because you did NOT have a risk for hiv infection. You do not need further testing at this time. You do NOT have hiv.

Fingering isn't a risk. Not one person has ever been infected through fingering, and this includes people who bite their nails.

Protected intercourse is just that, protected. Condoms have been proven to prevent hiv infection.

There have been three long-term studies of couples where one is positive and one is negative. In the couples who used condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, but no barrier for oral activities, not one of the negative partners became infected with hiv. Not one.

2. The vast majority of people who have actually been at risk (you weren't at risk) and  infected will seroconvert and test positive by six weeks, with the average time to seroconversion being only 22 days. This is true regardless of symptoms or the lack of symptoms.

When there has actually been a risk (you were NOT at risk!), a six week negative must be confirmed at the three month point, but is highly unlikely to change. YOUR test result is NOT going to change because you have NOT been at risk.



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.

ALTHOUGH YOU DO NOT NEED FURTHER 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!

Ann

[smeyer459]

Thanks a lot Ann.

Just a quick follow-up. Assuming I was at risk, does having a flu and fever compromise the accuracy of the rapid test? I started having a fever three days before I got the test so I'm not sure what that means. The comforting part is that I got tested 52 days post exposure and that's pretty rare to seroconvert after 52 days right despite having a fever/flu during days 49-52?

[Andy Velez]

No, having a flu and fever would not compromise the accuracy of your test result.

And no, we're not going to assume you had a risk because you didn't. You are worrying needlessly.

Get on with your life.