POZ Community Forums
HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: unsure101 on February 10, 2013, 10:41:50 pm
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Hey everyone:) i would like to start by saying how amazing the people are on here taking time to really help people out:) so thanks alot!
I am a little unsure on some research iv been doing on the internet. it all starts with i have been real irresponsible and have given oral sex to 4 men of unknowen status. Do i need to get tested? i am extremley worried.
Thanks alot for taking time out to answer this question.
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Hey everyone:) i would like to start by saying how amazing the people are on here taking time to really help people out:) so thanks alot!
I am a little unsure on some research iv been doing on the internet. it all starts with i have been real irresponsible and have given oral sex to 4 men of unknowen status. Do i need to get tested? i am extremley worried.
Thanks alot for taking time out to answer this question.
Hello!
While I recommend that every sexually active person who is not in a mutually monogamous relationship get a full STD panel (including, of course, an HIV test) every six months, the activities you describe do not necessitate an HIV test.
There have been no fewer than three long term studies of serodiscordant couples (where one partner is positive and one is negative) that lasted three, five and ten years. The couples used condoms for penetrative anal and vaginal sex, but chose not to use barrier protection for oral sex of any kind. At the end of these studies, not a single person seroconverted due to oral activity. Not one.
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Thanks alot for the quick reply! So regardless of how im feeling and symptoms right now they are not HIV related ? do you recommend i get tested for HIV in relation to the incidents im talking about?
Once again thanks so much
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Thanks alot for the quick reply! So regardless of how im feeling and symptoms right now they are not HIV related ? do you recommend i get tested for HIV in relation to the incidents im talking about?
Once again thanks so much
Well symptoms are a lousy indicator of HIV infection for the most part. It's flu season, after all. That's why we normally do not discuss them in detail.
While you have a low but real risk of acquiring another STD from performing fellatio, I would not advise an HIV test specifically over the incidents that you describe.
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So i can safley put the worry of HIV out my mind and get on with my life? Because i have a funny feeling that alot of my symptoms are through stress.
And again thanks alot use really are helpful.
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Unsure,
If the only thing that will ease your mind is a test, go test. As a sexually active adult you should be testing at least once a year anyway, so you may as well start now and get into the habit of doing so.
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 DON'T NEED TO TEST FOR HIV SPECIFICALLY OVER ORAL, 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