Potential exposure from giving oral

[Kaenkun]

Hello, I got a text last Monday from a guy I hooked up with saying that he tested positive for HIV. We hooked up three times and I only ever gave him blowjobs. He finished in my mouth twice but I never swallowed and he finished on himself once. I went to an urgent care center for an HIV test and the doctor told me since it had only been 38 days since exposure I would need to come back at 3 months for another test. I did the test anyway and it was a 4th Gen ag/ab test and it came back negative. I've googled the test over and over and found sources that state it gives an accurate reading at 20 days and some have said at 4 weeks it's 95% accurate.

I know that oral is a low risk but I've read that if he had been recently exposed to the virus that he could have had an extremely high viral load which can increase the chances. I also had a root canal 2-3 weeks before but it was sealed and I had a temporary crown in. So me having generalized anxiety and health anxiety naturally I've been freaking out since Monday. I fully plan on getting another test in November, but I would just really love some peace of mind until then because 2 months is such a long wait for this uncertainty.

Thanks everyone for your help and advice.

[Jim Allen]

The root canal 3 weeks prior was not a route and changes nothing.

See the virus is very fragile, and your mouth has dozens of protein and enzymes that damage the virus and render it unable to infect. There is no need to panic or to run test every time you give a blowjob, its a theoretical risk if you had gaping open wounds in your mouth, as in meth mouth/open bleeding holes and even if you had gaping wounds we would still not recommend running out to test.

If you ever do have an exposure worth testing over than, test with an approved HIV antibodies test at 6 weeks post incident and again at 3 months for a conclusive result. 4th gen has indeed high confidence at 4 weeks, conclusive at 3 months.

Again relax, my advice is to move on with your life and just get tested for HIV the next time you are due for a regular checkup, you have no reason to stress or worry about this incident. 

Here's what you need to know in order to avoid hiv infection:
Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, correctly and consistently, every time, no exceptions. Consider starting PrEP as an additional layer of protection against HIV

Keep in mind that some sexual practices which may be described as ‘safe’ in terms of HIV transmission might still pose a risk for transmission of other STI's, so please do get fully tested regularly and at least yearly for all STI's including but not limited to HIV and test more frequently if unprotected intercourse occurs

Also note that it is possible to have an STI and show no signs or symptoms and the only way of knowing is by testing.

More information on HIV Basics, PEP, TaSP and Transmission can be found through the links in my signature to our POZ pages, this includes information on HIV Testing

Kind regards

Jim

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[Kaenkun]

I really hate to obsess over this and keep asking questions but I recently got a little cluster of canker sores on the roof of my mouth and my anxiety has convinced me that I have this virus and I can’t think of anything else. I don’t know if I’m going to last two months like this with this stress. I know I got a negative on the 4th gen test at 38 days but the fact it isn’t conclusive is just not enough for my mind.

[Jim Allen]

See a doctor and treat the sores if needed. It simply has nothing to do with HIV regardless of your HIV status.

Regarding the HIV risk,  I'm not going to pretend / entertain that you had a real world concern requiring testing when you did not.

Test for peace of mind, if that helps you put this behind you as per the testing guidelines I mentioned in my previous post.

Jim