Unsure of exposure/Is this ARS? 25M/heterosexual

[tiger423]

Hello, I am glad to have found this community. Please share your insight concerning my post.

Im a 25 yo M.

I had heterosexual sex with a Zambian immigrant, not a sex worker of unknown HIV status.

After sex was initiated she says oh i felt my period was starting. I say ok, im too aroused, so we continue in the shower. while having sex i notice the shower is becoming colored doe to her menses, as it flowed past me feet. I continue for less than ten minutes, and finish in the condom. All vaginal sex was protected. I also received brief unprotected oral sex. Another thing that occurred, I rubbed my penis head on her vagina unprotected for 3-4 seconds in the shower. It was not inserted beyond the labias.  this occurred under a running shower.

Three weeks later exactly I have some symptoms that suggest ARS.

-100.2 fever that lasted about 48 hours, with muscle aches.
-6 to 10 mosquito bite like rashes that have shown up on my back shoulders and neck. came about after the fever subsided, and remained for about 36 hours.
-HSV1 outbreak on my lip, I usually get 1 or 2 a year.

I am scared to death that I may have HIV. What does everyone think? Please share anything you have to offer!

[Jeff G]

Hi Tiger , you didn't have a risk . You had protected intercourse and that is not a risk for HIV . HIV is fragile and easily damaged when exposed to oxygen so there was no risk for rubbing your penis on her vagina . Oral sex is not a risk .

As long as you use condoms correctly for vaginal or anal sex you will avoid HIV .
Remember to get checked out for other STD's that are much easily transmitted than HIV and can linger without obvious symptoms for long periods of time , so get your regular sexual health checkups .   

[jkinatl2]

Hello!

You have not had a risk for HIV, because you used a condom for penetrative sex. That is the ONLY documented, quantifiable risk for HIV.

HIV is a very fragile virus and cannot remain viable outside the body. The menses in the shower is absolutely NOT a risk. Not even if you have cuts, scratches, old wounds, or anything else.

And, of course, getting oral sex from her was zero risk. Not only is saliva not infectious, but it also contains over a dozen identified elements that inhibit HIV and render it incapable of infecting. No one has EVER gotten HIV from that activity and you certainly won't be the first.

I am sorry you have felt unwell. You can be reassured that it had NOTHING to do with HIV infection because you had no risk.

Continue wearing a condom for penetrative vaginal and anal sex and you will avoid HIV. It really IS that simple.