Condom question/Risk assessment

[blueboy]

I have a question regarding my specific encounter. I paid a MTF latino tranny for sex about 3 weeks ago in the DC area. I performed protected oral and had protected receptive anal sex. .the oral lasted about 2 minutes and the anal lasted 1-2 minutes. She used lube but I'm not sure what type(water or oil based). I didn't check the condom after we finished so I don't know if it broke or not.

My question is two fold...what are the chances that teeth would create a hole in the condom? Everything seemed to be intact after the oral and I didn't bite or anything. Could a tooth snag it and create a hole in it? How long are condoms good for typically? I ask because my wife baught condoms about 1.5 years ago but I think those were thrown away. These were more than likely purchased within the past 4 months and were never in heat. What are the chances these condoms would break with anal for such a short period of time?

Also, I'm not going to try and diagnose myself with ARS symptoms and I know you are going to tell me you can't use symptoms as an indicator but I'm pretty sure I have experienced no symptoms related to hiv infection. No fever, sore throat, or rash. I had a swollen lymph node in my right neck for about 2 days and my left armpit has soreness every once in a while but that might be typical but I just never noticed before. Basically, I don't feel like I have a cold or flue...I'm not getting sick. Are a lack of noticable symptoms typically a good sign? What is my risk and when should I test for a conclusive result? Thanks for the help and great work on this forum.

[Ann]

blueboy,

You didn't have a risk. Protected intercourse is just that - protected. When a condom breaks it's very obvious and you would have noticed no matter which of you was wearing the condom.

Condom wrappers normally have use-by dates on them, so rather than guess about its age, look at the date. Read through the condom and lube links in my signature line so you can use them correctly and with confidence.

Neither symptoms nor the lack of symptoms will ever tell you a single thing about your hiv status, only testing will. You only need to test if you've had a real risk, which means UNprotected anal or vaginal intercourse. You didn't have a risk.

Ann

[blueboy]

Thanks for the reply. I appreciate it.

[blueboy]

One final question, if I were going to test for peace of mind...how reliable would a 6 week test be? should I wait until 8 weeks? I'm currently deployed and will get a confirmatory test completed when I get back which will be about 15 weeks past the encounter. Also, should I trust a test performed by the military that is sent off to a lab? They would use modern testing, right? Thanks for the help.

[Andy Velez]

A negative at 6 weeks is unlikely to change to positive at 13 weeks. The average time to seroconversion is 22 days. All but the very smallest number of those who are going to seroconvert will do so within 4-6 weeks after a genuine risk.

But I hasten to add that you didn't have a risk. You did exactly what you are supposed to do everytime, you used a condom for intercourse. As long as you do that consistently, whether for vaginal or anal intercourse, you will be well protected against the sexual transmission of HIV.

Nothing you are reporting symptomatically is HIV specific. But then you already know that symptoms are not the way to know your HIV status. If the condom being used had broken you would have known it. When a condom fails it is very apparent because it looks like a hoop with fringe on the penis.

I fully expect you to test negative. And yes, the military would be using a reliable test.

[blueboy]

I appreciate the responses. I don't know how you guys/gals deal with those of us who run to the internet after we regret a sexual encounter and freak out. You do a great job and I find comfort in your words. Thanks.

[Andy Velez]

You're welcome. And I do expect you to come out of this ok. 

[blueboy]

Ok, final question...seriously. As for my experience, what other STI/STDs should I look at getting checked for? I know there are some that are spread by skin-to-skin contact...what are those and should I be concerned about them? Symptoms? How long after the potential exposure should I get checked? Thanks.

[Andy Velez]

We only focus on HIV here. If you're checking for STDs, just get the standard panel of tests done which covers them all.

[blueboy]

Well, I just received the results of my 8.5 week test. It was negative. I had a panel run for all the STIs and I only came up positive for HSV-1 which I have had for years(this is really common, I k now). I didn't have a rectal swab for the Gonno/Chlamydia but I plan on doing that as well as another HIV test once I return to the States.

Should I have faith in these results? How reliable is an 8.5 week test? Thanks for your help.

[Ann]

Blue,

Of course your test came back negative as you never had a risk in the first place. You do not need further testing.

You do not have hiv.

Ann