POZ Community Forums
HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: plim on July 25, 2009, 10:08:58 am
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At march 20th i had an unprotected sexual relationship.In june 8th i went to take the hiv test.It came back negative.One month after this result,i went back to the clinic to make a last test to reassure,but the nurse told me that i didn't need to do it,because the 10 week test that i took was reliable,that i was negative.So what i want to ask you is if it is really reliable?This 10 week test(more or less 70/80 days) after the exposure.thank you
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Plim
What, exactly, do you mean by "unprotected sexual relationship"? Unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse, or unprotected oral sex or masturbation? You may or may not need a conclusive three month result, depending on what the sex act was.
However, the vast majority of people who have actually been infected will seroconvert and test positive by six weeks, with the average time to seroconversion being only 22 days. A six week (or more) negative result is highly unlikely to change, but must be confirmed at the three month point where there has actually been a risk. Even if you did have a risk, I do not expect your ten week negative to change.
Ann
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Hello Ann.Thank you very much for your answer.For unprotected sexual relationship i mean vaginal intercourse without condom,but ejaculation ocurred outside of vagina.
So altough the 3 month test is more reassuring,can the 10 week negative test be considered reliable?Thank you
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Plim,
Unprotected vaginal intercourse is a risk for hiv infection no matter if you cum inside or outside.
While a ten week negative result is highly unlikely to change (I've never seen one change), here we do go by the three-month-conclusive rule. You'll have to decide for yourself if you need to test again in two to three weeks or if you're happy with ten weeks.
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 all three condom and lube links in my signature line so you can use condoms with confidence.
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.
Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, correctly and consistently, and you will avoid hiv infection. It really is that simple!
Ann