Did I have an HIV risk? (cunnilingus and fingering)

[00101000101]

I had mutual oral sex and fingering with a girl on November 20, 2018. She has since told me that she has been very promiscuous and has recently had many sex partners. I am the exact opposite. We were only together this one time. I haven't been with anyone since. I have good oral hygiene (no gingivitis), but I had little cuts on my cuticle with the fingers I used to finger her.

 -5 days after the encounter - swollen tonsils with white patches and sore throat, swollen lymph nodes in neck

- 7 days after the encounter - went to the doctor and tested for STDs and throat culture. I was diagnosed with Group C Strep of the throat and given prescription for Keflex (antibiotic). All other tests including 4th Generation HIV came back negative.

- 10 days after the encounter - I begin taking the Keflex. The fingers I used to finger her, around my cuticle, look kind of red and inflamed (possibly infected).

- 12 days after the encounter - I begin itching all over my body occasionally, headache, nausea, muscle aches, joint aches (especially in my fingers and toes), runny nose, red eyes, pins and needle feeling around body and in fingers. Often feel out of breath and get out of breath very quickly. I also feel like I can't take deep breaths fully. Also have loss of appetite but I haven't lost weight.

- 17 days after encounter - Still feel flu-like symptoms and begin feeling very hot and sweat easily during the day and at night

- 21 days (3 weeks) after encounter - I begin feeling a little better, muscle aches are subsiding, still feel occasionally nauseous... still kind of sweaty/hot. I have to go on a plane for travel over 5 hours. The girl I was with gets tested for "everything" (her words, not 100% sure if she also got tested for HIV) and she says every test came back negative. I stop taking my antibiotic.

- 28 days (4 weeks) after encounter - still feel sick but slowly feel like I'm getting better

- 35 days (5 weeks) after encounter - most symptoms and muscle aches are pretty much gone, but I begin feeling itchy again and seem flushed and skin "more red" than usual. Seems like I may have started developing a very faint rash on my upper arms, legs (very small red dots, very few), and a few red dots on my torso and low back. I also start getting hives and my hands feel warm and flushed red.

- 40 days after encounter - hives and itch are still there. My lips became very red and sensitive. My face and cheeks got swollen. Occasionally feel like its hard to breath. I start taking Benadryl and the symptoms go away almost instantaneously. I take Benadryl every night for a week.

- now, about 49 days (7 week) - I still get occasional small quick hives, but I'm pretty much feeling back to normal.

I am very worried I contracted something serious from this girl. I'm very scared of HIV. I don't know why I'm typing this. Maybe for words of comfort. I realize my sickness could be totally unrelated to the sex but the possibility of infection with something serious (like HIV or Hepatitis) scare me. Could a lot of my symptoms been from an allergic reaction to my antibiotic? I am allergic to other antibiotics like Penicillin.

I see my doctor again in 3 days and will get tested for everything again. I'm very nervous. If anyone can offer any advice or experience, I would greatly appreciate it.

[Jim Allen]

There has simply never been a documented case of HIV transmission via fingering, despite scrapes and small boo boo's and you will not be the worlds first. Its simply not a route for HIV infection.

As for cunnilingus, see the fluid a woman produces when sexually excited comes from the Bartholin's glands, this is a lubricating fluid and does not have viable or any more hiv present than other bodily secretions such as saliva, sweat or tears. Saliva, sweat and tears are not infectious fluids.

Keep in mind that HIV firstly needs to be present for it to be a risk and in sufficient quantity for it to transmit, it also than needs an effective route, and it must also reach cells which are susceptible to infection.  Simple Cunnilingus does not meet the biological requirements.

All in all nothing you mentioned here was a HIV concern, so you did not acquire HIV from this encounter at least. Relax and move on with your life.

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.

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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[00101000101]

Thank you for your reply. Can you comment on the 6 day post-exposure IV generation HIV test? Was it pointless?

And will a 7 week IV generation HIV test be conclusive?

[Jim Allen]

You had no exposure to test for.

Yes, it was pointless in the sense that you had no exposure to test for from this incident at least and also any test is conclusive over this incident as this incident was no exposure to HIV.

Relax, move on with your life!
 

[00101000101]

Thank you.

[Jim Allen]

You're welcome

[00101000101]

Hi again. Thank you for responding. I am going back to the doctor tomorrow. I feel very anxious. I recently read this thread entitled "how was your seroconversion":

https://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=19298.0

and I am very worried now. Many of the reports and symptoms on there were very similar to my own. I know they say you can't diagnose HIV via symptoms, but I am scared nonetheless. Again, not sure why I am posting this on here. I just worry that maybe I did get it via cunnilingus/fingering a female. Maybe she was newly infected with a high viral load? Very scared. Thank you for reading though, and I'll post my results when I get them.

[Jim Allen]

Nothing you mentioned here was a HIV concern, I've given you a risk assessment for this.  Let me put it like this, if this was your one and only sexual encounter in life than you do not have HIV as you can't acquire HIV the way you fear.

Its a risk assessment not story time regarding what people can or can not recall of think. Now none of your symptoms are HIV specific, in fact some of them have nothing to do with HIV regardless of your status, co-incidence happens, people get sick, people with HIV also get sick from time to time.

Hope you feel better soon

Jim

[00101000101]

Thank you. I go to the doctor in about an hour.

This was my only potential exposure. Last time I had sex was 3-4 months before this. I was in a committed relationship and we are still friends. We both have been tested, and she gives blood frequently. Both negative. My last test was 6 days after this incident (4th Generation HIV) and that came back negative. So, I think it's safe to say I was definitely negative during this incident with this girl.

I am a very healthy person. I take care of myself, work out often, read, don't drink, don't do drugs.

During this incident, I was not drunk. I did not drink any alcoholic drinks actually. I know exactly what occurred. I was totally coherent. I fingered her late at night while simultaneously giving her oral sex. I did not wash my face or brush my teeth after and went to sleep. In the morning, she performed oral on me in the shower for about a minute. I did not finish.

I have not done anything sexual-related or been with anyone since this incident. If the test does not come back negative, I am 100% confidence this incident is the reason.

I have confidence in your expertise and your risk analysis. I was honest with my exposure. However, I am still nervous given my symptoms. I am hoping it was a bad reaction to the antibiotics I was given and maybe suffered some kind of allergy-induced serum sickness (I was taking Doxycycline for acne and Keflex simultaneously, and I am allergic to Penicillin). Also, many of the people I work with were getting sick around the same time, so I hope it was just something relatively benign that I caught from those I work with.

I really appreciate your time and your opinion. I will report back with my results. You are most likely right that I'm negative, but I don't want to risk anything or put anyone else at risk not matter how small the odds are. Thank you again, Jim.

[Jim Allen]

Last time I had sex was 3-4 months before this. I was in a committed relationship and we are still friends. We both have been tested, and she gives blood frequently

.

I think you know I'm going to tell you that despite her testing and given blood, this is accepting a HIV risk.

Anyhow hope you feel better soon

Jim