POZ Community Forums
HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: Draineh on March 28, 2017, 01:38:39 am
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Hi All,
I'm writing with a question giving me extreme anxiety and I'd like some insight. I recently had an oral sex exposure to HIV with a positive partner that informed me after that he had stopped taking medication for about 2 weeks. I had tested a week after exposure and was negative for HIV but Positive for gonorrhea. How does this change my risk for hiv infection given it was oral sex, no ejeculation. There was precum however the moment he put his penis into my mouth. I had stopped immediately after tasting it and began to lick shaft instead avoiding the head. My doctors say this is low risk (essentially zero) still.
Thanks for you advice
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Hi
Look I read you post carefully, nothing you mentioned changes the assessment.
The virus is very fragile, and your mouth has dozens of protein and enzymes that damage the virus and render it unable to infect. If what you posted is your only concern there is no need to panic, worry or run out and test. Just get tested the next time you are due for a regular checkup.
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 (https://poz.com/basics/hiv-basics/hiv-testing)
Kind regards
Jim
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Hi,
Back again with a negative result at the four week point (27 days). It has definitely calmed my anxiety. I'm not here to ask how conclusive this result is, chances are given my low risk situation, they may remain negative. But I want to say thank you Poz forum.
I do have a question about when I should test again, my doctor seemed vague when he answered it. He said my results are pretty conclusive in a 4 week antibody test. But I should test in another 3 weeks if I want, and when I come in for PrEP (I'm excited to start it). Is that necessary?
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Generally, testing guidelines for HIV antibodies suggest a timeline of six weeks after potential exposure then 13 weeks past potential exposure for confirmation.
However, since you had virtually no risk to begin with, your doctor is likely quite confident that your test is "conclusively" negative. Since he said, you should test again in another three weeks if you want (if you need further peace of mind), I would take him at his word: test again, if you want.
I have no opinion as to whether further testing in "necessary," in consideration of our set of facts, but I would expect further testing to also be negative for the incident you described in your original post.