POZ Community Forums

HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: worried1416 on January 08, 2007, 04:58:59 pm

Title: Being Tested Tommorrow
Post by: worried1416 on January 08, 2007, 04:58:59 pm

I dated a guy for two months, got pregnant.  Had an HIV test along with a full scope of other tests...tested negative for everything.  I found out last week, when the guy died of Fungal Meningitis due to full blown AIDS, that I had in fact been exposed to HIV.  The last time I was tested was 7 1/2 months after the last time I had sex with him.  I'm really worried about it, so I'm going in tomorrow to be tested again.  It will 11 1/2 months since the last time I was with him.  So my question really is...what are the chances that I have HIV and it wasn't detected 7 1/2 months after last exposure to the virus...also what are the chances that I could possibly have it and it doesn't show up now?  I know my doctor will discuss all of this with me tommorrow, but I'd still like a little bit of reassurance to help me sleep tonight.

Thanks for any comments

Title: Re: Being Tested Tommorrow
Post by: Ann on January 08, 2007, 05:34:15 pm

worried,

Exposure to hiv does not automatically mean infection. You do not need further testing over this. A test a three months (or more) is conclusive.

You do not have hiv.

Please learn from this experience.

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 STIs together. To agree to have unprotected intercourse is to consent to the possibility of being infected with a sexually transmitted infection. Sex with a condom lasts only a matter of minutes, but hiv is forever.

Have a look through the 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 and you will avoid hiv infection.

Ann