POZ Community Forums
HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: Panda78 on September 12, 2007, 09:34:45 pm
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Hello All
I was hoping you would be able to assist me in understanding what my risks were and whether or not I am being paranoid about my incident.
Three and a half weeks ago, I had visited a CSW. We were involved in mutual masturbation for about 15 minutes, followed by protected vaginal intercourse for another 20 mins. After I had finished, I checked the condom. It was intact and there was no leakage. Point to note is that when I was putting on and taking off the condom, some of her fluid may have got on to my penis. Although I was careful, I'm not sure on this point.
The reason I am concerned is that three days ago (approx 3 weeks after possible exposure), I got a sore throat and low grade fever which I still have not been able to shake off. Concerned, I went and had a HIV Antibody test, which came out negative.
Given the above information, could my low-grade fever and sore throat and general unwellness be ARS?
Was I at risk here? 3 and a half week test is not very accurate right? Should I re-test at 6 and 13 weeks?
I look forward to receiving your thoughtful advice.
Thank you so much.
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If anyone would kindly comment, that would be much appreciated.
Very stressed here.
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Panda,
You can stop stressing, Studly.
You do not need to test for HIV because of this incident. HIV is not transmitted via mutual masturbation or protected vaginal intercourse.
Please take the time to read our Welcome Thread (http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=220.0) and follow the links to our Lessons to learn more about how HIV is and is not transmitted.
MtD
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Thank you for your response Matty.
So my sore throat, mild fever, runny nose and cough I can conclude is not caused by ARS?
In general, how accurate is a 3.5 week test? Is no further testing reqquired in my case?
Cheers
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Symptoms mean nothing when it comes to diagnosing HIV. Not everyone who contracts HIV has a symptomatic seroconversion. Not only that, the symptoms some people get during seroconversion are indistinguishable from those of many other infections.
It's all about risk behaviours and your behaviours (mutual masturbation and protected fucking) are not ways in which HIV can be transmitted, so you don't need to test at all.
MtD
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Panda,
I agree with Matty, you didn't have a risk.
For future reference:
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 with 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.
Although you do NOT need to test over this specific incident, 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
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Matty, Ann
Thank you both