Can't stop worrying

[tommc90]

Hi everyone
Earlier today I slept with a sex worker and wore a condom,after I pulled out a masturbated for 10 seconds or so when I noticed a slight tear in the condom just below the head of my penis,when I rubbed the condom the whole top of the condom came away.After this I removed the condom and discarded it and went no further with the worker.Was wondering what chance I have of catching hiv of the sex worker was positive? Thanks

P.s I am.unsure wether or not the tear occured whilst I was inside of her or if I did it myself

[Ptrk3]

It depends on whether the tear occurred within the sex worker or not, and I can't tell you that.  If it did occur within the sex worker, then there was the potential for unprotected sex and, therefore, a risk, however small.  If the tear occurred after you withdrew, then there is no risk.

Presuming that the tear occurred within the sex worker and the condom's integrity was compromised, and you had unprotected sex, here are the estimated "chances" of infection:

https://www.verywell.com/what-activities-are-of-high-and-low-risk-for-hiv-49117

Whether you get tested because of the facts in your incident is your decision, but if you do, you should test for HIV antibodies six weeks past exposure then at 13 weeks past exposure for confirmation.

[tommc90]

Thanks for the reply,
It was a small tear approx 5-6mm long around the base of the head of the penis and there's a good chance it occured from a sharp finger nail of mine after I had pulled out as any friction from intercourse would have torn the top of it completely off as it took me hardly an effort to do so after I had seen it

I am going to take a test at 6 weeks tho just to be 100% sure

[Jim Allen]

Hi

Yeah look as Patrick said if the condom broke during the intercourse it would have been a risk.

So i would advise testing , guidelines are to test at 6 weeks past any incident and then at 13 weeks to confirm the result.  You can read about testing here:HIV Testing

Don't forget to test for easier to transmit STI's and going forward test at least yearly for STI's including but not limited to HIV.

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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[tommc90]

Thanks for the replies
Plucked up the courage to ring the THT direct phone line and explained in detail what occured,she said there was a very minute chance of any vaginal fluid reaching the urethra due to the small cut being at the bottom of the head of the penis and said it wouldn't be a priority for me to be tested at 28 days using a 4th gen duo test but to simply keep up with my 6th monthly STD/hiv checks

Does this sound correct?

[Jim Allen]

Hi

Yeah look I don't want to scare you and I can comment on what someone else said who you called .

Its simply was a risk and following a real world risk we recommend specific testing for both HIV and STI's. The condom broke, and resulted in what we are presuming is unprotected intercourse, we have no way of dismissing that risk and it is the main sexual route for transmission..

I know that your looking at the % and probabilities of HIV transmission per single exposure, keep in mind they are just averages, and estimates. Using % to understand a personal risk is a poor tool as they are general ballpark figures that do not reflect the many factors that can raise and lower risk, such as acute infection would increase the risk dramatically some estimates are 26 times the risk.

UK Testing guidelines are the same as ROI or US for that matter. From the bhiva "British HIV association" : Although fourth generation tests shorten the time from exposure to seroconversion a repeat test at three months is still recommended to definitively exclude HIV infection.

Jim