Risk Assessment

[eluvium]

   On February 5, 2016 I had an unprotected sexual encounter with another man, whose status I was unaware of. I topped him bareback, but for some reason I couldn't quite get hard enough to fully penetrate him and stopped after a couple of minutes of trying. I believe, I was able to insert the tip of my penis, but that's about it.
    Fast forward three days later, I sensed a burning sensation while peeing and saw a doctor. The doctor ran a blood and urine test, gave me 1 gram of azithromycin and told me that he'd call if I needed more antibiotics. Turns out, I contracted gonorrhea and was given an intramuscular injection of ceftriaxone a couple days after I saw him. Before I was given the injection, he confirmed that I was negative for Hep B, HIV, etc. Fast forward to this week and I am feeling a bit under the weather. I'm having flu-like symptoms but a low-grade fever, my body feels very warm and yet my extremities are cold. I can normally tolerate cold temperatures very well, but I've been feeling cold even though it's only 30-40 degrees out (as opposed to it being below 10 during this time of year). My question is what is my risk? Is it pretty high or relatively low? I mean, I was able to contract gonorrhea from this guy so I'm worried that I also got HIV from him as well.
I'm getting a rapid test done next week to reduce my anxiety. I know that the test is not going to be conclusive but I feel like it will help with me feeling better about the situation. I do plan on getting tested once it's been six weeks, then three months, and then six months after my exposure just to be on the safe side. Thanks for taking the time to read this and I hope you guys can help.

[Jim Allen]

Hi,

So firstly your symptoms have absolutely nothing to do with hiv and we do not discuss them, so please speak to your doctor about what is making you sick.

Now I have read your post twice and in essence you are unsure if you did or did not penetrate, so for this risk assessment I am going to presume you did. The only risk you had for HIV Transmission than was a brief unprotected dipping incident as the (Top) insertive partner, now as you were the insertive partner it would be less risk than being the receiving partner.

However that said unprotected dipping is still a risk and so testing would be advisable. Note that you don''t need to test at 6 months past exposure. 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

Here's what you need to know in order to avoid hiv infection:
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 (STI's) sexually transmitted infections together.

If you are sexually active, it is highly recommended that you get a full sexual health check-up / screening at least annually including but not limited to hiv testing.

Remember 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 for all STI's including HIV and 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.

Finally use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, correctly and consistently, to avoid sexually trasmitted hiv infection.

Kind regards

Jim

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