POZ Community Forums
HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: ilovewomen on June 27, 2009, 02:02:12 pm
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I have had a couple of incidents over the last 6 months. I am going to list them to get an idea of whether I should be tested for HIV / I was at risk
1) Last august I got a protected blowjob from a female of unknown status. I tested the oral swab test in October and it came out negative. How reliable is the oral swab test and since I got this done 2 months after exposure, should I get tested again related to this incident?
2) I was at a massage parlor sometime in January / February and during the massage, the masseuse stuck her finger up my ass. I felt her nail or something like that poking. If there were cuts in her finger, could she have infected me when sticking her finger inside me? Could she have cut me with her nails when inserting and could there have been exchange of blood to cause HIV?
3) I was at a different massage parlor and after the massage, I kissed the female's vagina. I did not stick my finger deep inside, but the outside was kind of wet and I licked it for about 15 to 20 seconds. I did not lick more than that but I think there was definitely some fluid. I just rubbed the outside with my finger for sometime. Can I get HIV through licking her vagina?
4) I was at the same massage parlor and with a different female, I ended up licking her ass for about 15-20 seconds. I did touch her ass with my finger and finger went in a little, just a little when she stopped. I just got a handjob from her after that. Do I have HIV risk from licking her ass?
5) I was at a strip club once and during the lap dance, I ended up kissing the stripper. It was a pretty deep kiss and there was definitely tongue exchange. I have this habit of biting my lip and not sure if my lips would have been bleeding at that time. The kissing was prolonged and lasted for about 5-8 minutes. I know saliva inhibits HIV, but what about lips. What if there was blood in my lips and somehow she had some blood in her mouth. Can I get HIV from this exposure?
I have just been freaking out about getting HIV. I ended up getting cellulitis on my feet and the doctor told me I might have got it because of weakened immune system. I read about cellulitis online and they said HIV can cause one's immune system to weaken and thereby cause cellulitis. I am extremely worried that I have HIV. I have not been sleeping properly for days thinking that I might have gotten HIV. Please give me answers for my exposure. I would like to know if there is any chance I might have gotten HIV from my exposure.
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Not one of the situations your have mentioned was a risk of contracting HIV.
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Read our lesson on Transmission. There's a link to it in the welcome thread which opens this section. It covers the basics.
You'll see that nothing you have reported represented any kind of a possible risk for HIV transmission.
It's really very simple. Use condoms everytime for vaginal or anal intercourse and you will be well protected for sexual transmission of HIV. Yes, it really is just that simple.
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Thanks. I read the transmission lessons. It mentions the following about Oral Vaginal Sex
"However, there have been case reports highlighting one case of female-to-female transmission of HIV via cunnilingus and another case of female-to-male transmission of HIV via cunnilingus. Both of these cases involved transmission from receptive partner (the one receiving oral sex) to the insertive partner (the one performing oral sex). There haven't been any documented cases of HIV transmission from the insertive partner to the receptive partner."
Since I performed the licking, does that put me at risk? Also, why doesnt kissing transmit HIV if the contact is just lip to lip (without saliva)...If both lips are bleeding, wont that cause HIV?
Thank you for your time and patience.
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ILW,
TWO cases of suspected oral transmission from cunnilingus in over 25 years of this pandemic and you're worried? Forget about it. Going down on a woman is NOT a risk for hiv transmission. In those two cases, other risk factors were involved - namely unprotected intercourse with someone. The only reason they ever got reported was because the person who was infected thought they knew where their infection came from. They were wrong.
Hiv transmission doesn't stand a chance of happening via female genitals to mouth - there are just too many obstacles on the oral route.
The first obstacle is the mouth itself. The mouth is a veritable fortress, standing against all sorts of pathogens we come into contact with every minute of our lives. It's a very hostile environment and saliva has been shown to contain over a dozen different proteins and enzymes that damage hiv.
Hiv is a very fragile virus - literally. Its outer surface doesn't take kindly to changes in its preferred environment; slight changes in temperature, moisture content and pH levels all damage the outer surface. Importantly, it needs this outer surface to be intact before it can latch onto a few, very specific cell types and infect.
Which leads to the second obstacle. Hiv can only latch onto certain types of cells, cells which are not found in abundance in the mouth.
The third obstacle to transmission this way is having hiv present in the first place. The female secretion where hiv has been shown to be present is the cervicovaginal fluid. This fluid is actually a thick mucus that covers and protects the cervix.
The fluid a woman produces when sexually excited comes from glands located on either side of the vaginal opening. I have yet to discover one shred of evidence (and believe me, I've looked) that shows this lubricating fluid to have any more hiv present than other bodily secretions such as saliva, sweat or tears. Saliva, sweat and tears are NOT infectious fluids.
So there you have it. Once the results of the serodiscordant studies started rolling in, what we know about hiv transmission on the cellular level was validated. The only people who were getting infected were those who had unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse. Period. One of the three studies went on for ten years and involved hundreds of couples. That's a lot of nookie.
Nothing you did or had done to you was a risk for 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 sexually transmitted infections together. To agree to have unprotected intercourse is to consent to the possibility of being infected with an STI. Sex without 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 ANY OF THE SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES YOU BRING TO US, 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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Thanks for such a detailed reply. I guess I got scared much more after I got cellulitis on my legs and doctor told me that my immune system may have become weak. If I test now based on the incidents that I have mentioned, is there any chance I could still be positive? (Last question)
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Could you test positive? Sure you could. But that's only because theoretically anytime you have sex with other than your own hand you are THEORETICALLY at risk for HIV transmission.
Nothing you are reporting including cellulitis and a possibly weakened immune systeme are HIV specific events.
And yes, I expect you to test negative.
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thanks you guys
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ILW,
You only have a chance of testing positive is you've been having unprotected intercourse that you haven't told us about, or have been sharing street drug injecting equipment with anyone. Otherwise, you're not going to test positive. Nothing you've brought to us has been a risk.
Ann
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Thanks Ann....I have pretty much written every exposure I have had..If I am not going to be honest in an anonymous forum and skip things then I have a lot to lose....Thanks for your answers and assurance.
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I decided to do testing. I am freaking out. I thought my immune system problems would go away, but they still keep coming. I purchased the home access kit and sent my sample. I am really tensed up now. Is there any way I could test positive based on the incidents I have mentioned? I am just totally freaking out. I need to wait till monday for the results.
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You need to get busy with other things for the next few days. And don't bother saying you're too worried to do that. That response is not going to fly here.
As Ann has told you, as long as you have reported accurately here then there is no reason to doubt that you will test negative, no matter what your mind says to the contrary.
Now, get on with other things and lay off of all this drama. Really.
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I opened this thread to see if I could help with an answer to HIV exposure, but it seems all has been covered by RapidRod's first reply.
I myself came to the same conclusion when I read each of your accounts before I even read Rapid's reply. Why should it be amazing that four people (myself, Ann, RapidRod and Andy) came to the same conclusion that there is nothing here that would put you at a serious risk of getting HIV? Because it's the truth.
I guess the only thing I wanted to add is that if HIV is such a worry for you, it might be a good idea to adjust your sexual activities so you don't put yourself at risk of worrying about it? I mean if you worry about HIV doing the things you mention, maybe you shouldn't do them in that way, or at least consider another method of satisfying your sexual desires? If having sexual contact with people leads to you worrying this much, maybe it is time to reconsider how you do it?
Your HIV test will almost certainly come out negative, but I would try and rethink what you do if it leads to you worrying that much.
R
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Thanks for posting this. I know, I think I need to reconsider my lifestyle. I have definitely been losing sleep over the last couple of months and I am stressed out. I just got my Home Access Results and it was negative. Thanks for the reassurance.
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Hi. Its been a long time since I posted a question here. I did not have any specific incident or exposure but rather came across an interesting discussion in one of the other sites and thought will ask you guys.
The discussion was about HIV and fingering. As you guys say unprotected vaginal and anal sex is the root cause of HIV with more risks via Anal than Vaginal. Also, HIV is transmitted inside the body (inside vagina / anus). The discussion was, what is the difference if someone puts his finger in a anus to putting his penis inside an anus. Let's assume that there is a cut in the finger. If there is a cut in the finger, in what way is putting a finger into an Anus different from putting a penis into an anus. Both are inside the body and both have a route for transmission right.
I know that the answer is only vaginal and anal sex, but the curiosity in me wants to know the reason why digital anal is not a risk (assuming there is a cut in the finger) and finger is shoved in deep enough. Thanks for taking the time to read and answer this.
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If you are getting negative test results, you haven't acquired any HIV. As far as a cut finger, what percentage of people running around in the public at large have cut fingers? a very, very, small number. Even if they did have a cut, It would have to be bleeding or weeping for the virus to leak out of them assuming they were positive in the first place. Then on top of that you would have to get an anal tear of some sort for the virus to enter your body. There are many on these forums that have had unprotected anal insertive male on male sex for years before the became infected. Some Have been infected in short order, but infection does not instantly happen in every case. Nearly 10 years went by before I became infected from my wife. You have a much higher chance of getting another STD than HIV. Get tested for all the STD's, be safe and kick back and relax. As long as you neg, & 2 are safe from now on out, you should have nothing to worry about. A lot of things can produce a poor immune response. pregnancy, allergies, lupis, the list goes on. I am sure your doctor has checked.
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Thanks for the reply. So what you are saying is the finger has to be bleeding at that time (it has to be a fresh cut) and there has to be bleeding in the ass at the same time. But if both those things are there, then it is possible for HIV to be transmitted that way? I am just trying to ascertain if HIV can be acquired through the finger (for the person inserting it). So if the finger is bleeding then there is no difference between putting a penis into the anus and finger into the anus?
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We're not interested in "interesting discussions." We focus here on specific incidents and evaluate them for risk or non-risk.
Fingering is not a risk for HIV transmission. I've never known of a single confirmed case of transmission through that quite common sexual activity.
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ok...I stuck my finger up a woman's ass. I had a cut on my finger. It was a very small cut and was definitely red and I could see some blood with open skin. It wasnt bleeding at that time, but there definitely was a cut, no doubt. I inserted it inside this woman's ass for at least 10 minutes. Not very deep, but definitely not just the rim. I inserted it inside(maybe deep enough). Since my finger had a cut, what are my chances of contacting HIV this way.
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It has been 5 months since you first presented the question. That has been several times over ample time for you to have produced antibodies indicative of HIV presence in your blood if HIV were present. If you test negative, then you are negative. You have to remember, she would have had to have been bleeding rectally also for your hypothesis to give even a small chance. Have a quick test at your county health clinic and then get on with your life safely. Don't take any risks and live negative to a very ripe old age with a big smile on your face. ;)
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well..it not the same old incident...this time its a new incident....and this time i had my finger in her ass for a long time.....that's why i am worried.
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So if she was bleeding rectally, do you mean bleeding profusely or having small tears that have some blood present. Please let me know what are my chances of getting HIV if she was bleeding rectally and since i had a small cut in my finger.
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pos2007, you are not permitted to post in this forum.
If you read the Welcome Thread (http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=220.0) before posting like you're supposed to, you will have read the following posting guideline:
Only those Moderators and members who are authorized to answer questions in the Am I Infected? forum are permitted do so. Unauthorized responses may be deleted without permission of the poster. Repeatedly posting replies of this nature may result in a Time Out or permanent ban, at the discretion of the Moderator Team.
Please consider yourself warned!
Ann
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ilw,
I'm sorry an unauthorised poster managed to come in and reply to your question. His advice is wrong. Not one person has ever been infected through fingering and you are not going to be the first. Hiv can only infect a very few, very specific types of cells and these cells are not found in the upper layers of the skin. You didn't have a risk with this fingering incident, just like your other fingering incident. Fingering is fingering and fingering is NOT a risk for hiv infection. End of story.
Re-read your entire thread. Our answers are not going to change.
Ann
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I understand that the skin on the finger is different compared to the skin on the tip of a penis or any mucuos membrane. But what I dont understand is how can we discount the presence of blood or a fresh cut on the finger?
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Are you bothering to actually read what is said to you? Ann has specifically commented on the nature of the skin on your finger and why it is not a means for transmission.
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If nature of skin does not cause the virus to be transmitted, then why is it still considered a theoritical risk. Even if there are cuts, if the nature of skin prevents the transmission of HIV, then shouldnt fingering be considered a no risk activity. I dont mean to argue, but just trying to understand how it can be ruled out completely.
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Anyone who continues to post excessively, questioning a conclusive negative result or no-risk situation, will be subject to a four week Time Out (a temporary ban from the Forums). If you continue to post excessively after one Time Out, you may be given a second Time Out which will last eight weeks. There is no third Time Out - it is a permanent ban. The purpose of a Time Out is to encourage you to seek the face-to-face help we cannot provide on this forum.
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ILW,
Finger is NOT considered a theoretical risk, it's considered NO RISK. As you've been repeatedly told.
f you read the Welcome Thread (http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=220.0) before posting like you're supposed to, you will have read the following posting guideline:
Anyone who continues to post excessively, questioning a conclusive negative result or no-risk situation, will be subject to a four week Time Out (a temporary ban from the Forums). If you continue to post excessively after one Time Out, you may be given a second Time Out which will last eight weeks. There is no third Time Out - it is a permanent ban. The purpose of a Time Out is to encourage you to seek the face-to-face help we cannot provide on this forum.
Please consider yourself warned!
Ann