worrying about my recent exposure and in need of help

[monster84]

I met a girl at a bar and had unprotected sex. We had sex for about 15 minutes, I have tested neg. at 2 weeks for all std's and tested negative at 5 weeks. This girl refuses to get tested and claims she is negative. I have had several  common symptoms that were listed on the cdc website since that time. I know symptoms don't diagnose, but I would like to have a second opinion on my risks as from my opinion. I can really stress my self out and think outside help will calm me down. So if she had hiv and we had unprotescted sex and these symptoms are real, then wouldn't I test positive at the 5 week mark? what are the statistics for a male getting hiv from a female? I am currently awaiting my results for my 8 week test and if it comes back negative should I keep restesting and stressing myself out? I have read this forum and think your expert advice will help me sleep at night and make it to the three month mark with less stress.

[Ann]

Monster,

You did have a risk and you do need to have a conclusive test at the three month point.

The vast majority of people who have actually been infected will seroconvert and test positive by six weeks, with the average time to seroconversion being only 22 days. A negative test at six weeks must be confirmed at the three month point, but is highly unlikely to change.

In fact i don't expect your five week negative to change but if you also test negative at eight weeks, you still need to confirm at three months. That's the guidelines and we stick by them here.

You need to learn from this and start using condoms. 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 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, correctly and consistently, and you will avoid hiv infection. It really is that simple!

Ann

[monster84]

Thank you for your help Ann. I definitely have learned my lesson from this encounter. The stress from that mistake has far out lasted the 15 minutes of sex we had, and I will definetly be wearing protection in the future. That just ended up being the first unprotected/ first one night stand I ever had' I also called the local mayo clinic who said there is currently 400 hiv infected people in our city of 65,000. So that also will call my nerves down considering the risks and chances of getting hiv the first time I had sex with somone of unknown status, which is another big favor for my results because their is a good possibility she has nothing and I am over exadurating. Thank you again Ann

[monster84]

Hey Ann, I got my 8 week blood test back and it is negative for Hiv! only 4 more weeks to go I hope it doesn't change at this point!

[Ann]

monster,

With that eight week negative, I fully expect you to continue to test negative at your conclusive three month test.

Ann

[monster84]

Thank you for your help Ann. It's great to be able to have reassurance from an expert in your feild. You guys are great!

[monster84]

quick ques. Is low hemoglobin an early sign of hiv or is this a result of having taking meds for hiv? I haven't been able to find a direct answer and I know you guys will have the info needed.

[Andy Velez]

The ONLY test which can tell you anything accurately HIV is an HIV-specific test. Other blood-related tests cannot provide that so stop looking for clues and signs.

Like Ann I expect you will come out of this ok.

Cheers.

[monster84]

Thanks Andy, I am really getting close to my 12 week mark and i had a break from stressing after testing neg. at 8 weeks, but my worry kicked in after my doc said i had low hemoglobin of 8.4, it just brought all the stress I was blocking back. I am at my 11th week and so ready to know what the results are. Is it ok to take my test at 11 weeks or should I wait until the 12 week mark? Thank you for your help and I am sorry for asking all these questions.

[Andy Velez]

Wait until 12 weeks. 12 weeks is a recognized testing point in many countries. If you do it any earlier I suspect you will have lingering doubts about not having waited long enough. And hemoglobin numbers do not tell you anything accurately about HIV status.

Good luck with your test and keep us posted.

Cheers.

[monster84]

Thank you guys for all your help during these last couple of months. I have learned so much information about hiv through your website and the forums. 9-3-10 was my 12week plus one day test, and I took the orasure test at my local  clinic. The results were negative!!  From now on, I will only participate in protectected sex, unless me and my partner get a test together. Thank you Ann, and Andy for your quick and knowledgeable answers, bc if it wasn't for you guys I would have worried myself to death. During the last 3 months I read every forum and google every symptom and read so many conflicting statements on other websites and emailed several different people on these websites and only got a response from you guys. Thank you so much!

[Andy Velez]

You're welcome. Glad you received the happy negative test result.

Cheers.