risk? more tests?

[wrdguy]

About 14 weeks ago I had an encounter with a pos guy. Since I wasn't planning on any penetration or anything I didn't think much of it. We  just did frottage and mutual masturbation. I'm certain there was no penetration, but I did have a hemorrhoid and it had been bleeding earlier in the day…and so a few days later I became concerned about possible transmission that way. At 8 weeks I had a negative rapid blood test, at 10 weeks a negative EIA (2nd generation, I believe), at 12 weeks a negative at-home oraquick, at 13 weeks negative rapid blood test. Was I at risk because of the hemorrhoid which was bleeding earlier in the day (say about 2 hours earlier)? should I consider a different/more sophisticated test at this point? or would these antibody tests be good and conclusive?

[Jeff G]

You were never at risk and you have tested conclusively HIV negative . A 12 week negative test is conclusive . The risk for sexually transmitted HIV is from unprotected anal and vaginal sex ... so its no wonder the test was negative .

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 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. Some of the other STIs can be present with no obvious symptoms, so the only way to know for sure is to test.

Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, correctly and consistently, and you will avoid hiv infection. It really is that simple!

[wrdguy]

Thank you, Jeff. You know, the work you and all of the others do is amazing. The amount of patience and dedication you have is super human. I've been "creeping" around here for the past 3 months and I think it's kept me sane because I keep saying "what would Jeff or Ann or Andy say?" and that has helped me get through what is probably some horrible anxiety, guilt, shame, OCD….whatever...related to this event. And now I know what you would say to me in my exact situation…. thanks for taking the time to answer my question.

[Jeff G]

You are most welcome and thanks for the kind words .

[wrdguy]

Hey guys, sorry to be back. Anyway, because of a burning tongue for several weeks, I decided to talk to my doctor and told her the whole history. She didn't seem to think there was a need, but agreed to order a 4th generation AB/AG test for me. This would have been at the end of 17 weeks 2 days shy of the 18 week mark. This came back negative.

Two weeks later I went to the dentist who said I may have thrush. I guess he didn't diagnose it definitively, but said something was definitely going on and that there was evidence of thrush. He didn't seem too concerned, prescribed a mouth wash, and moved on.

Now I'm concerned again…. any chance all of my tests are wrong? If this thrush were due to HIV, would I have tested positive on my last test since the symptoms were there at least a couple weeks before the test? I guess I just don't know what to think….

[Jeff G]

Thrush is not a HIV defining infection ... you have tested negative and never had even a hint of a risk so stop worrying about HIV, you do not have it .