POZ Community Forums
HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: yuvk on March 20, 2007, 11:58:05 am
-
I am aware of my situation and of its low risk scenario. However I would like your opinion. I had protected vaginal intercourse with an HIV positive woman, the condom did not break to my knowledge however the sex was very vigorous and it is possible that it may have. She looked at it after and said she didn't see any breaks. I know this is a relatively low risk activity compared to others, however does it warrant getting an HIV test?
-
It wasn't low risk it was NO risk. If the condom would have failed you would have known it when you reached down to remove it. You do not need to test.
-
It does NOT warrant getting tested over. This was a no risk situation. KUDOS for using the condom. Keep doing so with EVERYONE and you shall stay HIV free!
-
The whole point of using a condom is that it protects you against HIV transmission. As lengthy studies have shown, sero-discordant couples (both gay & straight) had lots and lots of protected intercourse without any sero-negative partner becoming infected.
Just keep using a latex condom everytime you have intercourse and you will be doing fine as far as HIV is concerned.
-
Thank you for assailing my doubts. Unfortunately the situation I encountered wasn't as clear as this. She told me after intercourse that she was Poz and that made me very uncomfortable. I would have preferred it if she told me before so I could have made a more educated decision. I still will get tested after a couple weeks just to be sure but thanks to your help I'll be more comfortable knowing that it will be highly unlikely that it will be positive.
Thank you.
-
The situation was as clear as a bell. You had a condom on. It doesnt matter if she is positive or not. If a condom fails you would know it. It doesnt have tiny holes where the HIV virus sneaks in and then homes in on your urethra!
Condom = no HIV.
But if a test will help ease your mind....it's your dime and it wouldnt hurt.
-
As long as a condom was used the issue of her being HIV+ is totally irrelevant.
As is whether you knew beforehand about his HIV status.
That's the whole point of always using a condom, so that you don't have to be concerned about your partner's HIV status. You're "covered" so to speak, whatever the person's status.
You are worrying needlessly.
-
As you were wearing a condom, I submit you WERE making an educated decision.
You must always assume that your partner is HIV positive, and take steps to protect yourself. Ironically, those who KNOW their status and are seeking treatment for it are FAR less infectious than those who are unaware of it.
While I am a proponent of disclosure, I am also a proponent of personal responsibility. You took that responsibility by wearing a condom for intercourse.
-
The problem with PEP is that even though the statistics are there, it's difficult to gauge their accuracy. Just like trying to put a per risk exposure of HIV, you never know if HIV was actually present (studies have been done on HIV+ women where no HIV was found in their vaginal secretions) or if they were, were transmitted into your body. Unfortunately, since there is no baseline poz or neg before starting PEP we will never know it's true efficacy. And while it may be worthwhile for occupational exposures of blood where concentrations of HIV are higher than semen, when used after a sexual exposure other questions should be addressed.
I think that you going on PEP with an unknown serostatus person is more of a sign that you don't trust him (having protected sex for 6 weeks should bring up questions about sexual encounters and testing in adults concerned about getting HIV) than actually getting HIV. I understand that you may think it is worth it to go on PEP as you had once before, you should also know that considering your partner's previous sexual status, a 20 minute rapid test on his part will save you a month of hell.
-
Nobody knows how long it takes for HIV to be rendered inert exactly, there is significant variation and honestly I think scientists are trying to figure out how to cure the damn thing since getting lost in the "sauce" really won't add up well in the possible exposure route list.
-
Yuvk,
Whilst what you think is all very interesting, it really would be better if you stayed in your own thread and left the advice giving to others.
MtD
-
yuvk, read the posting guidelines that you were supposed to have read BEFORE you ever began to post. DO NOT POST IN ANY THREAD OTHER THAN YOUR OWN!
-
Yuvk,
I removed the posts you made in other people's threads and placed them here, in your own thread, which is the only place you should post. You are in no position to be giving advice on these forums. Thank you for your cooperation.
Ann