POZ Community Forums
HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: TooWorried on October 16, 2006, 07:54:40 am
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Hello experts...
to keep a long story short:
Had sex with a sex worker (of an African origin), used a condom that didn't break, tested negative (Generation 2 or 3, not so sure) after 9 weeks post exposure.
What are the chances of still turning out being positive? ???
Thank you for your help and expert advice.
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Tooworried
If you used a condom properly and it didnīt break, you donīt need to test in the first place.
Usually a test is considered conclusive after 3 months.
But you had no risk!
regards
Darkfiber
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The HIV status of any partner you maybe with for intercourse is irrelevant as long as you always, without exception, use a latex condom. They provide very effective protection.
If you are sexually active it's a good idea to get a full STD panel done regularly. That means at least annually and every six months is even better. There are other STDs out there and they are much easier to catch than HIV.
This time out you have no cause for concern about HIV. Just keep using those condoms.
Cheers,
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Just a quick question to clear remaining doubts...
The expert here mention that most people (the vast majority) of people actually seroconvert by week 6. I am curious about knowing what are the reasons behind late seroconversion (beyond week 6-7).
Shouldn't a person who is in good health and who tested negative for HIV1/2 at week 9 is considered to be a conclusive test for him/her?
In my case, I am healthy (almost never sickly) and tested negative at week 9 for HIV1/2 with a HIV test AG-AB. Is 9-week good enough? or shall I go for 13-14?
Thank you experts... God bless you all...
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We use the CDC guidelines on AidsMeds. After what you said about your situation, you could have taken a test the next day and been conclusive. You do not get HIV from a properly used condom.
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Hello Experts!
Unfortunately I am back on this forum worried as usual after several recent sexual experiences (about 5 CSW in 4 months)... All of the experiences were "protected" which means that I used the condom (durex extra safe) on all vaginal intercourse sexual activities (no anal intercourse though). However, for the first time, i noticed that I have an elevated bump on the base of my penis which occurred about 10 days after my last sexual intercourse with a CSW.
My questions, hopefully simple to answer, are as follows:
1- If the condom remains on my penis (but only covering 3/4 of the length) from start to finish and if the cum remains in the condom (i also do a water test of the condom to make sure it didn't fail), does this mean I am protected against HIV?
2- There maybe a possibility of the outer layer of the condom (vaginal fluids) get in contact with the tip of my penis while removing the condom, is there any risk there of contracting possible infectious HIV fluid this way?
3- How safe is receiving oral sex without condoms? how about if it includes ejaculation?
4- Based on all of the above, do I need to test?
Thank you so much for your time and hopefully your answers will help relieve my stress and tension on this.
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Too,
I've merged your new thread into your original thread - where you should post all your additional thoughts or questions. It helps us to help you when you keep all your additional thoughts or questions in one thread. I realise you haven't posted in your original thread in over three years, but we still want you to use this thread so we have easy access to your history. Thanks.
If you need help finding your thread when you come here, click on the "Show own posts" link under your name in the left-hand column of any forum page.
Please also read through the Welcome Thread (http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=220.0) so you can familiarize yourself with our Forum Posting Guidelines. Thank you for your cooperation.
1. YES - condoms have been proven to prevent hiv infection. You don't need to do a "water test" to see if the condom remained intact. All you have to do is look at it - when a condom breaks, it's obvious. You really can't miss it. When you do the "water test", you are risking having it break when filling it with water. Condoms aren't designed for this purpose. If one breaks when you're filling it with water, all you're going to do is scare yourself silly. It's a really stupid idea to test a condom this way.
2. NO. Hiv is a fragile, difficult to transmit virus that is primarily transmitted INSIDE the human body, as in unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse where the virus never leaves the confines of the human body. Hiv is NOT transmitted from objects in the environment, and vaginal fluid on the outside of a condom touching your penis on removal qualifies in this "object in the environment" catagory.
3. Getting a blowjob, with or without a condom, is NOT a risk for hiv infection no matter if you cum or not. Not one person has EVER been infected through getting blown and you will not be the first.
4. No, you don't need to test over these specific situations.
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 SPECIFICALLY OVER YOUR RECENT SEX WORKER EXPERIENCES, 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, correcty and consistently, and you will avoid hiv infection. It really is that simple!
Ann
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Thanks Ann for your post... it's to a very high extent reassuring...
Quick questions for the experts to clarify a lingering doubt that is constantly stressing me:
Considering that there were no open sores, cuts or visible direct open wounds, does the condom completely eliminate the risk for HIV transmission (base of penis can still be in direct contact with vaginal fluids)? and how about other STIs? you say that they are easier to transmit then HIV, so maybe the HIV virus can be transmitted simultaneously through another STI that is easier to get into the body? If an STI had been acquired, does that mean that HIV is very probable as well even if the condom had been used?
Thanks experts for the great website and forum.
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Latex condoms, when used consistently and correctly, are highly effective in
preventing transmission of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. In addition, correct
and consistent use of latex condoms can reduce the risk of other sexually
transmitted diseases (STDs), including discharge and genital ulcer diseases.
While the effect of condoms in preventing human papilloma virus (HPV) infection
is unknown, condom use has been associated with a lower rate of cervical
cancer, an HPV-associated disease. Laboratory studies have demonstrated that latex condoms provide an essentially impermeable barrier to particles the size of STD pathogens.
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So if the condom did not break from start to finish, and there were no visible open sores or open skin around my genital area, does this mean that HIV transmission is in theory impossible?
How about if another STI was acquired, does it mean that HIV could also have "sneaked" in?
Thanks experts! I'm very restless because of my worries...
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Too,
We're running out of ways to tell you that condoms prevent hiv transmission. The skin on the base of your penis is no different to skin elsewhere - it's an effective barrier against hiv. It's the head of your penis that needs to be covered.
Keep coming back with more frantic worrying about condoms and you'll quickly be given a time out. 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:
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
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Sorry for bothering you again experts about this, but i just have a quick question in mind and i wish to have a final answer on it here...
I fully understand that condoms, if unbroken and used correctly, fully protect you again the HIV virus; however I am wondering if there was an open sore on the base of the penis (which is not covered by the condom) would that mean that there may be a risk?
I read in this forum that the virus can't survive outside the body so if the sore area wasn't inside the vagina, would that minimize the risk of possible infection?
Thank you so much and I am sure this will clear all worries in my mind. :-\
Thanks again...
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No, that sore at the base of your penis did not put you at risk for HIV transmission.
Period. Get on with your life.
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Thanks Andy for your reply...
I am quite sure that the 'open' sore (maybe a chancre?) was not covered by the condom but it is located down my shaft (the condom only covered 3/4 of the shaft). My worry now is what if the sore (no visible blood) got in touch with vaginal fluids or if the area where the sore is penetrated a bit inside the vagina?
I'm sorry experts for bringing this up again, but I read that if the sore turns out to be an STI, then I am definitely in high risk for HIV transmission...
I appreciate your replies and hopefully i will quit posting stuff here....
thanks!
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experts.... any advise please?
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Worried,
Andy already told you that it didn't put you at risk.
However, why are you having sex with an open sore on your penis? If nothing else, that's a great way to get a bacterial infection. If you think it's an STI, you need to get it checked out before you go spreading it around. Jeeze.
Ann
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Thank you so much, Ann, for your reply...
I just want to clarify that I didn't have any visible open sores or tears in the skin and also I was using condoms from start to finish...
I read that HIV is more easy to transmit if there is an STI present, so does that mean that even if I was wearing a condom, i could still be at risk for HIV if there is an STI on the girl? Can HIV be transmitted together (alongside) an STI?
Thanks once again and sorry for bothering you guys for what I really hope is a no-risk situation...
Bless.
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Too,
You used a condom. This is still a no risk situation regardless of pre-existing STIs.
Yes, another STI can be transmitted alongside hiv - IF YOU ARE NOT USING CONDOMS.
YOU USED A CONDOM.
You're still under a time out warning. YOU DID NOT HAVE A RISK!!!
Ann