POZ Community Forums

HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: bLogical on July 21, 2007, 01:47:22 pm

Title: Molescum Contingiosum (HIV indicatior)
Post by: bLogical on July 21, 2007, 01:47:22 pm

I was just diagnosed with Molescum (pubic area) and I have been reading that it is an indicator of HIV. I had a negative test in March of this year, but it has been very persistent and has been spreading. Is this an indicator of HIV? Does anybody have experience with this? Thanks in advance,

BL

Title: Re: Molescum Contingiosum (HIV indicatior)
Post by: Dan J. on July 21, 2007, 02:07:04 pm

yes, I've had experience with molescum. I had it removed (frozen off) but it came back. Now I have a condeloma in the same place.  My dermtologist prescribed Aldara cream to remove the condeloma.

Title: Re: Molescum Contingiosum (HIV indicatior)
Post by: Ann on July 21, 2007, 02:07:44 pm

BL,

Anyone can get molluscum, it is not specific to hiv infection.

As long as your test in March was done three months or more since your last incident of unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse, you are hiv negative. The only exception would be if you have had unprotected intercourse since March, in which case you need to test again, three months after the incident.

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 with 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.

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, and do not share drug injecting equipment, and you will avoid hiv infection. It really is that simple.

Ann