POZ Community Forums
HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: scaredguy2 on October 16, 2006, 01:40:58 pm
-
Hi,
About 4 weeks ago, I had oral sex with another guy. I was the insertive, and did not suck him. Prior to him going down on me, there was some aggressive masterbation. After the episode, i noticed kind of a rough patch on the shaft of my penis, no blood. I guess it was more less chapped or chafed.
9 day later I had an HIV test, routine, yearly. I have not sucked a guy of have never had anal sex, or anything else which would be unprotected.
This one thing has made me very nervous. About 10 after this, I woke up in a panic and soaked from sweat. I have had night sweats in the past, maybe they can be brought on by anxiety?
Should I be restested? how long should I wake. This is hurting my entire life, sleepless nights, loss of wanting to eat and just general nerves. Please advise.
Thanks!
-
You do not need to test for receiving a blowjob. All your symptoms have nothing to do with HIV. If they persist see your doctor. This is not an HIV situation.
-
Thanks for your reply. I guess my main concern was the possible exposure through broken skin. I was not in him very long at all, and there was no other unsafe play. Thanks for your time.
-
Whatever the specifics you have described, you need to know that in the entire 25 year history of the epidemic and uncounted millions of blowjobs later, there has never been a single documented case of anyone becoming infected by getting one.
And you aren't going to make history by becoming the first. Discuss your symptoms with your doctor. Among other things possible, there are other STDs out there which can be passed by skin-to-skin contact.
For sure, whatever is going on has nothing to do with HIV.
Cheers,
-
thank you both for your reply. I didnt realize that the risk was that low ..almost 0 for the insertive partner. Thanks again.
-
do you think I should test as there was broken skin on my penis? Is that a way for HIV to enter the system. I am just scared and confused about this, Thanks for your help.
-
scared,
Saliva is not infectious. Getting a blowjob is not low risk, it's NO risk for 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 STIs together. To agree to have unprotected intercourse is to consent to the possibility of being infected with a sexually transmitted infection.
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.
Ann
-
Ann,
thank you so much for your replay. what if the guy had blood in his mouth...could that get into broken skin? Is there really no risk? i dont mean to be a pain Ann, thanks.
-
scared,
Saliva contains over a dozen different proteins and enzymes that damage hiv and hiv cannot be successfully transmitted when it is damaged. This guy's mouth would need to be absolutely dripping with blood before it posed even a theoretical risk to you. You'd hardly put your penis in a mouth dripping with blood, now would you.
Getting a blowjob is NOT a risk for hiv infection.
Ann
-
Ann,
Thanks for your reply.
-
Ann,
there really is no reason to test over this event?
-
scared,
No.
Ann
-
I am reading the different questions and educating myself. What is the average time for someone to test positive after an exposure? I know 3 mos is the window....but is there an average as to when most would test +? Thanks!
-
Scared,
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 result at six weeks must be confirmed at the three month point, but is unlikely to change.
Ann
-
so if someone seroconverts at 22 days they would test positive? I am still trying to understand all of this. thanks Ann.
-
scared,
The term "seroconversion" refers to the fact that a person's "serum" (blood) has "converted" (turned) positive. Their blood has turned from testing hiv negative to hiv positive. So the short answer to your question is YES.
Ann
-
thanks Ann...and the others. I am learning about this, and am hopeful your answers will educate others too.
a big thank you for your time.
-
Ann,
Why is 3 months the time for 'cut off'. Would it really take someone that long to detect the antibody? With the more sensitive tests, do you think the time would/could change to 6 weeks? It seems that if most are going to test +, it would happen between 4-6 weeks. am I off track? Thanks.
-
No, you're not off track about the increased sensitivity of tests which can deliver a reliable result within 6 weeks. The CDC has always been conservative about this testing point. It took them a long time to move from 6 months to 13 weeks as the point they accepted/endorsed for a reliable result.
It's perfectly feasible that we will eventually have a shorter testing time. Until then, for the sake of uniformity and because the issue of test generations jangles people, we continue to recommend sticking with 13 weeks. At that point any generation of test will give an accurate result.
-
scared,
The three month window period exists to catch the RARE person who takes a bit longer than six weeks to seroconvert and test positive. Hiv is a serious illness and nobody wants to miss an infection. While a six week negative is highly unlikely to change, it is far better to be safe than sorry and get that conclusive result at the three month point.
I am in total agreement with Andy and I expect the window period to end up being six weeks sometime within the next few years.
Ann
-
one thing I did forget to ask, are the quick 20 min tests as traditional blood lab tests? would they still be highly reliable at 6 weeks and conclusive at 3 mos. Thanks again.
-
scared,
Yes, the rapid tests are just as reliable as the others. Any of the FDA approved tests are - otherwise they wouldn't be approved. They are very sensitive tests.
I'm getting the feeling that you want to test over your no risk incident. That's up to you, but don't be surprised when you get a negative result. Saliva is not infectious. Getting a blowjob is not low risk, it's NO risk for hiv infection.
Ann
-
It is in the back of my mind...but I will wait until my yearly doctors appmnt. next Feb. I think it is wise to test a few times a year. I guess the thing that really freaked me out was the broken skin. I am now educating myself, instead of just going in for the test and not thinking much of it. Thanks for your help.
-
why would someone take more than 6 weeks to show anti-bodies and test positive? Is it just that each person is different, or would there have to be other factors involved?
-
Andy or Ann,
Why does the state of Massachuettes have a window period of 6 weeks for testing, and most other...if not all other have 3 months?
-
Contact Mass. Department of Health and ask them. We go by the CDC guidelines on HIV testing and until they change their guidelines it willl continue to be 13 weeks.
-
Would there have to be extream issues for someone to test positive after the 6 week mark? Would there have to be a medical issue?
-
scared,
For a start, they'd have to have a risk in the first place. YOU have not had a risk. You got a blowjob off another bloke. Get over it.
Ann
-
A few weeks ago a guy was giving me oral sex. I was the insertive partner. During the course of this, he inserted the head of his penis in my mouth, VERY briefly, I am talking 10 seconds. I could not taste any precum. I had dental work a few days prior (and there was bleeding) is this a cause for concern? I did ask him his status, and he told me he was neg. Is this something I need to be tested over?
-
Getting oral from another guy is not a risk to you.
Giving oral, particularly without ejaculation is considered to be very low risk. There have been some anecdotal reports of transmission through giving oral. But there have also been several longterm studies of sero-discordant couples who had lots of protected intercourse and lots of mutual oral. The results were that none of the sero-negative partners became infected which points to the very, very low level of risk.
It comes down to what level of risk are you prepared to accept.
I don't see testing to be warranted in relation to this incident. Your own saliva acts as a natural inhibitant to HIV, even IF the fellow you were with is HIV+.
In general we do recommend that anyone who's sexually active should regularly have a full STD panel done. That means at least annually and every six months is even better for someone who is very active.
Cheers,
-
scared,
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.
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.
I agree with everything Andy just wrote to you as well. You don't need to test over this incident.
Ann
-
Andy, how does saliva prevent possible HIV infection?
-
Saliva has an inhibitory element which neutralizes HIV, if in fact it's even present.
-
scared,
Not every person living with hiv will have detectable viral particles in their saliva. It has long since been established - without doubt - that saliva is NOT infectious.
Saliva also contains over a dozen different proteins and enzymes that damage hiv. Hiv is very fragile and the mechanism by which it latches onto and infects cells is very easily damaged.
Hiv can only latch onto certain very specific cells. These cells are NOT found in any great quantity in the mouth.
Ann
-
When did the CDC in the US change from a 6 month window to a 3 month window? Was this due to a change in the sensitivity of the tests? It almost seems like a 3 month window is over doing it a bit, but I guess it is better to extend it out a bit....
I assume, in countries that have a smaller window period are using the same tests (universal)?
-
2001 was when it went from 6 months to 3 month except for the exceptions.
-
is there a difference in the sensitivity of a finger prick test and a test where they draw a tube of blood? Or are the rapid test just as sensitive?
-
The rapid tests are just as sensitive.
-
Can someone explain the different tests used for hiv detection? I find it all very confusing. What is Elisa Test, what is western Blot....and such?
-
scared,
Read through the Welcome Thread (http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=220.0) and follow the Testing Lesson link. Read that, then ask questions.
Ann
-
So the rapid test is an ELIZA test? That would be the same test as drawing an entire tube of blood?
-
It's the same test as Ann has mentioned.
-
What is a duo test? I could not find that on the Testing Lesson. Is a rapid test a duo test?
-
It's a combination test which tests for antigens and antibodies. Usually consisting of a P24 test and a ELISA test. No, it is not a rapid test.
-
why would someone need a duo test rather than just a rapid test?
-
That is something I haven't figured out. If you are newly infected, you're more than likely not going to start meds for years and if you've been infected for any length of time the P24 won't pick up antigens unless one would be in late stages of HIV when antigens can be picked up again. I think it's just a money getter.
-
The main reasoning behind uncovering hiv infection in the very early stages has nothing to do with going on meds. It's to try and stop any onward infections from happening. If a person knows they are definitely hiv positive, they are more likely to be careful about using condoms.
Ann
-
I have a question about ARS. Do symptoms all happen at once, or do they come and go over a period of a few weeks?
-
scared,
You didn't have a real risk by any stretch of the imagination. As you already know from last autumn, getting a blowjob is not a risk. And having the head of some guy's penis in your mouth for ten seconds isn't a risk either. Not only do you NOT need to test over this specific incident, you're not going to experience ARS, which does happen to come on at once and go at once, not come and go and come and go and generally faff about.
You only need to test if it is part of your yearly sexual health care check up and I do fully expect you to test negative.
Ann
-
Has the opinion been changed on insertive oral sex? I had insertive oral sex with a guy 2 months ago (again). About 6 weeks later i came down with a sore throat and sinus drip. Now I am freaking that I could have exposed myself.
I read there is a .05/10000 chance or something like that. Is that for both hetero and homosexual relations?
-
scared,
Our stance on oral activities has not changed.
If you came down with a sore throat after giving blowjobs, then maybe you should think about being checked for gonorrhea/chlamydia in your throat. You're way more likely to end up with something like that from giving blowjobs than you are hiv.
Hiv doesn't care if you're gay or straight. It's the activities that are risky, not who is doing it. For example, unprotected anal intercourse is THE riskiest, and it doesn't matter if it's two men doing it or a woman and a man. Yes, straight people have anal sex too.
Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, correctly and consistently, and you will avoid hiv infection. It really is that simple! And don't forget to have regular, routine sexual health care check ups. As a sexually active adult, it's your responsibility.
Ann
-
Hi ann and thanks for your answer. The other guy sucked me. I didnt suck him.