unprotected receptive vaginal sex... worried

[worriedgirl]

On a drunken night on holiday in portugal 10 weeks ago I had unprotected sex with a portuguese guy. It only lasted about 5 minutes and he pulled out and came in my mouth. I regretted it instantly the next day and started fearing myself out about hiv. whilst on holiday my friend had a cold and when we got home a week later I started getting a cough and feeling abit feverish. about a week later I got a few sores on my genitals and they lasted for about 3-4 weeks and went although I still have 1 or 2 down there. I realise this could be herpes which I will actually be thankful for if it turns out I dont have hiv. my other worry is I think I've had thrush on my tongue and I think I have a few ulcers in my mouth but they are very small, I've only just noticed them. I've been so stressed these past 9 weeks and cannot stop thinking that I have hiv. I went to the clinic at 5 weeks and they tested me for chlamydia, ghonorrea and hiv. they all came back negative. is that a good sign at 5 weeks?? or does it not make a difference? I think if I have seroconverted I did before I went to the clinic and it would have showed up on the test? anyway I am going to a free rapid hiv clinic on monday and they give you the result in 20 minutes. I'm so scared but need to know for sure it is really stressing me out.
Could anyone give an opinion on this? how likely is it that I have contracted hiv? will the test on monday give me a definitive answer? thanks

[RapidRod]

Could anyone give an opinion on this? Had you used a condom you wouldn't have had an exposure.

[Andy Velez]

If you test negative at 6 weeks the likelihood is that you will continue to test negative for a conclusive result at 3 months. You can have intercourse with anyone you want to, but you need to always do it the safer way. That means always without exceptions using a condom everytime.

Good luck with your test results.

[jkinatl2]

I apologize if any comments have come off as insensitive or judgmental. We really are not about that.

People make mistakes. How many upstanding, otherwise responsible people split a bottle of wine and then do champagne toasts on New Years' Eve, then drive home, legally impaired? VERY few of them end up getting busted or hurting themselves (or others) but it's still taking a real chance.

All you can do at this point is find something to occupy your time and then test at six weeks. If it's negative at that point, it's highly unlikely to turn positive at the three month "golden standard."

Sex is a natural part of the human existence. We thrive on it. We wither without it. We write poems, songs, draw magnificent paintings over/for it. We declare war over it.

Never be embarrassed or beat yourself up about mistakes. Never consider yourself a failure if in the heat of the moment you neglect a condom. Because that happens all the time.

And it's NOT FAIR that diseases can make that one relatively minor misstep in your part have dire and lasting consequences. It's absolutely NOT fair. And some small minded people have confused the act, which is natural and wonderful, with the consequences, which can be dire. Don't do that.

People with HIV don't deserve it. And not everyone who has unprotected sex with a stranger gets infected, not even when their partner is positive.

You stand a good chance of getting out of this unscathed. I beg you to use a condom in the future, of course.

[Ann]

Worried,

While I don't think your five week negative hiv test result will change, you DO need to have further follow-up regarding those genital sores.

A primary genital herpes infection usually HURTS like mad so unless you were in a lot of pain with it, there's a chance that you may have picked up syphilis. Syphilis sores (called chancres) are relatively painless.

You were only tested for hiv, gonorrhea and chlamydia, but you also need to test for herpes and syphilis. You need to be aware that syphilis shares a three month testing window with hiv for a conclusive negative result.

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!

Good luck.

Ann

[Ann]

Worried,

I just removed a post you wrote in someone's thread in the Women's forum. As someone who has not been diagnosed as hiv positive (and most likely will not be diagnosed as hiv positive), you are not permitted to post in sections of these forums meant for hiv positive people ONLY.

If you read the Welcome Thread before posting like you're supposed to, you will have read the following posting guideline:

With the exception of the “Am I Infected?” and “Off Topic” Forums, the AIDSmeds.com Forums are intended for people who have been diagnosed with HIV (or their loved ones/caregivers).  If you are questioning or unaware of your HIV status, please refrain from posting messages or questions in the Forums intended for HIV-positive people.

Please note that any posts in the Off Topic forum may not be about anything concerning hiv. That's why it's called Off Topic.

Please consider yourself warned!

Ann

[worriedgirl]

Hi all thanks who posted back on here, put my mind slightly at ease over the weekend.

So I have been for a test today and they gave me the results in like 20 minutes... its NEGATIVE! I am so happy and can get on with my life now. Definitely won't ever ever be having unprotected sex again and thats a promise to myself. I seriously thought I had this and thought I had ALL the symptoms, just shows how your body can react to stress and stuff.

anyway thanks again this website is brilliant.

[Ann]

Worried,

That's great news about the negative hiv test.

However, please get to the bottom of what caused your genital sores. It could be syphilis and you don't want to let syphilis go untreated. It could be years before you experience any syphilis symptoms again, so don't let the lack of symptoms stop you from getting tested for it. Untreated syphilis can cause all sorts of nasty problems, including but not limited to dementia and eventual death.

Ann