PEP needed while on PrEP? OCD/anxious

[hungjewb]

Hi,
I am a gay male, diagnosed with OCD, and have had a fear of HIV since I realized I was gay in my teens.

I began PrEP (daily generic Truvada/manufactured by TEVA) exactly 30 days ago, and I have not missed a dose.

On day 3 of PrEP, I engaged in oral sex. Since I began PrEP, I have had oral sex, gotten fingered, but I still have NOT had anal sex of any kind.

Last week, on week 3 of PrEP, I engaged in oral sex with a guy who had tattoos/piercings, and who then looked up my ex boyfriend on Facebook and added him, with no clue how he found him. BIZARRE.

Now, my mind is playing tricks on me. What if this guy did drugs and poked me with a needle while we hooked up? What if he saw my bottle of PrEP in the bathroom when he went to urinate, and he did something to my medicine?

I know this sounds insane and irrational. But, if something DID happen, would I need to seek PEP or is my daily PrEP sufficient?

Again, I know these are very irrational concerns. I am just weirded out by how one guy looked up my ex boyfriend on Facebook without even knowing him.

[Jim Allen]

Hiya.

You don't need PEP.

Regarding this needle fear, he did not take out a syringe and inject blood into you, as that's what It would take, and you would have known about it. This didn't happen, don't ask again.

As for "Oral" be specific, what acts?

[hungjewb]

I apologize; I know this is OCD. And I know he did not tamper or do anything to my PrEP bottle either.

As far as oral: I have given oral to three men, without ejaculation. And I have received oral sex from five men. I have fooled around with five men total in the last month since beginning back on PrEP (I just got out of a 2-year relationship).

I have taken a few HIV at home/lab tests (for the PrEP online service I go through) and all negative, but I have not taken a test since last week when the guy in question and I hooked up.

[Jim Allen]

Receiving a blowjob lacks the conditions required for acquiring HIV; thus, it makes sense that after 40+ years of this pandemic in terms of BJs, there hasn't been a single documented case of HIV transmission to an insertive partner (the person being "sucked"), and you will not be the worlds first.

As for giving a blowjob, the mouth generally lacks a route for HIV to infect also there are barriers such as saliva that neutralizes HIV by damaging the receptors needed to infect human cells. Giving a blowjob is such a minute HIV risk that it doesn't warrant HIV concern or testing outside of routine. (In short; it's not an HIV risk)

So no PrEP,  PEP or testing needed outside of routine.

Of course, you had plenty of risks for far easier to transmit STIs but no need to panic every time you get or give a blowjob, just get tested at least yearly out of standard routine.

Move on with your life

[hungjewb]

Thank you. I just worry about the weird guy I fooled around with, and how PrEP can fail despite strict adherence.

[Jim Allen]

You're welcome.

Yeah, PrEP isn't a guarantee, it can fail for various reasons but you are taking it correctly, it provides an excellent level of HIV prevention and the activities mentioned here are not even HIV risks.

Relax already, as for the guy (or anyone) being weird, prehaps he is thinking the same about you 🤷 Thankfully, being weird, different, strange or odd, having tattoos and piercings or using FaceBook doesn't create an HIV risk. So Let it go and relax.

Here's what you need to know to reduce your HIV risks:
Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse correctly and consistently, with no exceptions. Continue PrEP as an additional layer of protection against HIV and get vaccinated against HPV, Hepatitis A & B.

Keep in mind that some sexual practices described as safe in terms of acquiring HIV still pose a risk for other easier-acquired STIs. So please do get tested at least yearly for STIs and as you are taking PrEP its recommended to get a laboratory HIV test every three months.

Also, note that it is possible to have an STI and show no signs or symptoms; testing is the only way to know.

Kind regards

Jim

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