condom broke... please help!

[stephane]

Hi guys,

I'm actually worried sick right now. I've been in a steady relationship for years now, but yesterday, I went to a bath house and engaged in anal sex with a man of unknown status. First I gave him a blowjob, with a condom on, and then he tried to penetrate me, still with the same condom on. We used lube, I felt him pressing against my anus, pretty hard, and as he was just about to go in, we heard the condom breaking. He stopped immediately, and didn't seem to think too much of it, he opened another condom and started to replace it. But I kinda freaked out, and decided to end it.

I don't actually think he penetrated me, I don't bottom very often, and I guess I would have known if he had. But still, he pushed in, and firmly enough to break a condom, so I guess this can't really be considered frottage either. To make things worse, I have a hemorrhoid, which is not really active, but I still got a little blood on the tissue when I went to the toilet a few hours before this encounter.

I really don't know what to do. I'm trying to rationalize and I've been reading some posts here, I guess exposure was pretty low. But still, I'm worried sick. Should I tell my girlfriend ? I mean, I really DON'T want to, for obvious reasons, but on the other hand, there is no way I can put her at risk of getting infected too. Do you think PEP is recommanded in my case ? Thanks a lot for your help guys.

[Jeff G]

PEP is not indicated in a situation like yours that could be described as brief dipping at best . If you were penetrated then the responsible thing to do is to test at 6 weeks and again at 3 months to confirm it . In your case I would fully expect a 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!

 

[stephane]

Thanks Jeff! I can't help worrying, but you actually made me feel better 

[Jeff G]

You are welcome .