oral sex

[ewans]

Well, just before I start, I have an HIV phobia. I am waiting on an appointment with a councellor to try and go through it all.

But, 3 weeks ago just prior to sex ( about 5 mins ) I managed to drop a cigarette on my chest. Clumsy I know, but I did this.

We then had sex and the guy came over my chest.

We did not do oral or even penetration but I have been extremely worried about the semen going onto the burn mark.

I cannot remember and blood at all.

Just over a week later, I had a really soar neck ( But this was a couple of days after driving for 8 hours solid and then a more leisurly drive back a couple of days later ) . i also had diareaha and the only other thing I have is a mark just under my eyebrow which is little sore.

This of course has me worrying endlessly and I am actually booked in for a test next week ( 4 weeks after the incident ).

I really wanted to check on how risky the incident itself was and ,

I know that three months is the time for a conclusive result, but I understand that a test 4 weeks after gives a good indication of status ?

ewan

[RapidRod]

No risk.

[ewans]

Thanks, but what I am trying to work out fully is that a burn could be thought as trauma to the skin, even a slight one. With semen being one of the carriers of HIV, how do i know for sure that it did not go through the mark , or say, if someone had even a small cut ?

I have heard people say that HIV is not active outside it's host, but I am not sure what this means.

Also, can you be somewhat certain after a 4 week test ?

[Ann]

ewans,

Hiv is a fragile, difficult to transmit virus. Once it finds itself outside the body, differences in temperature, moisture content and pH levels (such as the differing pH levels on skin) quickly damage the outer surface of the virus. This outer surface MUST be intact and undamaged in order for hiv to latch onto the very few, very specific cells that it is able to infect. 

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.

ALTHOUGH YOU DO NOT NEED TO TEST OVER THIS BURN SITUATION, 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, correctly and consistently, and you will avoid hiv infection. It really is that simple.

Ann

[ewans]

Thanks

Can I just check one more thing....

With regard to 4 weeks test, I have read that this gives a high degree of certainty with regard to result. Not conclusive but a high degree. Is that correct ? or is it better at a later date.

[Ann]

ewans,

It would be better to test at the six week point, as the vast majority of people who have actually been infected will seroconvert at this time. A six week negative must be confirmed - when there has been an actual risk - at three months.

You don't need to test over this specific incident.

Ann

[ewans]

well, I have been booked in for a 4 week test for a week now...head there end of next week.

I do not feel I can wait 6 weeks and I have read that it is pretty reliable at 4 weeks, not conclusive but a strong indicator.

Would you agree with that ?

I guess I could go back and get one at 8 weeks and 12 weeks.

[Ann]

ewans,

Considering the fact that the situation you bring to us wasn't a risk, your four week result will be conclusive as long as you are doing it three months or more after your last incident of unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse. As I've said to you, you don't need to test over this burn thing.

Ann

[ewans]

Thanks ann.

I think what has been getting me on this situation is that the guy who cam over me , 5 mins after i managed to burn my chest, has an HIV positive partner.

This is why I seem to be focusing on it.

I think there is no way I wont do the HIV test, but I just cannot wait six weeks. I was told that at 4 weeks most people would show in an HIV test, although it is not conclusive.

I can always follow it up at a later date.

The thing that I keep wondering is that there is so much out there that says do not get blood or semen near an open wound or cut ( in my case a burn ).

[Andy Velez]

Ann has already told you our opinion of your situation.

I can tell you further that if you keep searching out there for alternative opinions and comments, you absolutely are going to get ones that will feed into your worst fears.

No, you were not at risk in the incident you were concerned about and yes, I do expect you to test negative.

[ewans]

yeap andy....your absolutely right.

and i would fully admit I have been seraching out there totally on the net.

I am still going to go for the 4 week test, but I have a feeling that will not reassure me and I will be off for a 6 week or 8 week one somehow.

[Andy Velez]

All you're going to do is collect a stack of negatives. If you need definitively negative test result just for your peace of mind, then  you ought to be doing it at 13 weeks. Given what you have said thus far, none of the earlier results (negative) are going to give you closure on this non-risk situation.

[ewans]

yeap..agreed..i think what it was , was that 7 days after the event, my neck was really sore ( although I had driven 8 hours solidly a few days before ). Of curse, I googled this and found that a sore neck could be a symptom in sero conversion....so that had me worried

[Andy Velez]

Lay off the Googling. It's bad for your mental health and you still didn't have a risk.

Get on with your life.

[ewans]

I am not sure if I have put this in the right forum, but have been looking at the current situation regarding Oral Sex.

I know you guys say there is a lot of mis-information out there about Oral Sex, between theoretical and documented risk.

But, is there a risk from Oral Sex or once again is it all theoretical with no proven cases.

[RapidRod]

Your questions will not be answered until you put them in your ORIGINAL thread.

[Ann]

Ewan,

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 so you can familiarize yourself with our Forum Posting Guidelines. Thank you for your cooperation.

Getting a blowjov is not a risk for hiv infection. Giving a blowjob is theoretically a risk, but if transmission happens this way it's very rare.

Ann

[ewans]

have hopefully moved on a bit since my last post and will be continuing sex as safely as I can.

I will staill plan to stay away from penetrative sex as a gay male, but will still practice oral.

I had a wee talk with the health adviser who said that there is some beleif that oral sex has a risk of hiv, i.e me performing oral sex on someone.

Can I confirm if you guys think that the advice is once again down to theoreatical studies and that really in practice it is something not to be worried about.

[Ann]

ewans,

It's more a theoretical thing. If you feel uncomfortable taking a theoretical risk, have the person put a condom on before you blow them.

Ann