unprotected vaginal sex w/needle user

[itshotoutside]

Hi. Before I tell you my situation, I just say wanna thank you, I read these forums from time to time and I must say, I’ve learned a lot about the way HIV is REALLY transmitted (as opposed to the bullshit they teach you in school). At 1st I thought you guys were rude to ppl questioning their results, but after learning so much from reading threads, I TOTALLY see where you guys are coming from and why you guys get so annoyed with people being so paranoid. You guys actually know what you’re talking about, and most ppl don’t. So yeah, for what it’s worth, thank you, you guys have really opened up my eyes and taught me a lot.

Which is why I come to you today with this: I’m a female that recently had unprotected sex with a guy who is known to use needles from time to time, street needles, if you get my drift here. Stupid, I know, I was really wasted and shouldn’t have done it, not even b/c he’s a risk but simply b/c junkies aren’t reliable ppl, but that’s a whole other story….anyway, to be honest, I wasn’t really worried at 1st, because, from what I gather, contrary to what we’re taught in school, HIV/AIDS is a blood virus, and is usually transmitted through blood-blood (like needles) or blood-semen (mainly anal sex b/c it’s a dry area, so it tears more easily) and of course, it can also be contracted via heterosexual sex if the penis or vagina has a cut and is exposed to fluids (also blood-semen). None of this was the case for me.

HOWEVER, someone recently told me that it can also be directly transmitted through the mucus-lining on the vagina, even w/o a cut, and I looked it up and CDC says it’s true. But CDC also says you can get it from oral sex, which I know isn’t true from reading these forums, actually.  So my question is, do I have anything to worry about? What I mean by that is, are there any actual documented cases of this or is CDC just playing it safe?

Thanks ☺

[Andy Velez]

If you had unprotected vaginal intercourse then you definitely were at risk for HIV transmission.

You can test initially at 6 weeks after the event. If you test negative at that point then the likelihood is you will test negative at 13 weeks for a conclusive result.

Let's keep this really simple. You need to know that anytime you have vaginal or anal intercourse the guys has to be wearing a condom. Everytime. No stories and no exceptions.  

[itshotoutside]

If you had unprotected vaginal intercourse then you definitely were at risk for HIV transmission.

You can test initially at 6 weeks after the event. If you test negative at that point then the likelihood is you will test negative at 13 weeks for a conclusive result.

Let's keep this really simple. You need to know that anytime you have vaginal or anal intercourse the guys has to be wearing a condom. Everytime. No stories and no exceptions.  

ok got it...now i'm kinda freaked out. but yes absolutely. thanks

[itshotoutside]

so then was i wrong in my thinking it's a blood virus?

[jkinatl2]

I hope you will take the time to read the lessons section on transmission. HIV is transmitted by blood and semen and cervical fluids (and sometimes from mother to infant in breast milk).

You were at risk because the vagina, unlike other areas of the body, contains immunosuppressing elements and mucousal membranes that make HIV relatively easy to transmit. this makes sense when you consider that, if the vagina had a strong defense against foreign material, we would not be making babies very often.

It is easier to transmit during anal sex (with or without tears in the anus/rectum) because the anus has a similar semipermeable membrane.

But what you described is one of the highest risks for infection. Male to female transmission accounts for an astonishing number of infections in the heterosexual community, with females becoming infected at a rate that far exceeds males. I don't say this to scare you - I imagine you are plenty scared.

But this is why it is so important to use condoms for penetrative sex. Though I loathe most statistics, you are more likely than not to come out of this OK insofar as HIV is concerned (there are a host of other STDS, hepatitis, et al that you ought to check for). But sadly, there is nothing to do but wait 12 weeks and get tested.

A test at the six week mark is VERY encouraging. I do not think I have ever seen someone pass through these forums with a negative six week test who later turned out positive.

It's going to be a tough time, I know. But try to find things to distract yourself. I know, I know, easy to say... but you can do it.


*edited for spelling

[Andy Velez]

Forget about terms like "blood virus." Keep it simple.

The most common ways that people become infected with HIV are by having unprotected vaginal or anal intercourse with an infected partner and by injecting drugs using a needle or syringe which has already been used by someone who is infected.

HIV can be passed on in these ways because the virus is present in the sexual fluids and blood of infected people. Saliva and sweat contain the HIV virus, but not in quantities sufficient for transmission.
HIV is found in the sexual fluids of an infected person.

Hopefully you will test negative. Getting tested is the smartest thing to do because then you will reliably know your status. We're not in the guessing business about HIV. It's important to know your status so you can deal with being positive, although of course we hope that won't happen.

And learn from this experience about always, without exception, using condoms for intercourse in the future. Good luck with your test and keep us posted.

[itshotoutside]

yeah, this all went down in late july, so it's been over 6 weeks, so i'm gonna go test tomorrow...


has anyone from the Am I Infected forum ever ended up positive before?

[next2u]

im gonna go on a limb and say yes. but it is the minority. definitely far and few between.

[Andy Velez]

Next, only those who are authorized to respond in this section may do so. You are not so authorized so although I know your intentions are good, please don't do it again.

Thanks for your cooperation.

Cheers.

[Andy Velez]

Itshot, the answer is yes. Among the thousands of anxious there have been some who did test positive. Very, very few by contrast with the thousands who comes here, but it does happen.

All of which means nothing in terms of getting an answer for yourself. The one and only way to accurately know your own HIV status when there is any question about a risk, is by getting tested at 13 weeks past the most recent one. An initial negative result at 6 weeks means the likelihood is good for continuing to test negative.

Stop trying to figure things out. Hopefully you will test negative. In the meantime get busy with other things in your life. It will make the waiting much easier if you do that.

Cheers.

[itshotoutside]

just wanna say I got tested 2 weeks ago, the results came back negative.

thanks for your help guys, once again, great forum, great website, i've learned a lot and in the future, i shall be more careful.



cheers

[Andy Velez]

That's great news. Your test was well past 13 weeks so you are definitely HIV negative.

Protect that gift by always making sure that condoms are being used for both vaginal and anal intercourse. No exceptions.

OK, on your way now, happily negative.

Cheers.