POZ Community Forums
HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: James2900 on December 28, 2013, 03:10:14 pm
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I hope someone on this thread will read this and kindly reply to me. I am probably somewhat naive, even if I stubbornly don't want to admit that. I have generally believed that "Straight Men" get HIV not from female partners, but on the "down low" by bottoming for other guys. Also, Ive always thought it almost impossible to "truly" get HIV from being a Top. I need someone to explain to me, the physiological transmission process of how a Top can contract HIV from a bottom? It seems like just swimming upstream, the fluid transmission is one way - from Top to Bottom. So, how does the Top get infected?
Ive been a bit out of control lately sexually, I might have some sex addiction problems (no judgements please - thats the last thing I need ok) and have been Topping raw lately in anonymous sex situations. I know the bottoms are most likely positive, but how am I endangering myself (for HIV) ? I need a friendly, knowledgable person to talk to. Thanks.
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Fluid transmission in not one-way, not sure where you got that odd idea. A bottom may be more likely to become infected, but the word "more" doesn't indicate exclusively in any dictionary I've read.
And do you honestly believe all of the heterosexual transmissions are from closeted men having gay sex? There must be a lot of closeted gay men in Africa then. Or any primarily African American neighborhood in the US for that matter.
If you are sexually active, whether raw or protected and with multiple partners you should be having a full STI panel done either every sex months or annually, preferably every six since you are doing it raw and with multiple partners.
btw, this thread is six years old and you may benefit from starting/authoring a brand new thread so that the discussion is all about you and your needs, thanks.
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I hope someone on this thread will read this and kindly reply to me. I am probably somewhat naive, even if I stubbornly don't want to admit that. I have generally believed that "Straight Men" get HIV not from female partners, but on the "down low" by bottoming for other guys. Also, Ive always thought it almost impossible to "truly" get HIV from being a Top. I need someone to explain to me, the physiological transmission process of how a Top can contract HIV from a bottom? It seems like just swimming upstream, the fluid transmission is one way - from Top to Bottom. So, how does the Top get infected?
Ive been a bit out of control lately sexually, I might have some sex addiction problems (no judgements please - thats the last thing I need ok) and have been Topping raw lately in anonymous sex situations. I know the bottoms are most likely positive, but how am I endangering myself (for HIV) ? I need a friendly, knowledgable person to talk to. Thanks.
You really think that the millions of str8 men who have been infected are all on the DL bottoms?? REALLY??
I don't think you need to understand the "physiological transmission process" -- you need to stop rationalizing your behavior and pull your head out of the sand. You want to know "how am I endangering myself (for HIV)" -- you are having sex without a condom.
When was the last time you were tested -- this could already be a totally academic question for you. Get yourself tested -- for HIV and all other STD's. If you think you have a sex addiction -- get some counseling, but if you test negative and want to stay that way -- STOP FUCKING WITHOUT A CONDOM. Enjoy all the sex you want -- just do it safely.
Mike
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I hope someone on this thread will read this and kindly reply to me. I am probably somewhat naive, even if I stubbornly don't want to admit that. I have generally believed that "Straight Men" get HIV not from female partners, but on the "down low" by bottoming for other guys. Also, Ive always thought it almost impossible to "truly" get HIV from being a Top. I need someone to explain to me, the physiological transmission process of how a Top can contract HIV from a bottom? It seems like just swimming upstream, the fluid transmission is one way - from Top to Bottom. So, how does the Top get infected?
Ive been a bit out of control lately sexually, I might have some sex addiction problems (no judgements please - thats the last thing I need ok) and have been Topping raw lately in anonymous sex situations. I know the bottoms are most likely positive, but how am I endangering myself (for HIV) ? I need a friendly, knowledgable person to talk to. Thanks.
James,
Are you HIV positive? Your post reads like it belongs in the Am I Infected forum and until you answer my question, DO NOT POST in any other thread than this one.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Joe
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Hi James . As Joe has already asked you, please only post in this one thread and if you cant find the thread you can visit your profile and select show own post and it will take you here . Please read the welcome thread at the top of this page for the posting guidelines . You have three questions before having to buy a subscription . I have the impression you are not HIV positive your self ?
The risk for sexually transmitting HIV is from unprotected vaginal and anal sex . You stated that you have had unprotected sex so you must test 6 weeks past any possible exposure and again at 3 months to confirm the results .
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 STDs 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!
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James,
You're playing with fire and sooner or later, you're going to get burnt. And it's not just hiv that may burn you.
Hiv can only infect a very few, very specific cells. These cells are present in the lining of the anus, vagina, the inner foreskin (the part you can't see when the penis is flaccid and the foreskin is folded over the head), and the lining of the urethra.
It is the foreskin and the lining of the urethra that is vulnerable in tops. Fluids get pushed down inside the urethra during the in-and-out of intercourse and this can lead to infection, particularly if the bottom has a high viral load. While this is more difficult to achieve, it is by NO MEANS impossible. Hiv IS present in the anal mucosa in people with untreated hiv.
I know quite a few straight men who have NOT engaged in receptive anal intercourse and are hiv positive. Two of them I know very well and we have honest relationships where they would tell me if they'd engaged in this activity. (They know I love them regardless and would never judge. They've told me things about themselves they wouldn't tell another soul.)
YOU NEED TO TEST.
The earliest you should test for hiv is at six weeks following the last incident of unprotected anal (or vaginal) intercourse. The vast majority of people who have actually been infected will seroconvert and test positive by six weeks, with the average time to seroconversion being only 22 days.
A six week negative must be confirmed at the three month point, but is highly unlikely to change.
You have also been putting yourself at risk for all the other, MUCH more easily transmitted STIs. They're important too - for example, untreated syphilis can lead to death. Primary syphilis sores (chancres) are painless, so they often go unnoticed.
The ONLY way to know if you've been infected with syphilis is to test. Syphilis is on the rise in the MSM demographic - largely because it is so easily unnoticed and because it's so easily transmitted. It only takes skin-to-skin contact, UNLIKE hiv.
Another example - untreated chlamydia can lead to infertility and/or arthritis. Chlamydia has no symptoms in up to 80% of men, so again, the only way to know if you've been infected is to test.
BTW, syphilis shares a three month testing window with hiv for a conclusive negative result. The other STIs can be tested for ten days to two weeks following unprotected intercourse. You need to be aware that you can also get things like gonorrhea in your throat/mouth, so if you give blowjobs you should also have your throat swabbed for STIs.
I hope you realise I'm not judging you. You can have all the sex you want, just make sure you're wearing a condom. The consequences of not doing so can be catastrophic, and not only where hiv is concerned.
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!
Ann