need your advice dear doctor

[okman]

More than one and a half months ago, I performed oral on a woman with an unknown status and she performed on me,we also exchanged deep kisses, no vaginal or anal, but I remember swallowing some of her fluids and saliva, though in tiny amounts. I'm not certain if any of us had cuts in our mouths. But now I've had a sore throat for almost one week's time with thin phlegm though it's been diminishing. Though I've been exposed to the air conditioner and that may have caused the illness, I still feel worried.  Dear doctor, how would you rate my risk? Thank you! How possible for it to be gonorrhea in the throat? And I swear I would never go to places like that again. If I ever did, here is what would become of me: I would be thrown into boiling oil after going into the hell in the Oriental belief and would never be delivered. I mean it.

[Ann]

OK,

Neither going down on a woman nor getting a blowjob are risks for hiv infection. Not one person has ever become infected with hiv this way and you won't be the first. Kissing is not a risk either.

Not only is saliva not infectious, but it also contains over a dozen different proteins and enzymes that damage hiv and render it unable to infect.

You haven't had a risk, so stop beating yourself up.

Ann

[okman]

Thank you Ann. But what about my sore throat? Could it be related to gonorrhea or any other STD? It's been almost one week though it's died down now. And I hope people can stay faithful to their spouse and stay clear of any risk forever.

[Ann]

OK,

We cannot diagnose your sore throat here. You'll have to go to your doctor and discuss it with him or her.

Whatever is going on will NOT have anything to do with hiv. Going down on a woman is not a risk for hiv infection.

Ann

[okman]

Thanks. Now one final question: what if my penis touched fluids from her vagina before her oral on me? Do I have to make a deal of it?

[Matty the Damned]

OK

No that's not a risk either. And don't go thinking that we're going to dole out piecemeal answers to every scenario you think up. We aren't.

As Ann has told you, you didn't have a risk. See your doctor if you feel ill.

MtD

[okman]

Thank you two, any way.

[okman]

Is it OK i saved the trouble of going thru all the procedures when getting registered in here and use my friend's account? I'm male, 31. 1/2 year back, I had an encounter with a prostitute. Shortly after our foreplay began, she put my penis into her vigina (cannot remember how wet it was then). I knew it was risky and therefore immediately pulled out. Later we had viginal with a condomn. How big a risk have I been exposed to, my dear doc? My friend told me not to do the same again and I think he's right. Thanks.

[RapidRod]

I'm sure you will be advised to register under your own account.

[okman]

yes I know, but that I will have to wait confirmation sent to my e-mail inbox, but I'm so anxious now and urgently need an answer. Would you give a reply and I'll register on my own and ask for your advice? I'm very sorry. I'll surely sign up myself.

[Ann]

OK,

I've merged the threads under this same account. As it looks as though you are posting from the same computer, I'd rather you stuck to the one account. If you have your own computer to post from, then you can create your own account.

If you've been in someone's vagina without a condom on, then you've been at risk and you need to test.

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.

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.

A test at three months past your unprotected incident will be conclusive.

Ann

[okman]

yes i am posting from my friend's computer. Thank you for your answer and I'll test!

[Ann]

OK,

As the unprotected portion of your encounter was very brief, you have an excellent chance of testing negative - as long as this was your only unprotected experience. However, it's not only sex workers you need to be using condoms with. You need to be using condoms with ANYONE you have anal or vaginal intercourse with. Every time. NO exceptions.

You have put yourself at risk so you do need to test. Please let this be a lesson! Don't forget to test for all the other sexually transmitted infections too - they're MUCH easier to transmit than hiv. You can test for most of them ten days to two weeks after the encounter. Ask your doctor or sexual health clinic for details.

By the way, we're not doctors here, just people in the know.

Ann

[okman]

doctors or not, what you do in here I trully appreciate! Thank you again, have a good day:)

[okman]

Is it scientifically grounded that it's harder for a female to transmit to a male than the other way round? And what is the ground? Please do the same with "someone circum-cised is exposed to less risk if engaged in unprotected VS (viginal sex)" (and how much less?). Thank you very much.

[RapidRod]

Yes it's true. A woman has more of an area to infect than does a guy.

[okman]

Yes it's true. A woman has more of an area to infect than does a guy.

Thanks. "To infect" or "to be infected"? Could you clarify?

[Ann]

OK,

Hiv can only latch onto a very few, very specific types of cells. This needs to happen INSIDE the body, where the conditions are right and the virus can remain undamaged.

The receptive partner in either unprotected anal or vaginal  intercourse is always at more risk of infection because the surface area where the necessary cell types are present is MUCH greater. Also, the infectious fluid is left behind, inside the body, where it remains undamaged by environmental factors.

The area where the necessary cell types are found on a penis is in the urethra (where you pee from) and the underside of the foreskin. This is a MUCH smaller surface area than either the inside of a vagina or rectum. If you take away the foreskin, you also take away an area that is susceptible to hiv infection. Not having a foreskin does NOT make you immune to infection, it just slightly lessens the chance.

Also, the penis is only at risk while it is INSIDE the other person's body, as hiv quickly becomes damaged when it is outside the body.

Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, correctly and consistently, and you will avoid hiv infection. It really is that simple.

Ann

[okman]

Ann thank you for your nice answer. That really made me understand how things go on. This time I'm here with a new question. I've just got a girlfriend through some other friends. We've just dated a few times then here's what happened. I touched her anus and even sucked it - I know that's what you call rim here - during our first intimate contact. I kissed her all over the body and then did what I've just told. I didn't touch her vigina and of course no penetration happened. However maybe our genitals rubbed against each other. Then what would you say about that? Of cours I didn't ask her if she'd got anything, because that's a bit impolite in our culture. Also I posted this without her knowing. Maybe I've become somewhat over-sensitive since my last exposure, but I just want to be sure about things. Thank you!

[Andy Velez]

Touching, kissing, tongueing and rubbing body parts do not present a risk for HIV transmission. Nor does penetrating the vagina or the anus with fingers.

It's unprotected vaginal or anal intercourse that present risks sexually. As long as you always use condoms for those activities you will be well protected.

You were not at risk in this recent incident.