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HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: C90 on June 06, 2021, 08:21:11 am

Title: Possible exposure
Post by: C90 on June 06, 2021, 08:21:11 am
Hello, first of all I would like to say what great forum this is and I feel lucky to have stumbled across it after weeks of googling about the risk of my actions that took place 2 weeks ago. I have read many threads on here of similar situations but I still feel the need to tell my story and get a honest opinion from explaining my risk factors. So here it goes....

I recently had a interaction with a female sex worker, the night started off drinking lots of alcohol then we went out to buy some cocaine. I took 2 lines of cocaine in the taxi then we stopped at a local bar to buy some more beer to take back to the hotel thats when I was approached by the female. We went to a nearby hotel where the following took place.

We stripped naked and washed our genitals, I then put on the condom the best I could as I was not hard and she proceeded to try and give me oral but I still wasn't hard, she then took the condom off and tried oral again but still no luck. I then started to finger her with my bare fingers to try and arous myself, i fingered her quite hard and she said it was a little sore, she did not seem wet so I removed my fingers and put them straight in my mouth to try and lubricate them before fingering her again but my mouth was I little dry. I was still not hard and she tried one more time to give me unpotected oral before we stopped everything and left.

I have read alot of posts relating to similar situation and believe I'm not at risk but one thing that worries me Is that my mouth was quite dry most likely due to cocaine, I also have bad teeth and my gums sometimes bleed when brushing so I am pretty concerned. I have had symptoms the past week and have worried myself sick since the encounter. I will list the risks I am concerned about and symptoms below:

Risks:
Oral no condom
Fingered her hard then inserted fingers into my mouth
Possibly small cut on finger
Dry mouth so not much saliva
Bad teeth with a lot of fillings
Dental work 2 weeks prior
General bad oral hygiene with bleeding gums sometimes
Heavy smoker (more so after the encounter with the FSW)
High Risk Country for HIV & HBV

Symptoms after 10 days:

Burning tip of Penis
Very sore throat
Swollen neck lymph nodes
Tiredness/fatigue
White tongue
Rash on arms

I know i have got some other std but I'm very concerned about HIV.

This is my first interaction with a prostitute and its safe to say it will be the last whatever the out come of my tests are when I get home.

I would like to say thanks in advance

Title: Re: Possible exposure
Post by: Jim Allen on June 06, 2021, 08:51:57 am
Fingering and receiving a blowjob is no HIV risk to you whatsoever. You did not aquire HIV from these activities.

Move on with your life.

Here's what you need to know to avoid HIV infection:
Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, correctly and consistently, every time, no exceptions. Consider talking to your healthcare provider about PrEP in the future as an additional layer of HIV protection

Keep in mind that some sexual practices described as ‘safe’ in terms of HIV transmission might still pose a risk for transmission of other STI's, so please do get tested regularly and at least yearly for all STI's including but not limited to HIV and test more frequently if unprotected intercourse occurs

Also, note that it is possible to have an STI and show no signs or symptoms and, the only way of knowing is by testing.

Kind regards

Jim

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Title: Re: Possible exposure
Post by: C90 on June 06, 2021, 09:54:09 am
Thank you for the quick response Jim much appreciated. My main concern was how far I put my fingers I her and then put them in my mouth with not great oral hygiene but I know you will have read and taken that into consideration before responding. I will also post my full test results here once I am back in the UK and have been tested to help put others mind at rest who have similar situations.


I have 1 more question if.you don't mind me asking do you know of any forums similar to this one that covers HBV? The ones I have found are basically non existent compared to this forum and I would like to know my risk regarding the HBV virus from my encounter.

Thanks again
Title: Re: Possible exposure
Post by: Jim Allen on June 06, 2021, 10:06:33 am
No need to post results as you did not aquire HIV from these activities, that much is certain. Your silence will speak volumes.

About hepatitis there is a forum.
https://forums.hepmag.com/

Title: Re: Possible exposure
Post by: C90 on June 06, 2021, 10:22:45 am
Thank you Jim
Title: Re: Possible exposure
Post by: Jim Allen on June 08, 2021, 02:42:38 pm
You're welcome
Title: Re: Possible exposure
Post by: C90 on March 16, 2024, 07:48:15 pm
Hi all, hope everyone is doing well.

I have a question regarding my 6 week post exposure test.

I purchased a test kit from Superdrug online doctor where a blood sample is taken at home from the finger, you fill a test tube and send it off to the lab to be tested. This test is 4th gen that tests for both HIV 1&2 Antibodies + P24 Antigen.

Would this test be considered as conclusive as one that was drawn from the vein?
Title: Re: Possible exposure
Post by: Jim Allen on March 16, 2024, 07:50:43 pm
What exposure?
Title: Re: Possible exposure
Post by: C90 on March 16, 2024, 08:03:05 pm
Honestly, I can’t remember everything as I was so drunk, I remember patches on the encounter 🤦🏻‍♂️The parts I do partially remember is some unprotected oral both ways. There was a used condom in the bin but there was also a condom on the floor which was opened but not used giving me the fear I went again unprotected. Also some blood on the sheets I assume from her as I had no cuts or anything
Title: Re: Possible exposure
Post by: Jim Allen on March 16, 2024, 08:20:36 pm
Well "her" could mean a few things today. However, until you tell me otherwise I will presume for my answer below that she had a vagina.

Quote
The parts I do partially remember is some unprotected oral both ways

Not an HIV risk to you.

Let's start with receiving a blowjob, well after 40+ years of this pandemic in terms of BJs, there hasn't been a single documented case of HIV transmission to an insertive partner (the person being "sucked"), and you will not be the worlds first.

As for cunnilingus, well the fluid a woman produces when sexually excited comes from the Bartholin's glands; this is a lubricating fluid and does not have any more HIV present than other bodily secretions such as saliva, sweat or tears. Saliva, sweat and tears are not infectious fluids. 

In addition, although redundant, the mouth generally lacks a route and is a hostile environment towards HIV, and saliva is another barrier as it breaks down the receptors needed for HIV to infect.

It's not an HIV concern. Although, plenty of other far easier-to-transmit STIs you can get from the activities but not HIV, still, no need to panic though, just get an STI screening yearly out of standard routine.

Quote
Also some blood on the sheets I assume from her as I had no cuts or anything

It changes nothing unless she bled half to death on the bed and that didn't happen.

Quote
I can’t remember everything as I was so drunk
Quote
I purchased a test kit from Superdrug online doctor

If you were that drunk I must presume for the risk assessment that condomless intercourse occurred.

As for the Superdrug test, well if done correctly it is considered reliable at 6 weeks. You can retest at 3 months if you wish but generally, that's unnecessary. However, it's missing the STI screening that I would recommend.

I would recommend you attend a clinic and get an HIV & STI screening. If for whatever reason you can't attend the clinic then instead of buying an HIV test online the next option would be to get an HIV & STI screening from SH24. UK: https://sh24.org.uk or ROI https://sh24.ie




Title: Re: Possible exposure
Post by: C90 on March 16, 2024, 08:35:28 pm
Thanks Jim and yes I am treating treating this as an unprotected encounter due to the fact I can’t remember 100%.

The test kit I purchased also tests for Hep B,C & Syphilis. I also purchased a kit that tests for other STI’s.

I took the test as instructed and I’m sure the lab will have notified me if there was anything wrong with the sample as I have seen people complaining because the lab had told them the sample they provided could not be tested for whatever reason so they would send another kit to them.

I’m confident that this test is accurate as the test was done properly but I should probably get a vein drawn blood test to be sure.

Cheers Jim



Title: Re: Possible exposure
Post by: Jim Allen on March 16, 2024, 08:39:50 pm
You're welcome.

Next time go to the clinc or order from the sh24. That way it's at least free of charge and when visiting the clinic you also can talk to someone.
Title: Re: Possible exposure
Post by: C90 on March 16, 2024, 08:49:10 pm
Unfortunately SH24 does not supply to my area in the uk, the other option via SH24 is a paid service Fettle which seems to use the same lab as Superdrug although having checked they are a little cheaper so may use them in the future if needed.