POZ Community Forums

HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: Gb01 on September 20, 2013, 08:09:49 am

Title: What is the risk of HIV
Post by: Gb01 on September 20, 2013, 08:09:49 am
Hi,

I had a massage from a sex worker, I had a condom on whilst she was on top and don't remember entering her as I was not fully erect.   My concern is of the risk I am at against HIV.

After the encounter I went to the bathroom and took off the condom which had vaginal fluid on it and repeatedly washed my penis a number of times during the night.  There was some semen in the condom.  After a couple nights of guilt and feeling stupid and 48 hours after the encounter I noticed white discharge.  At 56 hours I turned up at the clinic who advised it was too early to test but did anyway.  I tested positive for clamydia and was treated however I am now racking my brains over the possibility that I also caught something else.  Seems my brain is playing tricks, I have abdominal pain and slight cold which I think I was starting before the episode.  I read that HIV is more complex and harder to catch especially when entering, please could you advise of my risk.  Would clamydia show up so early or could I have already had it.  Nurse advised that the continuous checking and cleaning could have caused an infection and the white discharge.
Title: Re: What is the risk of HIV
Post by: Jeff G on September 20, 2013, 08:23:27 am
You didn't have a risk for HIV , you had protected sex and that's not a risk . The risk factors for HIV are ...

Sharing IV drug needles immediately after use.
Unprotected anal and vaginal sex.
Mother to child during or shortly after birth
Very specific healthcare situations.

Many Stds like chlamydia can be present without symptoms for long periods of time with no obvious symptoms and it sure sounds like you were exposed to chlamydia well before your recent concern .

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!
 
Title: Re: What is the risk of HIV
Post by: Gb01 on September 20, 2013, 08:28:48 am
Thanks for your response, anxiety is obviously set in at the moment, and symptoms make me worry more, it was 8 years since last sexual contact outside of current relationship. I plan to attend for a test at four weeks, two more weeks to go.
Title: Re: What is the risk of HIV
Post by: Jeff G on September 20, 2013, 08:30:55 am
If you want to test for peace of mind the window period is 6 weeks past any possible exposure and again at 3 months to confirm the results . Testing before then can give inaccurate results . 
Title: Re: What is the risk of HIV
Post by: Gb01 on September 20, 2013, 12:25:04 pm
Thanks , just very concerned of the symptoms I am feeling, sore neck burning sensation, abdominal pain and tired.  The woman was very aroused and there was definitely fluid present on the outside of the condom.
Title: Re: What is the risk of HIV
Post by: Jeff G on September 20, 2013, 12:29:08 pm
The female secretion where hiv has been shown to be present is the cervicovaginal fluid. This fluid is actually a thick mucus that covers and protects the cervix.

The fluid a woman produces when sexually excited comes from the Bartholin's glands, located on either side of the vaginal opening. This lubricating fluid 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.

You didn't have a risk , stop worrying .