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Q: hiv risk + unprotected vaginal intercourse

asked by: bigdogdog on November 13th, 2008

New User

3 weeks ago I had unprotected vaginal intercourse. 3 days after the incident I had a full battery of tests for std's, Herpes, and HIV (blood work & CBC). All came back negative.

What were my risks (odds of contracting HIV)?
Were/are the tests worthless and should I be re-tested?

Now at 3 weeks later I have had many sleepless nights. Several of those nights involving alcohol and waking with hangover. Am now dealing with post nasal drip, waking with headache/sore neck, scratchy throat. Also when I have been trying to get back to training on the bicycle I feel awful, w/elevated Heart Rate and poor recovery. I had surgery in August and have been on prednisone since. Now trying to taper off. Also had been taking avelox and stopped due to "itchy feeling" since my episode three weeks ago.

Mentally not doing well with this as starting to feel like a hypochondriac.
Need answers, help and direction.

Thank you

Replies(9)

lovemysoldier

replied on November 15th, 2008

New User

Your symptoms seem to be more geared to your withdrawl from your prednisone.

As for the HIV test... someone correct me if I am wrong... but I think you should have waited more than 3 weeks to get tested. I wouldn't worry very much about it. It is difficult for a man to contract HIV from a woman through normal vaginal intercourse. She would have had to have been bleeding through an open sore (or have an open sore) AND you would have had to have an open sore on your penis AND those open sores would have had to been in direct contact with each other in order to contract it. Vaginal discharge (from what I've read) does not contain any or enough of the virus to infect another person, especially a man. Rest easy.. but DO get tested again in a few months to put your mind at ease.

And in the future.. USE PROTECTION.... you don't want to put yourself through this again!

Good luck!

lovemysoldier

replied on November 15th, 2008

New User

sorry, I re-read your post.. 3 days is NOT enough time to get accurate test results for any STD that I know of .... but especially the HIV test. Unless you didn't tell your doctor that it had only been three days... I am shocked that he or she did not advise you to wait longer before allowing yourself to be tested.

I'm really thinking that you are over reacting a bit (which is good.... don't get me wrong).... but it looks like more of a withdrawl from your Rx drugs.

henry456

replied on November 29th, 2008

New User

"t is difficult for a man to contract HIV from a woman through normal vaginal intercourse. She would have had to have been bleeding through an open sore (or have an open sore) AND you would have had to have an open sore on your penis AND those open sores would have had to been in direct contact with each other in order to contract it."

Is this 100% true?

bigdogdog

replied on December 1st, 2008

New User

Re: difficulty in contracting HIV

I am not sure if your post is a question or a reply to mine.

Please clarify.

I am now at 6 weeks from an episode of unprotected vaginal intercourse. I tested at 3 days post and again at week 4, both have been negative. I plan on testing again at week 8 and then again at week 12.

As for the odds of contracting HIV from female to male, I am not sure.

Does anyone have an answer to this?

deteragram

replied on December 1st, 2008

Supporter

According to tow websites I found:
The estimated risk of acquiring HIV infection through one episode of unprotected vaginal-insertive intercourse is approximately 1 in 200 to 1 in 1000. The risk is estimated because it would be unethical to do an actual experiment to determine the odds. Note that it probably is easier for a female to acquire HIV in this fashion from a male than for a male to acquire it from a female. The reason for this difference is that the male deposits a collection of virus-laden fluid in the female, which is in contact with the vaginal mucosa for a prolonged period of time.

The chance of a male catching HIV from a female during unprotected sex is 1 in 7000.

homerx

replied on December 1st, 2008

Moderator

Re: difficulty in contracting HIV

bigdogdog wrote:

As for the odds of contracting HIV from female to male, I am not sure. Does anyone have an answer to this?

I think the odds don't matter...if it is one in 10 or one in a million,you could be the one so don't be concerned about stats,get tested.
I recommend waiting 3 months after possible infection and getting a blood test. No questions will remain about your status after that. Blood tests are conclusive and I recommend them over any other.

bigdogdog

replied on December 3rd, 2008

New User

re: tests and overdoing it?

I am now at 6 weeks from an episode of unprotected vaginal intercourse. I tested at 3 days post and again at week 4, both have been negative. I plan on testing again at week 8 and then again at week 12.

My test at 3 days was a full blood count/CBC test and that came back negative. Recently I have been having problems with itching and no rash. My Dr. last week drew blood to do a battery of allergy tests. The results came back today as negative.

Would a sero load showed on those tests?

As for my Odds, I was the male in the act of debauchery! You are right, odds are odds, I was only asking to at least give myself some semblance of comfort. I plan on testing again at my 8 week mark with a blood test (ORAQUICK ADVANCE® RAPID HIV-1/2 ANTIBODY TEST) and then another test at 12 weeks with a full blood panel.

Am I overdoing it?

homerx

replied on December 4th, 2008

Moderator

Re: re: tests and overdoing it?

bigdogdog wrote:

Am I overdoing it?

Its up to you. I don't see the point in doing all these other tests though.Wait the 3 months and get a blood test....there is no need for any thing else. Unless it just makes you feel better. Its a personal decision but unnecessary as far as I am concerned.A blood test at 3 months is all it takes.

Muthoni

replied on December 13th, 2008

Supporter

I beg to differ.

lovemysoldier wrote:

... It is difficult for a man to contract HIV from a woman through normal vaginal intercourse. She would have had to have been bleeding through an open sore (or have an open sore) AND you would have had to have an open sore on your penis AND those open sores would have had to been in direct contact with each other in order to contract it. Vaginal discharge (from what I've read) does not contain any or enough of the virus to infect another person, especially a man. Rest easy.. but DO get tested again in a few months to put your mind at ease.

And in the future.. USE PROTECTION.... you don't want to put yourself through this again!

Good luck!

Blood has the highest concentration of HIV, next sperm and then vaginal fluids. The way infection occurs during sex is through little cuts and tears which occur due to friction during sex. The woman doesn't have to be bleeding. The vaginal fluids have enough HIV to cause infection.

My advice to the writer is as Homerx says - wait three months and get a blood test.

Lovemysoldier, I like the USE PROTECTION part Smile

Let's tell it to the earth

world. Looks like the world is deaf...

Always
Muthoni (Mson)
curtsey

Users who thank Muthoni for this post: homerx

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