[Question #10261] Protected anal sex

24 months ago

am 35 years old, two days ago I had protected anal sex with a male (transgender) I was the one above, intercourse took less than a minute, I was sure that the condom did not fail (I tested it by filling it with water after that and nothing came out of it), and after Immediately finished, I washed the penis using a shower gel.

This is my first time having anal sex.

I could not reach this person again, but I will try to reach him to ask him

What makes me anxious:

1: I read previous answers here, and remember that anal sex with a man is dangerous even if he is protected

A: I am afraid of the rectal secretions that were on the condom, that they came into contact with the penis while I was washing it, and this is what worries me the most.

my regards

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

24 months ago

Welcome to the forum. Thank you for your question.

As you already know, this event could have been quite high risk for HIV. However, you were wise in using a condom, which was close to 100% protective since it did not obviously fail. (The "water test" isn't necessary: if the condom didn't break wide open, protection was complete. It's an urban myth that microscopic or small holes are common or increase the risk of infection even if present. Only wide open breakage matters.)

To your specific questions:

1) Whether anal sex with male partners is "dangerous" is a matter of definition and the particular situation. On this forum we have never said anything different than my comments above about condom protection. The chance you have caught HIV probably is on the order of one chance in 100,000 or lower.

2) Brief contact with rectal secretions carries little or no risk. Simple contact of infected fluids with the penis carries no risk at all.

This exposure was low enough risk that testing for HIV is optional. Of course you are free to do it, and the tone of your question suggests that my words alone aren't going to entirely settle your fears; probably a negative HIV test result will be more reassuring than anything I can say. If so, I suggest an initial HIV antigen-antibody test (AgAb test, also called "4th generation", "duo", or "combo" test). Any standard lab will have it available. Do it about 3 weeks from now. At that point, these tests will detect about 95% of new HIV infections, so the negative result will be very reassuring. For 100% conclusive result, however, you'll need the same test at least 6 weeks after the event.

Alternatively, if you are successful in contacting your partner, and if he convinces you he has recently tested negative -- or if he has HIV but is on effective treatment (no detectable virus in his blood) -- you will know you were not exposed and could not have been infected. In that case, you won't need testing yourself.

My final advice is for future sexual exposures: always communicate with your partner before starting sex, and don't proceed if they are HIV positive (and untreated), don't know, or seem evasive about it. People rarely lie about their HIV status when asked directly.

I hope these comments are helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear.

HHH, MD

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24 months ago

First, I would like to apologize for not opening my previous question with a salutation to you, (I was very anxious writing my question)

Secondly, thank you very much for your answer, you reassured me a lot

All points are clear, thank you.

But can I do an RNA PCR test after 11 or 13 days have passed?

If the result is negative, will it be reassured with a good percentage?

Thank you again for your answer and for the help and answers here on the site

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

24 months ago

You can do an RNA test, sure -- we don't normally recommend it when the risk is so low. The negative results at 11-13 days will also be about 95% conclusive; you'll still need an AgAb test. However, if you do RNA, you can do the AgAb at 4 weeks, no need to wait until the 6 week mark.

Don't worry about niceties like salutations, but thanks for the comment.

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24 months ago

good greeting ,
Today, the test results appeared after 13 days of sexual intercourse, (PCR) + (Combo), and they were all negative.
I feel very reassured, am I right?
In addition, I did not mention it last time, thinking that the matter is of low risk, but obsessive-compulsive disorder plays a major role in these matters. I had another contact on the same day with (a female) and the contact was protected, but I licked the clitoris for a short time, since in the third day symptoms appeared (swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck + simple sore throat + intermittent fever, the temperature may rise only one hour per day for three days I don't think it's up to 38 )
Sore throat disappeared
But swollen glands go and come back until now
No rise in body temperature now
Do I continue to feel reassured by the negative results
Thank you for your efforts

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

24 months ago

Thanks for the additional information. The second sexual contact you describe was very low risk in regard to HIV, and the symptoms three days later was much too soon to be caused by HIV; and no other STD is a likely cause either. You caught a cold, that's all -- perhaps from your partner, but no way to know of certain.

Congratulations on the negative test results -- they are equally reassuring in regard to both sexual experiences described.

That completes the two follow-up exchanges included with each question and so end this thread. I hope the discussion has been helpful. Best wishes and stay safe!

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