Sorry to return but reading through the threads I just wanted to address my concerns before anxiety develops over an encounter I had. Last night at a strip club I had received protected oral sex with a condom. Probably lasted five minutes I did keep my finger around the shaft where the condom ended to make sure she didn’t go past that point, but possible saliva ended up coming into contact with skin. I fingered her briefly as well and most likely made contact with my skin with that finger at some point after. I woke up this morning with a red mark on the shaft below the head kind of looks like a pimple but hard to tell. I just want to know what risks or if any I am at given the exposure and I would assume it’s way too soon for that red mark to be anything (herpes or other std) from the exposure that was probably 8 hours ago right? Thank you and sorry to return, you guys are so informative. 

Receipt of oral sex is very low risk- most CSWs do not have STIs, including HIV; even when infected, most single unprotected exposures do not result in infection; you used a condom which makes your risk virtually zero for all STIs.  Finally, there are no STIs which would lead to symptoms in less than 24 hours after exposure, much less at 8 hours.  What you noticed may have been there before or had some other cause- it was not an STI.  I suggest you relax and do not engage in repeated self-examination which is likely to only lead to misidentification of other non-STI related anatomic variations.  If you develop symptoms, you will know it and do not need to repeatedly examine yourself.

I hope that this response and suggestions are helpful.  EWH

No need for concern.  No need for testing EWH

Unfortunately my anxiety is still getting the best of me. I started not to feel well 3 days after exposure and on 5th day from exposure I tested positive for covid. I was going to take an oraquick test to rule out the symptoms I have from covid are not from HIV or any other STI, but I read that while positive for covid 19 it can lead to false positives for HIV? 

I just am having trouble moving past this incident because of my guilt and I don’t want to infect my partner with anything. Given that I now have covid which symptoms are congestion, throat pain not necessarily sore throat, headache and I don’t believe I’ve had a fever yet. I have yet to take the oraquick for fear of false positive and have not received any other testing as you have advised against it given the exposure. With now testing positive for covid do you think I should still refrain from any and all STI testing?

Testing is a personal decision.  There may be a slight risk of a false positive antibody test for HIV or perhaps syphilis due to your COVID but that risk is low.  The results of a urine test for gonorrhea and chlamydia are will be reliable despite your COVID.  You need to do what you need to do to move forward.  If you choose to test, the risk of a false positive is quite low.  

As you know, we provide up to 3 response to each client's questions.  This is my 3rd response.  Thus this thread will be closed shortly.  Try to not worry- there is no reason.  Hoping you recover quickly from your COVID.  EWH