[Question #12092] Will my anxiety about HIv ever vanish?
 |
10 months ago
|
In the last six months I've had 3 exposures. One was with a transwoman and we had anal sex with a condom on. She was the reciever. The second was with a different person twice. Both time she was the receiver and I used a condom. With both people i did recieve oral sex wothout the condom but very briefly. For the first incident the condom started to come off as she was getting off me. It never came off during the action. It stopped around the male clitoral area. I get tested in a few weeks at my bi annual checkup.
All three times I felt protected. But the time when the condom started to come off/ moved up is getting to me. Both partners have told me they don't have hiv and have been tested. The second partner whom I interacted twice with is on prep and is very proactive in stating clean and safe. So why do I feel like I have HIV? Why does the condom coming up make me feel like I am at a huge risk?
 |
Edward W. Hook M.D.
10 months ago
|
Welcome to our forum. Thank you for your questions and your implied confidence in our service. I’ll be happy to comment, but I’m not sure that I will have answers to the questions of why you are concerned about these exposures.
In addition, let me congratulate your commitment to safe, condom protected sex. Condoms are an excellent way for prevention of STI, including HIV. In addition, you did a great thing by asking your partners about their status and whether or not they were taking preventative measures such as PrEP.
As long as you are using condoms for your sexual activity, and as long as those condoms do not break, the sexual encounters should describe our virtually no risk. On occasion would Perrson are embarking on sexual experiences, they sometimes feel a level of concern or guilt. I hope that is not the case for you.
If you remain concerned about your risk, my advice would be to test at all sites of sexual exposure. If those tests are negative, you can be confident you are not infected. EWH.
--- |
10 months ago
|
I know testing will help alot. The wait time is a killer because I'll think to myself that somehow the condom had a tear or maybe I'm just unlucky.
I always believe in using condoms unless I'm exclusive with anyone. So somehow I need to learn to accept the uncertainty but also keep my confidence high because I took tike to protect myself correctly.
Sorry just anxiety getting to me.
|
10 months ago
|
My follow-up question, if the condom stays around the penis head. Or it moves up the shaft but doesn't come off is that can still considered proper usage? Because I think that one incident is the only one that I can think of where I was second-guessing the protection level.
|
Edward W. Hook M.D.
10 months ago
|
Slippage during sex is common. As long as the head of the penis is covered, the condom will do its job. I would not worry about diminished effectiveness due to condom slippage. EWH---
|
9 months ago
|
Hello doctor,
So one of the people I had intercourse with. Has just expressed to me that she is HIV positive. She is on meds and undetectable. But when we had sex I don't think she was on medications because she had not gotten tested at that time. We had unprotected oral sex. This is the person where the condom slipped a little bit. I am very much deeply concerned at this point and scared. I'm getting tested today. But I feel like I'm going to get an HIV positive test.
|
Edward W. Hook M.D.
9 months ago
|
Thanks for the additional information. It was good of her to tell you about her infection- not everyone would do that
Even if she were HIV infected and untreated at the time of your encounter, there would be virtually no risk of HIV related to either receipt of oral sex or condom slippage as long as the head of your penis was covered. As long as it has been 6 weeks or more since your encounter, the test you get today will be conclusive.
As you know, we provide up to 3 responses to each client's questions. This 3rd response will complete the thread which will be closed shortly. EWH
---