[Question #12717] Wondering

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5 months ago
For the past 5 years my sexual encounters have been on the safer side. After a negative HIV test 5 years ago I decided to explore my bisexual side. My encounters have been giving and receiving oral, heavy frottage, cum in my mouth and face, heavy rubbing of the man’s penis against my anus (never going inside). 6 months ago I saw a Oraquick test and decided to take it. Blood test make me faint. I took the test as instructed and it was negative. My worry was because an unknown guy came in my eyes and it really stung and made my eye red. I took the test 4 months after the encounter. My question is if I should be worried? Lately my body has been itching all over and I read that could be a symptom of HIV. I constantly itch all over. I do suffer from anxiety as well. Other than that I am a healthy 42yr old man.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
5 months ago
Welcome back to the Forum. I’ll be glad to comment.  As you know from previous posts, most people do not have HIV and most single encounters with infected partners do not lead to infection.  There are no reliable estimates of how,likely infections are following introduction of infected secretions into the eye but certainly the infection rate is lower than for ano-genital sex in which infections occur, on average, less than once In every 2000 exposures.  Thus, even before testing, your risk of infection is quite low.  Your negative test provides strong evidence that you were not infected and that your symptoms are due to something other than HIV or anything else you might have acquired from the encounter you describe. i would not worry further and see no reason for further testing related to the encounter you describe.

I hope this perspective is helpful.  EWH
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5 months ago
So oraquick is an accurate test? And is the itching a non hiv symptom 
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
5 months ago
While the Aura quick test Mrs. slightly more infections than a standard blood test, it’s performances statistically equivalent to that of blood test.  When considered along with the low risk nature of the encounter you described, I would not worry.

Itching is not a sign of HIV. It is highly nonspecific.

You have one follow up remaining. EWH.
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