[Question #12758] HIV Transmission Question

5 months ago

I will open by stating that I have HIV phobia and that this is a reassurance question. I am seeing a therapist. I recently had unprotected vaginal sex and am planning to have a test done at 4 weeks. I also recently helped my young son open a couple zits on his nose with my thumbs, which provided a couple small breaks in the skin. Directly after, my OCD kicked in became worried about potential transmission. I thoroughly examined my thumbs, neither of which had any opening or bleeding. Can you please confirm that since I had no blood or other bodily fluid on my thumbs that this was not a potential transmission risk?

Thank you for your compassion.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

5 months ago

Welcome toe the forum. I'm happy to address your concerns and hope they help you deal with your phobia.

You don't say anything about your sex partner and whether there are things about her that make you particularly concerned. In the US, under one in a thousand sexually active women has HIV; even in sex workers, generally under 1% are infected. And the risk of infection from a single episode of unprotected vaginal sex is under one chance in 2,000. Statistically, this means the chance you caught HIV is a maximum of one chance in 200,000 and more likely one chance in 2 million. As for transmitting HIV to your son, that simply does not happen. The kids and other persons who share households with HIV infected persons never catch the virus, even after years of typical parent-child hugging, kissing, wound care, shared toilets, shared kitchen utensils. Transmission by managing pimples has never been known to occur and is zero risk.

There would be no HIV risk to your child even if you have newly acquired HIV, which almost certainly you do not. You don't even need HIV testing, but you can expect a negative result when you do it.

I hope this helps. Let me know if anything isn't clear.

HHH, MD

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5 months ago

Thank you for your prompt response and for allaying my concern. I do not have a particular concern about my partner. In fact, she recently tested negative on a 4th generation test. I cannot be sure she was beyond the window period, but she stated that she hadn't been active in "some time." Is it your opinion that no test is needed for me? Thanks.

5 months ago

I would also quickly add that the sex took place 14 days ago. She became aware of my phobia the day after and got a negative 4th generation test. As stated earlier, I'm not sure how long she had engaged in sex before with me, but my guess would be at least a month. Thanks.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

5 months ago

Of course you do not need testing for HIV, given your partner's negative test result. With a negative result at the time of exposure, she could not have infected you. If the tests are negative, then even during a window period, there is not enough virus in the blood or genital fluids to infect another person. When she had sex with anyone else makes no difference at all. This should now be a closed issue for you: you were not at risk.---

5 months ago

Thank you the clarification. I was unaware that a negative test the day following sex essentially indicates that, even during a window period, there is not enough virus to transmit through vaginal intercourse. As a final question, could you provide further information on this “window period transmission” subject? I had not seen that subject addressed. Thank you for your help it is very appreciated. I wish you the best.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

5 months ago

There are no clear data on this, only basic understanding that HIV cannot be transmitted until there is sufficient virus in the blood and other body fluids; and that achieving such levels is very unlikely before the standard blood test (i.e. the antigen-antibody or "4th generation" test). Transmission probably is possible before the antibody-only tests become positive, but these are not the usual tests these days.

That completes the two follow-up comments and replies included with each question and so ends this thread. I hope the discussion has been helpful.

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