[Question #12780] STD/HIV risk and If I should get tested
 |
5 months ago
|
Hi guys I am male in my 20s who just travelled to Asia. From the end of January to the end of Febaury I have sexual encounters with 10 people. 3 of them fully protected ( oral and vaginal use of condoms) and 7 of them unprotected oral, but protected Vaginal. It’s been two weeks of my last encounter. But I started reading online and getting super paranoid and anxiety about STDs/HIV. I currently have no symptoms except for being hungry all the time( I don’t think that’s one). The unprotected oral is what scares me because. I also heard it’s impossible to get HIV when you wear condom or that’s what I am telling myself. All of those girls were some sort of commercial sex workers( massages or brothels) in Thailand, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Even with no symptoms I’m super nervous of what I can get and if I should get tested.
 |
Edward W. Hook M.D.
5 months ago
|
Welcome to our Forum. Thanks for your comments and your implied confidence on our service Let me start by encouraging you to avoid the internet- it's full of misinformation and will mislead you. Congratulations on your consistent condom use for vaginal sex- that will go a long way toward keeping you safe. As for oral sex, of penetrative sexual activities, receipt of oral sex is amongst the lowest. There are no known cases of HIV proven to have been acquired from receipt of oral sex and the risk of other STIs is relatively low. The most common STI acquired from receipt of oral sex is gonorrhea which is typically symptomatic within within 3-5 days following an exposure. Acquistion of other STIs such as chlamydia is very, very uncommon. The risk for other STIs is also very low.
As far as testing is concerned, testing is always a personal choice. Many clients in low risk situations choose to test for the reassurance negative tests provide. If you choose to test, at this time a urine test for gonorrhea and chlamydia will provide conclusive results. Conclusive testing for less common STIs such as syphilis or even HIV will not provide conclusive results until 6 weeks following your last encounter. Please dop not seek blood tests for herpes. If you were going to develop herpes lesions, they would appear within 10 days of exposure. Blood tests on the other hand are notoriously unreliable- they are insensitive, often giving falsely negative and falsely positive results.
I hope this information is helpful. I would not worry. EWH
--- |
5 months ago
|
Again sorry this might sound repetitive, but I’m really scared about HIv. I cannot get it from my situation right? Condoms stop hiv I’m vaginal sex right? You can’t get hiv from oral. Sorry again I am really scared of HIV
|
Edward W. Hook M.D.
5 months ago
|
Your summary is repetitive. Your risk for HIV is virtually zero. EWH---
|
5 months ago
|
Sorry my anxiety is getting the best of me.
1. Virtually zero mean no risk so no testing needed?
2. Having no symptoms 18 days, being circumcised, no ejaculating during oral, and having pubic hair all lower any ticks I have from HIV right?
3. I don’t need testing right there is now way I got HIV
|
5 months ago
|
I have been losing weight as well and feeling tired all time. I don’t know if these are symptoms
|
Edward W. Hook M.D.
5 months ago
|
As you know we provide up to 3 responses to each client's questions. These will be my final responses.
1. Virtually zero mean no risk so no testing needed?
This is a repetitive question. There is no need for testing for HIV however, testing is always a personal decision. AS I mentioned above, many of our clients choose to test for the reassurance it provides. If HIV is your major concern, an HIV RNA PCR test will provide conclusive results. Should you test, I antiipate that your test will show that you were not infected.
2. Having no symptoms 18 days, being circumcised, no ejaculating during oral, and having pubic hair all lower any ticks I have from HIV right?
Correct.
3. I don’t need testing right there is now way I got HIV
See above. From a scientific perspective, you do not "need" testing. As noted above however, it may help relieve your anxiety which is a likely contributor to your weight loss and fatigue.
Please don't worry. This thread is now complete. There really should be no need to return. EWH
---