[Question #13078] Chance of HIV contraction… an update provided to an earlier question
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2 months ago
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I, female, had unprotected penis in vagina sex with male on April 8, 2025. I got tested with 4th gen lab test with reflexes 14, 27, 31, and 42 days after sexual encounter. All non reactive. Approximately 38 days after this sexual encounter I got sick with body aches, fatigue, and fever between 99 and 100.2 degrees Fahrenheit! As I stated last tested at 42 days negative… how sure can I be that I’m HIV negative? I don’t feel confident at all in the last test I took, as I fear I’m positive and was experiencing symptoms of sero-conversion. Male took rapid antibody test earlier same day of sex, then took another rapid and 4th gen lab 18 days after sex, negative as well. But I’m afraid he might’ve been in acute stage. I’m planning to test again this Friday, pleas help me. I’m so scared.
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
2 months ago
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Welcome back. But having reviewed your recent discussion with Dr. Hook, I'm surprised. Did you not understand his advice?
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"...how can I be sure that I'm HIV negative?" That's simple: believe your blood tests. The results PROVE you do not have HIV. First, you cannot have HIV/ARS symptoms and test negative; the results show something other than HIV is the cause of your possible low grade fever. (You might not have a fever anyway. 99 and even 100.2 are actually at the high end of the normal range of human body temperature. 98.6 is not the maximum, but the average over the course of of a day.) You do not say what other symptoms you have that make you fear HIV seroconversion, but no matter what they are, HIV symptoms are impossible with your test results. In addition the negative AgAb (4th generation) blood test at 42 days is conclusive against HIV (with or without symptoms). Also please believe that your ex partner almost certainly does not have HIV. Assuming you're in the US, not one male in a thousand with his sexual history has HIV.
Perhaps it will also help you to know that in the 21 years of this and our preceding forum, with thousands of questions from persons worried about HIV after a known or possible exposure, nobody has yet been found to be infected. You will not be the first. If and when it finally happens, undoubtedly it will be from a genuinely high risk exposure, which yours definitely was not; and will not have atypically negative early blood tests.
You do not need to test again this Friday or any other time. You definitely don't have HIV. Do your best to believe the reasoned, science based reassurance you have had from us, and perhaps from your own doctors. Believe it!
I hope these comments are helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear.
HHH, MD
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2 months ago
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I did understand his advice, hence me getting tested during symptoms I was experiencing as he advised me to do… unfortunately that didn’t quell my fears. That’s why I’m back here. Also I did mention having body aches and fatigue, along with that fever in first question, now I’m adding mild head/face pain with slight congestion and runny nose, again very slight though. Stating all my symptoms again would this change your perspective on my situation?
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
2 months ago
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Obviously you didn't read, don't understand, or maybe just don't believe what I wrote. Which is it?
Accept all this or not, I don't care. But there is no information that will come to your mind that has any possibility of changing my judgement and my advice that you accept the truth and move on.
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2 months ago
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Firstly, I didn’t pay 25 dollars to be spoken to rudely. I did read everything and I do understand everything I read, I’m not dumb, but I’m coming as someone who’s clearly afraid and though some of our questions may be redundant or pestering, I assume you’ve been doing this long enough to understand that fear drives people to sometimes ask redundant questions or look for certainty… surely that’s the whole point of why people pay money to come on here and ask you all questions. You make money by providing “certainty” or “assurance” to people who are afraid! Most people are looking for certainty. You are NOT above reproach and your comment was rude and unwarranted. I will not spend another penny with you all and you can surely close this forum. I won’t be back. No need to respond cause I don’t care to hear your response!
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
2 months ago
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I'm sorry you feel that way but I make no apology. You came here for our expert opinion, and we go out of our way to avoid sugar coated replies. The whole point is to tell you why "clearly afraid" has no basis in reality. One could make the case that the disrespect starts when users come for our expert and almost always reassuring replies which are ignored through two threads and five or more reassuring responses. We do ask that our questioners consider their situations objectively and not emotionally. I do hope you are able to accept the reassurance you have had. Best wishes. ---
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