I apologize for my poor English.

On April 26, 2025, I visited a massage center. The worker used a low-cost vinyl condom and performed oral sex on my penis and nipples. There was also genital contact with his anus, and I briefly attempted penetration, but I’m not sure if it actually occurred. I ejaculated inside the condom. Afterward, I checked the condom by filling it with water and found no leakage.

After 29 days, I took an HIV Ag/Ab Combo test (on May 26), and it was negative. However, on June 2 (day 37), I developed a sore throat, nasal congestion, and voice changes. On day 39, I had a mild cough and throat irritation, but no fever.

My main questions are:

You were not at little or no risk for HIV and did not need testing. HIV cannot be transmitted by the kinds of exposure you had. Your negative HIV test was a little early, since it can take up to 6 weeks for positive results with the AgAb blood test. However, the negative result proves your symptoms are not due to HIV. And they are not typical for HIV anyway; new HIV infection does not cause nasal congestion or cough and is an unlikely cause of "voice changes".

Those comments pretty well answer your questions, but to assure no misunderstanding:

1. Zero risk -- or such low risk you should ignore the possibility of HIV.

2. No. Neither genital fluids nor HIV (nor any other bacteria or viruses) can pass through either vinyl or latex.

3. About 98% reliable; but 100% reliable in proving symptoms are not caused by HIV. It is impossible to have HIV symptoms and test negative.

4. You do not have HIV and therefore your partner is not at risk.

5. As stated above, your symptoms are NOT typical of HIV. And as you already suspect yourself, they also started too late. Symptoms of new HIV infections generally start 10-20 days after exposure.

Please stop worrying about HIV. You do not need any more testing. However, if you still feel you would like a truly conclusive test result, have another AbAb test 6 weeks after the massage visit. I hope these comments are helpful.

HHH, MD

Dear Dr. HHH,

Thank you very much for your kind and informative response. I truly appreciate your time and expertise.

I would like to follow up with a few questions just to fully understand and ease my anxiety.

As I mentioned earlier, I took the HIV Ag/Ab Combo test on day 29 after the encounter, and my symptoms appeared on day 37. Based on your experience, is a negative result at day 29 sufficient to rule out HIV as the cause of these symptoms? If you were in my position, would you have taken the test at all?

Also, could you please clarify what the core symptoms of acute HIV infection are? Is fever considered a key symptom in most cases?

I became more anxious knowing that the person I had the encounter with was from the Philippines, and I recently read reports about a 500% increase in HIV cases there. That news added to my concern and stress.

Additionally, I came across some claims saying that vinyl condoms are weaker than latex and may allow HIV to pass through their pores. Is this just a myth, or is there any truth to it?

Thank you again for your reassurance and support. I truly value your opinion and guidance.

With sincere appreciation and respect,

Acute HIV symptoms do not include nasal congestion or cough. The main ones are enlarged/inflamed lymph nodes in several body areas but especially the neck, fever, sore throat and skin rash.

Phillippine origin doesn't sound significant to me, and "500%" increase isn't necessarily alarming anyway. It could still mean only a few more cases than previously, if the total case number is low.

I am unaware of any data to suggest polyurethane, vinyl, or other plastics are weaker than latex. Anyway, it is an absolute myth that microscopic pores ever allow enough virus transmission to result in infection.

Thinking both of your Philippines info plus latex vs vinyl, I would suggest you limit any online searching to professional or professionally moderated sites -- and entirely avoid sources run by and for people with the health problem of interest or at risk for it -- like Reddit for example. Anyone can write anything and so much information on such sites is either flatly wrong, manipulated, or misinformed.

I will move forward and forget about it ,,, "I will not do this act again."