[Question #13289] Protected vaginal sex

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20 days ago
Dear Doctors,
Apologize for my English. I had protected vaginal sex with a condom yesterday with a Thai CSW. It lasted around 10-15 min. When it was over, I removed the condom and fill it with water in the shower, everything looked fine no breakage. I look at the condom full of water to make sure no leakage and everything was fine.

- what is your assessment of the risk? 
- have you ever heard of someone acquiring HIV while having protected vaginal sex
- I am going on holiday with my wife tomorrow and obviously too early to test? Can I have unprotected sex with her?
- based on the event only, should I get test?

Thanks a lot doctors. I am very very worried and loosing sleep over this 
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
20 days ago
Welcome to our forum. Thanks for your questions. Your English is fine and your messages is clear. The encounter you describe was virtually no risk. Most commercial sex workers do not have HIV and condoms, when worn throughout the encounter, offer close to 100% protection Against acquisition of HIV and most other STI’s.  Some person who claim to have used condoms, have acquired HIV in the past, however, this is very rare, and in most instances, those persons have either not worn the condom throughout the encounter or the condom has broken. Your condom did not fail.

You are correct that it is too early to test. The earliest you could possibly test is with an HIVRNA PCR test obtained more than 11 days following the encounter. Given the facts that you provide, however I would have no concern about suggesting that it is OK for you to have unprotected sex with your wife before then.  In fact, I really see a little reason for you to test it all.

I hope that this information is helpful. EWH.
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20 days ago
Thank you so much doctor. 
1) so essentially there’re no worries at all and what we read about the 80% condom effectiveness is misinterpreted?
2) is there actually a real chance of getting HIV with this episode?
3) can I just not test for this specific episode and just test as part of my routine health check up in 6 months or so, and meanwhile I should have no concerns with having unprotected sex with my wife?

Thanks Doctor
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
20 days ago
1.  Correct.  Properly used condoms are far more effective than 80% for HIV prevention 
2.  Anything can happen but realistically the chances are minuscule 
3.  Yes

One follow up remaining. EWH
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20 days ago
Thanks Doctor - 2 last questions. Apologies these will be my last.

- can I just forget this event and move on with my normal life without been worried at all
- what is this 95% condom effectiveness we see in the literature? 

Thanks again 
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
20 days ago
1.  Testing is always a personal choice.  I would not be worried.
2.  Studies of condom effectiveness range from 95-98%.  These studies are hard to do because they rely on self reports without a good means of verification of what is reported.  Participants may not report condom use accurately for a variety of reasons and may miss condom slippage and breakage as well as whether condoms are worn for the entire sex act.

This thread is now complete and will be closed without further responses.  Please don’t worry.  EWH
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