[Question #13340] Still some doubt

4 days ago

Hi doctor, I’m sorry to be back so soon, but I have some doubts/un answered questions. As a reminder 3 years ago I had sex with my partner while I was still taking my PEP. I have been testing negative since then, but still fear that I have transmitted hiv to my boyfriend when we had sex while I was taking pep.

1. English is not my first language so I’m not sure if my question was clear. Is it scientifically possible that there was HIV in my system that could have gotten passed to my boyfriend before the PEP got it out of my system?

2. My boyfriend is going for a physical this week. Should I warn him that I may have given him HIV from our encounter 3 years ago, or would that just cause unnecessary stress?

3. I consulted with the nurse who originally prescribed me PEP and her only advice is “you and your partner or fine” and she sent me on my way. Can someone explain why we are fine?

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

4 days ago

I'm sorry to see you back. Your written English is fine. You are asking the same questions as last time, or the answers are obvious from that discussion. There is no possibility you have HIV, or that you ever had it, or that you could have infected your partner.

1. I understood everything. What you are worried about cannot happen.

2. See my closing comments in your other thread. From a medical/risk standpoint, there is no need to tell him anything.

3. I have already explained this, and I also gave you advice on how to find more detailed information online. Re-read your previous thread.

There will be no opportunity for discussion. Repeated anxiety driven questions are not permitted and this thread is closed. Any more questions about these issues will be deleted without even this much reply and your posting fee will not be returned. This policy is based on compassion, not criticism, and is intended to reduce temptations to keep paying for questions with obvious answers. In addition, experience shows that continued answers tend to prolong users' anxieties rather than reducing them. Finally, such questions have little educational value for other users, one of the forum's main purposes. Thank you for your understanding.

HHH, MD

---