[Question #2632] Concerned and Worried

44 months ago
Hello, one week ago I made a huge mistake. I had sex with a women that I met online. I wore a condom the entire time but I did lose the erection for a few seconds but got it back and finished. The condom did not break as far as I could see- my fluid was in the end. I did kiss her and finger her as well. This week I have had body aches and my joints are popping a lot. My anxiety over this and what I did are huge and I am scared. I plan to get tested but know it's too early. I am just concerned from the body and muscle aches. Any help would be appreciated. 
Edward W. Hook M.D.
Edward W. Hook M.D.
44 months ago
Welcome to our Forum.  I'll be pleased to comment.   The encounter that you describe was virtually no risk.  Condoms are the most effective means of preventing STI, including HIV, acquisition if your partner happened to be infected and there it is statistically unlikely that your partner had an STI- most people do not.   The fact the you lost your erection during the encounter does not matter as long as the condom was worn throughout the encounter and stayed on as you describe.  There is no risk for any STI from kissing or from masturbation of your partner with your finger.  I presume that your muscle aches have made you worry that you might have the ARS or early HIV infection however if you do not have a fever, sore throat or other symptoms, your muscle aches are more likely to be a reflection of your anxiety than any thing else.  At this time you could test for the most common STIs - gonorrhea and chlamydia- and get reliable answers from the test.  If you test for HIV with a combination HIV antigen/antibody test and get a negative result, while this will not prove that you did not get HIV since it takes six weeks for test results to be definitive, it will prove that your muscle aches are not due to HIV.  When muscle aches are due to the HIV ARS, combination tests are positive.

I suspect your current symptoms are unrelated to the sexual encounter your describe and are due to something other than an STI including HIV, perhaps heightened by your anxiety over the encounter.  I hope that my comments will help you to get over your worries.  Please feel free to follow-up if anything I have said is not clear or if there are other questions.  Up to two follow-up questions are permitted.  EWH

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44 months ago
Dr. Hook, thank you for your very prompt response. I do not have a fever, nor have I the last week. My only symptoms have been muscle aches, and my bones are popping really bad. Knees, elbows, fingers, neck, jaw, etc. I have also had some back discomfort- feels like there is a knot in it. Today my hips have hurt. I just remember how I felt a week ago before this started and that has made me worried. I know the other person has had more partners than I care to imagaine, so with the way I feel, it worries me. Could a lot of this be mental? I don't know what to do with how i fell. 
Edward W. Hook M.D.
Edward W. Hook M.D.
44 months ago
Not trying to be evasive but I am not in a position to judge what portion of this might be anxiety related or amplified.  I can assure you however  that the symptoms that you are describing are not suggestive of any STI that you might have acquired as a result of the encounter you describe.  Of that I can assure you.  EWH
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44 months ago
Dr. Hook,

Thank you again for your responses. In the last few days, I have noticed pain in my lower back on both sides and from time to time, a pain in my stomach region. I did not experience these things a week ago and am worried that are connected to my encounter. The pain which goes away and then comes back, seems to be on both sides. I still have an appitite and have no other changes, but wanted to ask. Thank you
Edward W. Hook M.D.
Edward W. Hook M.D.
44 months ago
Both of these symptoms are far more consistent with anxiety than any STI, including HIV.

This additional information does not change my assessment of recommendation.

As you know, the Forum permits up to three replies to each question.  Thus this concludes this series of responses and the thread will be closed in a few hours..  I hope my comments have been helpful.   Take care.  EWH
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