[Question #2834] Risk assessment please - Really Stressed.

43 months ago
5 weeks ago i received unprotected oral from a female CSW (upper class) in Morocco.  I did not see any blood from either party and the exchange lasted about 5 minutes and i finished but not in her mouth.  She had a condom ready for vaginal, but since i finished, no need.  I have Severe guilt about it, as i am married.  6 days or so after that, after a friend told me everyone in Africa has Aids, i got severe anxiety (having to pee constantly, and body ache).   It eventually subsided. Now 35 days later, i have had a dry throat for about 5 days and if i do cough up anything its clear mucous , no fever, just constant worry in my head from Sun up to Sun Down.  I've been all over the internet looking up risks, etc..(Which causes me to stress)  and now i am thinking, maybe i had sore skin on my penis from masturbating 10 - 12 hours before unprotected oral, so i am at a high risk. I know there has technically never been someone who contracted HIV from receiving oral, but what if she had blood so fine in her mouth that it did not show up in her saliva. 

Thanks,
Edward W. Hook M.D.
Edward W. Hook M.D.
43 months ago
Welcome to the Forum.  Thanks for your confidence in our service.  I'll be happy to address your concerns and questions and, hopefully, will be able to relieve your anxiety.  The exposure you describe was a no risk event for acquisition of HIV and very low risk for acquisition of other STIs.  Your friend is misinformed, as are many people who are getting their information from the internet.  Point by point:
1.  The prevalence of HIV is Morocco is less than 1% of the general population and most HIV in that country is acquired by injection drug use, not sex.  While there is probably a higher prevalence of infection among commercial sex workers compared to the general population, the prevalence is still low and odds are that your partner did not have HIV.
2.   Irrespective of the presence of blood, sores, or dental disease on the part of the person performing oral sex, there has NEVER been a case of HIV acquired from receipt of oral sex.  you are not going to be the first and the fact that you masturbated before sex in no way changes that.
3.  Your symptoms (body aches, urinary frequency) are not at all suggestive of recently acquired HIV. 

Bottom line, there is no reason for you to be worried have having acquired HIV from the encounter that you suggest.  If you have not already done so and wish to you could seek testing (for HIV and, if you wish, a urine test for gonorrhea and chlamydia).  I am confident they will be negative, PROVING that you were not infected during your encounter.  At that point, your only problem is dealing with your guilt.  No amount of testing is going to change that.  EWH
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43 months ago
Thank you fast response Doctor.   Anxiety has already started to drop.   And the dry throat i have now at 35 days?  Normal? 

This will be my last question.  Thanks in advance. 



Edward W. Hook M.D.
Edward W. Hook M.D.
43 months ago
Your dry throat is most likely a reflection of your anxiety.  it is unlikely to be any STI.  EWH
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43 months ago
Ok, So it's been almost 6 weeks, I have the dry throat, occasionally have to clear my throat.   A little like silent reflux symptoms. And my tounge is whitish, but not thrush.  No pain.  

Anxiety is down,   Just worried that my risks were increased, I cannot remember if my frenulum was irritated at the time. 


Edward W. Hook M.D.
Edward W. Hook M.D.
43 months ago
I do not see a questions here.  My advice is unchanged- please start by considering your sign on ("stressedand worried1"), then re-read my original reply to you.  Having a dry throat and needing to clear it is not a sign of HIV or any other STI, nor are any of the other symptoms you mention.  EWH
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