[Question #7498] HIV SCARE
56 months ago
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56 months ago
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
56 months ago
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Welcome to our Forum. Thanks for your question and your confidence in the information we provide. I'll be glad to make some comments.
Even though your recent partner was a commercial sex worker, your risk for infection is rather low. Most commercial sex workers to do not have STIs, including HIV and when they do, most exposures do not lead to infection. In terms of gonorrhea, chlamydial ad syphilis infections, the azithromycin you took would cure the majority of infections, if you had acquired one. I would not worry about these infections going forward. The metronidazole you took would cure trichomonas, if you had that. I would not worry further about other STIs and do not see a need for testing at this time.
This leaves HIV. As I said above, most CSWs do not have HIV and when they do, a single act of uncircumcised penile-vaginal sex would lead to infection, on average, about once for ever 1200 exposures. The is not risk for HIV, if your partner was infected, from receipt of oral sex, performing oral sex on her or rimming. Even with this low risk, I understand that you may wish to have the reassurance that a negative test will provide. HIV PCR tests are typically considered conclusive when take 12-14 days after an exposure. In your case, given the limited availability of tests, this would provide you with information on your infection status far sooner than the HIV antibody test which would not be conclusive until about 8 weeks after your exposure.
If I wanted to put this episode behind me and move forward, I would get a HIV PCR test. When it was negative, as I anticipate yours will be, I would move forward without continuing concern.
I hope this information is helpful. EWH
56 months ago
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![]() |
Edward W. Hook M.D.
56 months ago
|
56 months ago
|
![]() |
Edward W. Hook M.D.
56 months ago
|