[Question #7543] Are my test conclusive?

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55 months ago
Hi doctor,  just wanted a second opinion on my case
In February  of last year I visited a csw and engaged in unprotected oral and protected vaginal sex.
Then in July  , I went to another csw  who penetrated me anally with condom protected sex toys and gloves fingering.  I have had 3 tests since all have come back negative. There was another encounter with the 2nd csw somewhere in between February and  July but cannot remember the date exactly. This encounter was the same as the sex toys one with condoms and gloves. 

 However due to every thing going on in my life and with the stress of covid, I cannot help but think that I have HIV and that all of my tests have not able to pick it up.

A quick summary of the time line.
Feb-2020- unprotected oral and protected vaginal.
Between Feb and July- condom sextoys penetration and gloved fingering 
 July-2020-condom sextoys penetration and gloved fingering 
19th July 20 HIV duo negative
5th Nov 20 -HIV duo negative
9th dec 20-HIV duo negative
15th dec 20-HIV duo negative

Question:
1. Most importantly, am I overthinking this?
2. If I was to take another test, can it be positive without any new encounters since July.
3. In your professional time, have you ever heard of a 5 month negative turning  positive without new exposures?
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
55 months ago
Welcome to our Forum.  I’ll be glad to comment with my goal being to reassure you that you do not have HIV.  Today, in the COVID era, our efforts to reduce risks for COVID have far reaching effects, fueling generalized anxiety and concerns.   A few comments about the risk associated with the exposures you describe first:
1.  Most commercial sex workers do not have HIV.
2. Even when they do, less than 1% of unprotected exposures result in transmission with the risk for infection varying depending on the sex acts.
3. The sex acts you describe were virtually no risk events, even if one of your partners had HIV.  Receipt of oral sex has never been shown to result in HIV, sex toys or anal masturbation using rubber gloves unless they have been used on another person IMMEDIATELY before they were used on you are not associated with HIV and even then the risk is vanishingly low, and condon protected sex is a close to no risk event as well, as long as the condom does not break and when condoms do break (1% of the time on average) it is obvious.
4.  Currently availability tests for HIV are amongst the most sensitive tests in all of medicine and are totally conclusive in all persons not taking anti-HIV medications at all times more than 6 weeks after exposure.

Thus, your risk for infection, even before testing was virtually zero.  Testing has proved you were not infected:
1.  Yes, perhaps understandably.  It’s time to put your lingering concerns aside.
2.  If you have not had other exposures, your results will not change.  There is no medical or scientific reason for further testing.
3. No, not ever.

I hope my reassurance is helpful.  EWH 

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55 months ago
Hello doctor,

Apologies for the late reply and thank you for your comments.

I have taken a test today post 6months for 2 reasons- firstly peace of mind and also as I am planning on taking the covid vaccine.

Is there any chance this may be positive despite no new exposures?
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
55 months ago
I am confident that if there have been no further exposures of concern, your follow-up test will be negative.  I hope that when you once again receive a negative test, you when then be able to put your unwarranted fears behind you.  Please don't worry.  EWH
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