[Question #757] protected sex..
106 months ago
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Good afternoon, I have been having some serious anxiety due to a one night stand that was protected and lasted a few minutes. My two main concerns are a small nick (cut) that was approximately about half and inch from the base of my penis due to shaving and possibly made it worse by messing with it, this happened about two days before the encounter and it bled for a few minutes in fact the day before the encounter i can still recall it stinging while applying soap to it during shower. I am certain that it came in contact with secretions and possibly went inside the vagina slightly since penetration wasnt always deep. My second concern are two slightly raised hpv warts I had on my pubic area. they had been there for about a year and a half unchanged and are on the pubic area very near to the base of the shaft not exactly on any part of the penis. they had been monitored for some time and were unchanged never hurt stung or anything to my understanding they werent open in any way, however i mentioned this to her before the encounter. my main anxiety and concern is was this a risky encounter in terms of hiv? my penis was always protected except for the slight cut on the penis and the small verrucas that were close to the base on the pubic area..should I get tested since the encounter was protected or these two concerns actually raise the risk of infection? we are both from the U.S and this was the second time I slept with that girl although I know she is not monogamous how likely is it that she is infected and it was passed on to me through any of those lesions despite the condom, which i honestly can't recall if it covered the slight nick or not
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
106 months ago
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Welcome to the forum. Thanks for your question. The bottom line is that this was a very safe encounter with little or no risk for HIV or other STDs, for several reasons.
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First, going to your closing question, it is statistically very unlikely a partner like yours has HIV -- well under one chance in a thousand. Second, the exposure was condom protected -- and condoms work! As long as the head of the penis and meatus (urethral opening) are covered, protection against HIV is complete. Third, healing cuts appear to carry little or no risk of HIV transmission. Only fresh, currently bleeding cuts are risky. Fourth, it sounds like if there was any penetration, it was probably too brief to count for much -- and anyway, condom protected. Finally, genital area warts do not materially increase the chance of HIV transmission if exposed.
So all things considered, I would put the odds of catching HIV from this event at well under one chance in a million. I'll bet not one person in the US per year acquires HIV in circumstances like this. That said, if you remain concerned, you could always discuss your concerns with your partner and suggest that the two of you both get tested for HIV and other common STDs. You may find she is just as concerned about these things as you are, and you both might be reassured by your mutually negative test results -- which would prove that neither of you is at risk from the other.
In the meantime, I really wouldn't worry about it.
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
106 months ago
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Thank you for your quick reply Dr. Hansfield, the anxiety has been quite much this past six weeks it seems that after the second week ive been developing something related to ars like tender nodes in groin one weekend then tender nodes in armpits the next, followed by one day of night sweats the next week, chills all the time yet no fever, slight sore throat this past week and a reddish rash on cheekbone for past 3 weeks that seems to come and go at times, im starting to suspect this is all anxiety related or does this chane your initial assesment? Seems weird that it is happening at different times
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
106 months ago
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Contrary to what you might assume from looking online, "ARS symptoms" almost never are due to ARS. The problem is that the identical symptoms occur with innumerable minor problems that are far more common. And your symptoms don't match ARS anyway -- ARS requires combinations of symptoms at one time, not spread out; always has fever; doesn't cause a rash on the face; starts 10-15 days after exposure; and the symptoms do not come and go.
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Accordingly, this information definitely does not change my initial assessment. Some of your symptoms, maybe all, probably indeed are anxiety related. (If nothing else, whenever someone suspects his or her own symptoms have a psychological explanation, in my experience almost always they are right.)
106 months ago
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Thank you for your time and assesment Dr.Hansfield they are greatly appreciated if I feel the need I will go test but for now I will try to get over it. Have a great rest of your day
106 months ago
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And as for the penetration it was completely penetrative sex but only lasted about 5-8 minutes tips perhaps less what i meant is that i was o ly going about halfway in for the most part of the time however at a certain point i did completely penetrate
106 months ago
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Was feeing alright last night then started having a weird sensation of heat and chills throughot body...went away the for tge laat four hours of sleep i would wake up sweating but not peofusely like pevious night sweats do you thunk this is some form of anxiety still? I am at 6.5 weeks post exposure
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
106 months ago
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This also does not change my opinions or advice.
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106 months ago
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I'll assume its anxiety related and try to relax thank you Dr.Hansfield
106 months ago
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Do you agree that the sensation of constant body heat, chills and sweats are probably due to anxiety?
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
106 months ago
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Those symptoms certainly are compatible with anxiety. But I cannot make any particular diagnosis from this distance. If you continue to have symptoms that concern you, see your doctor.
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We are beyond the standard two follow-up questions and replies included with each new question, so that ends this thread. You came here for reassurance and I have done my best in explaining why I am confident you don't have HIV and the scietific reasons for that. The rest is up to you. Good luck.