[Question #8172] HIV RISK
47 months ago
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Hello, I'm once again asking a question.
About 48h ago I had sex with another man; he didn't tell me he is HIV+.
I was drunk and I can't remember much of everything, but I think penetration didn't happen, I remember saying it wouldnt happen without a condom.
But I'm not sure though. Yesterday I went to his place to talk about it. He still denied he's HIV, but I know he is; I'm not criticizing him, I undestand it's a delicate subject. Anyways, he showed me a PCR from april of 2021, wich de viral load was undetectable.
So, I suppose he's taking his medications.
Anyway, should I seek health care to take PEP? Can I assume he's taking his meds correctly? And if now, should I be worried? - I mean, there would be enough viral load to transmit supposing he's not taking medications since april?
Thanks
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
47 months ago
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Welcome to our Forum and thanks for your questions. I’ll be glad to provide some information which I hope you’ll find helpful.
Here are the facts:
If your partner had untreated HIV (which does not seem to be the case) and you had unprotected sex with him ( you do not remember that you did, I suspect you would remember), the the chance that you would acquire HIV from him is less that 1% at most and perhaps far lower.
If he has HIV, is on therapy, and has an undetectable oral load ( as his test results from four months ago indicate), even with unprotected sex, there would be virtually no risk for infection.
These are the facts. The questions therefore become, does he have HIV? (You think he is), if so, is he on therapy (again you think so and the test results you saw suggest that this is the case), and most importantly, is he telling you the truth. If you trust him that there was no penetration and that he is undetectable, the there is no reason for PEP. Even if he were infected and untreated ( which seems unlikely), your risk for infection is quite small. That said, the question is, how comfortable with these possibilities. If you are no comfortable PEP is reasonable although from your message, it seems unlikely that you are at risk.
I hope these thoughts are helpful. From what you say, your risk for infection is quite low but this is a personal choice. If you choose to pursue PEP, you should do so immediately since the data suggest there is little value to PEP started more the 72 hours after an exposure. EWH
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47 months ago
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Thanks for the information. I choose not to take pep, I Hope I won't regret It. I think the risk is small to use It, and It would make me suffer from anxiety longer.
So, If I Take a 4th gen test(looking for antibodies qnd p24), I can Tell for sure that I'm not infected at 30 days from exposition?
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
47 months ago
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I agree with your decision not to take PEP. At 30 days a fourth generation combination HIV antigen/antibody test will detect over 98% of recently acquired HIV infections. I have never seen or heard of a patient in home text became positive after a negative test at 30 days although this very rare event does occasionally happen.
Hope this helps. EWH
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46 months ago
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Hello again! I got tested at29days, 4th generation imunoessay; non-reactive. Can I assume I'm not infected, or in your opinion should I take a New test; and if so, at which day from exposure?
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
46 months ago
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Your test result is certainly good news. At the same time, the official recommendation is that results are not conclusive until six weeks after an exposure. Personally, I have not seen or heard of anyone with a negative test at four weeks who then became positive between four and six weeks. I suspect there may be a case or two but this is so rare that I am confident that you were not infected in the encounter you described. Nonetheless, as per official recommendations, I would suggest you repeat the test at six weeks. I anticipate it will be negative.
As you know, we provide up to three responses to each clients questions. This is my third response. Please don’t worry. Take care.EWH
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