[Question #8190] Risk free but Symptoms?

47 months ago

Hi all Doctors, I’m experiencing extreme anxiety now, please help me out!I thought I’m safe and out of risk, but turns out I might be wrong????

I went to have a naked body massage with 2 massage ladies together massaging me on 26days ago, and end up with one massage lady masturbating me with her hand. No any sex activities involved beside this.

3 weeks later after this possible exposure, I experienced a severe sore throat and a high but normal temperature (it’s in the normal range but high, which is weird cause I never been that high before although it’s in the normal range). I’ve been taking meds but the sore throat is getting worse.

I’m so scared now will this be the ARS symptoms. I mean I know it’s a risk free act (that’s why I go for it!), but I’m thinking maybe I’ve missed any possible risk that might put me at risk (such as she masturbating me maybe with blood/vaginal fluids on her hand??? It’s kinda dark which I might not possible see it clearly)

I took a duo test on day 25 which turns out negative. But since the symptoms seems to get worse, I took a duo test again in another lab accompanied with a RNA PCR test on day26, which is today. I’m still waiting for the results.

1. I would want to know am I at risk even though she masturbate me with blood/vaginal fluids on her hand?

2. And is my test conclusive if it came out negative today? I’ve red many previous posts seeing answers with a duo test accompanied by a RNA test on day 28 is conclusive. But also seeing a duo test is conclusive on 6 weeks. So I’m not sure am I free to go.

3. I took both test on day 26, which have not met 4 weeks yet (28days), will this makes any difference?

4. My sore throat started 3-4 days ago, can both tests rule out that the symptoms has nothing to do with HIV? I’ve also red previous posts, seeing answers saying that a test after a few days to a week of symptoms can rule out HIV if negative. So I’m so not sure that it’s only 3-4days now after I experienced symptoms, can the tests detect the virus that soon?Please help, thank you so much

47 months ago

Hi Docs, the results came out already with all negative. RNA quantitative test, P24 ag/ab test, T pallidum igG&igM ab, RPR tests all negative. Good to go?

Edward W. Hook M.D.

47 months ago

Welcome to our forum and thanks for your question. We received many questions of the sort. The answer is uniformly the same. Receipt of masturbation is a entirely risk-free encounter. You do not know if either of your masseuses had HIV and it is statistically unlikely that they did. More importantly however, even if a person performing masturbation on you has infected genital secretions on their hand or has and open cut on their hands used for masturbation, there is still no risk of HIV, hepatitis, or other STI‘s from this sort of encounter. None at all.

In addition, when symptoms are infected with HIV and undergoing the a RS, fourth generation, combination HIV Antigen/antibody tests are typically positive. Your two negative tests, as well as your negative PCR, prove that you were current symptoms are not due to the ARS. There is no reason for concern and no reason for additional testing related to this encounter.

Please don’t worry. You did not require HIV, or any other STI from the exposure you described. EWH

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47 months ago

Hi Dr. Hook, it’s very reassuring knowing that even masturbating with infected fluid/blood is still a no risk encounter. Because I searched online saying that there’re a “theoretical” risk if masturbating with infected fluids, which drives me a bit crazy on this.

But excluding my “non risky” encounter, how conclusive is my test? Just wanted to know assuming if a person involved in a high risk act, and he did the same exact tests (duo test and RNA at day 26), how conclusive is it?

Also I would want to confirm that even if I tested right after I feel like having “ARS symptoms”, if it is really due to HIV, it would be positive?

Why I’m asking this is because I saw an answer from you in other threads saying that taking tests after a week since the symptoms started can rule out if the symptoms are ARS. Not sure will my test be too early to rule out, since it is only 3 days after my sore throat started.

The last question is actually repetitive, but I would want an exact answer in this question. Excluding my encounters, but taking both tests at day 26 (not day 28 to be counted as 4 weeks), will it make a huge difference? I saw the answers from you and Dr. Handsfield in earlier threads saying 4 weeks should be conclusive, but later changing the answer to 6 weeks. I know answer might changes due to new data, but this makes me so confused, is my test reliable and conclusive at day 26. (Talking about the tests itself).

Edward W. Hook M.D.

47 months ago

Let me start by I find it troubling that you have chosen to change your screen name and the email address through which you reached out to doing so, particularly when your post basically repeats questions you asked of Dr. Handsfield not once but three times over the past 25 days. I can only presume that you know that these are repetitive questions. that said, you'll also note that the answers DO NOT change. This forum is dedicated to providing factual information and guidance regarding risk for HIV and other risk, not to serve as a source of professional psychological support for persons who are unable to control their anxieties. I suggest you seek professional psychological support, not keep positive, baseless, repetitive questions here. The answers are not going to change. Your encounter was NO RISK and your test results PROVE that you were not infected. I say this out of nothing more than compassion.

Each of these follow-ups is repetitive:

Your tests are conclusive.

If your symptoms were due to the ARS, your test would be positive. It is not too early to say this.

Years ago, we changed our results regarding when results of HIV antigen/antibody tests were conclusive from 4 weeks to 6 weeks because of revision to CDC recommendations based on the fact that VERY rarely tests become positive in the interval between 4 and 6 weeks. Neither of us has ever seen or seen published reports evaluating such occurrences. They are VERY rare.

EWH

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47 months ago

Understood. Just want to ask one more last question. This had also been answered before, but I would want to know will there be any other opinion.

If the massage lady fingered my anal deep with vaginal fluids on her hand (assume she’s HIV+ and might finger herself before fingering me), will this change your assessment? Thank you

47 months ago

I just can’t really put it down, the symptoms just sounds so similar to the ARS. Can’t understand why I would suddenly experience a sore throat (pretty sure it’s not tonsillitis, and the place I’m living in now pretty much is safe from COVID with 0 cases for months already). A sore throat occurred at around day 22-23 and getting worse even I took med?

It’s totally driving me super crazy!

47 months ago

Just saw this article from the internet in NCBI, not sure is this research out of date, but kinda increase my anxiety a bit.

“Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) antibody tests have been optimized to become positive as soon as possible after infection. Current tests typically become positive within 3–6 weeks of infection and 1–3 weeks after the onset of acute HIV symptoms []. “

Edward W. Hook M.D.

47 months ago

Final response. No change from prior responses, anal fingering/masturbation is a no risk event.

You need to move forward from your unwarranted anxiety and your repetitive behavior. Should you return to the forum using this name or your prayer sign and names in your thread will be deleted without a response and without recent turn of your posting fee. I once again urge you to seek the assistance of a mental health professional to address your pathological anxiety. EWH

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