[Question #9256] HIV Risk

34 months ago

Hello. Doctor I have this tremendous anxiety, Cheated on my girlfriend doing the following:

- Nipple biting ( no blood) and sucking - She had a child 8 years ago- so no lactating as far as I know

- Kissing (no french)

-Kissing her body skin

-In the foreplay she unintentionally placed her fingers inside my mouth and scratch my gums a little bit.

- She also bit me on the shoulder, a little break on the skin - not bleeding

I'm terribly afraid of giving my current girlfriend HIV - Should I test before I sleep with her again? Should I worry?

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

34 months ago

Welcome to the forum. Thank you for your confidence in our services.

The exposure you describe was zero risk for HIV, even your new partner is infected -- and almost certainly she is not. (Did you ask her?) HIV is not transmitted by kissing, scratching, or minor bites. You do not need testing for HIV (or other STDs), and there is no risk for your girlfriend. Please stop worrying about this!

I hope these comments are helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear.

HHH, MD

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34 months ago

Thank you Doctor!

34 months ago

Hi Doctor. Last question. So it has been 4 days since the encounter and last night I had severe stomach pain with bad bloating and low grade fever. Now I'm scared somehow I got it and I have ARS. Is bloating and stomach pain with fever a symptom of ARS? I have not slept with my GF either, afraid I might give her something. Thank you for your help again

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

34 months ago

You really needn't worry about HIV or ARS. These are not typical symptoms and they began too soon. ARS symptoms cannot start earlier than 8-10 days after exposure. You may have a gastrointestinal virus like norovirus, in which case you can expect diarrhea in addition to your current symptoms. COVID also is possible: symptoms like bloating are not the most common, but they aren't rare either, and COVID is currently the most common cause of otherwise unexplained fever. (Have you taken your temperature to know for sure you have fever? How high?) The timing suggests you could have caught this during the semi-sexual events you describe above; you could check with that person whether she has had similar symptoms. Or it could be anyone else with whom you had contact 1-4 days before your symptoms began. And by the way, these are not symptoms of any other STD either.

You indeed should avoid close contact with anyone else as long as these symptoms persist. Norovirus and other GI viruses are extremely contagious -- as is COVID, of course. Please test yourself for COVID.

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34 months ago

Thanks Doctor. Just got a at home covid test - negative. The fever is on and off. I have not seen higher than 99.1. Just to close this out. No chance of hiv or STD from the events,..so I can stop worrying?. It might be some guilt also creating this anxiety.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

34 months ago

98.6F isn't the maximum normal temperature, but the average over time, and 99.1 isn't a fever. There are individual variations in normal, but most healthy people who takes their temperature several times a day will fluctuate from ~97 to ~99 or even 99.5. And yes the chance of HIV or any other STD was zero from the events described and you can stop worrying.

That completes the two follow-up exchanges included with each question and so ends this thread. I hope the discussion has been helpful. Best wishes and stay safe.

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