[Question #9702] HIV fear
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30 months ago
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I had 7 sexual encounters in the past 4 years MSM. protected/unprotected oral sex (getting sucked), sometimes anal but always protected (I was insertive every time). Don't think condom was broken. Can it go unnoticed. There was no prior risk & I had tested 4 years back as negative. Recently I saw mild skin issues under nose, back of neck and back of left ear. It my be seborrheic dermatitis. Is it possible it is indication of HIV. can it show as early as 3-4 years in case of HIV and is it possible if its the only symptom? I am not sure if its S. dermatitis or eczema/dry skin. Last week I gave oral sex to a guy. No cum but some precum. He said he is neg and tested in December. After I spitted and also rinsed my mouth. I don't think I had any cuts or sores but had slight dry mouth. Is this a risk? I am thinking of testing 6 weeks post the last exposure but the dermatitis is making me anxious. Do you think I am stressing too much & should expect a negative result based on the exposure
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
30 months ago
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Welcome to the Forum and thanks for your questions. Congratulations as well on your commitment to safe sex. In terms of oral sex, there are no proven cases of HIV acquired from receipt of unprotected oral sec and the risk of performing oral sex on an untreated, HIV infected partner is less than one infection for every 10,000 sex acts. There are no data on whether ejaculation makes performing higher than not but, irrespective, the risk is vanishingly low. In terms of unprotected insertive rectal sex with an untreated, infected partner the risk is less, about one infection per thousand sex acts on average and condoms reduce this risk to virtually zero. FYI, when condoms break, they break wide open leaving no doubt that they have failed. Thus, the encounters you describe were very, very low risk and testing which is a good idea from time to time, will almost certainly be negative.
Seborrhea is relatively common amongst persons without HIV. I would not worry that your seborrheic dermatitis is HIV related.
I hope this information is helpful. EWH
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30 months ago
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Hi Doctor, I am just worried because I never had seborrheic dermatitis and its sudden appearance is making me nervous for testing. How early seborrheic dermatitis occurs in HIV infection and can it be a single symptom or others symptoms are mostly present? I am just nervous thinking what if these are different fungal infections I am having on my face/neck/ear and could the be related to HIV as its been only a couple of years since my encounters.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
30 months ago
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You are overreacting. Seborrhea can occur at any age. And occurs among persons with well established HIV. The vast majority of persons with seborrea do not have HIV. Given your degree of anxiety my advice is to get tested to put your unwarranted fears behind you. EWH ---