[Question #9822] STDs Testing

28 months ago

I had protected intercourse with sexworker, before finishing she had a BJ, then she removed the condom and used her saliva as a lube for HJ, after 75 days I took lab tests: HIV 4th Gen Elisa, HBsAg, HBcAb, HBsAb, HSV 1/2, Chlamydia trachomatis DNA PCR, Neisseria gonorrhea DNA PCR, Mycoplasma genitalium DNA PCR, Treponema pallidum DNA PCR

All results NEGATIVE

I don’t know if she has STDs or not, what other test should I take, is this considered low or high risk “as I’m worried that if her salvia had fluids or blood as i had small wounds on it after shaving 2-3 hours before starting”, are the results conclusive AND I’m worried too much about HIV

Edward W. Hook M.D.

28 months ago

Welcome to the Forum. Thanks for your questions. I'll be glad to comment.

The exposure you describe was low risk. Unless your partner was a particularly high risk CSW (i.e. working on the street), most CSWs do not have STIs. In addition, even if she did, even most unprotested exposures to infected partners do not result in infection and, most importantly of all, as long as they are worn throughout the encounter, condoms are highly protective against STIs. I should add as well that STIs are not transmitted in saliva when it is used as lubrication for masturbation. Having shaved just a few hours before your encounter does not change your risk.

Your testing was performed at a time when your results are conclusive and they prove that you were not infected. I see no need for further testing. It's time to but your concerns behind you and move forward with confidence that you were not infected. I hope that the information I have provided is helpful. EWH

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28 months ago

Thanks Dr. Edward.

The intercourse was with a Russian girl in Dubai through an agent, she was very cautious during the intercourse and I was and still worried if her saliva had blood or not and if the saliva entered from urethra as i'm circumcised, also, do splenectomy and being a thalassaema carrier affect the results? Can I consider the results conclusive and move on as you suggested?

Edward W. Hook M.D.

28 months ago

Thanks for the additional information. Neither your thalassemia nor your splenectomy change the considerations here, nor my assessment.

Most CSWs in Dubai do not have STIs and as I said above, saliva when used to provide lubrication for masturbation does not transmit any STIs, even if the person providing the saliva has dental disease or blood in their mouths. It is normal for persons involved in mutual masturbation to get each other's genital secretions on and around each other's genitals yet STIs are not transmitted.

Indeed, your results are conclusive. you can move forward with no concerns about the encounter you have described. EWH

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28 months ago

Hello Dr. Hook,

Thank you for the reply.

Honestly, I have extreme anxiety since your last reply, on day 84 and day 89, I went to an NGO test center in my country that tests for HIV, they used Bioline HIV/Syphilis rapid test, they told me my results are negative in both tests and I don’t have HIV, while what made me uncomfortable since then, that they gave me the results within 5 minutes not 15-20 as written on the test kit, when I asked them they told me based on their experience and their trials, the kit gives the results within 5 minutes, and they told me as long as I did 4th gen test after 11weeks i should be sure am not infected and they advised me to see a therapist as this is an OCD/Anxiety. I would like to hear your opinion please.

28 months ago

I went to a therapist and they told me the same, and the therapist herself told me that she used the test with the NGO and they were able to identify the HIV+ within 5 minutes multiple times, and now am on OCD/Anxiety medication as I was diagnosed with them since 2021, but am still worried, especially when someone of my family members gets sick, I start doubting all the results.

Please, Dr. Hook, your opinion is very important to me as I’m extremely anxious and gets panicked when I hear “tests” word.

28 months ago

I know your reply will close the thread, so I want to thank you in advance and will follow your recommendations if you provide any.

Finally, my therapist advised me to stop testing and searching for the topic and move on.

28 months ago

Noting that the NGO works in HIV field for testing, prevention, awareness and treatment.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

28 months ago

I'm sorry for your continued anxiety. As I mentioned to you in my original reply, you proved that you did not acquire HIV or any other STI from the no risk exposure you had when you tested on Day 75. There was no need for additional testing at that time. The results of your Bioline test confirm this even though the persons doing the test did not follow the test instructions. I urge you to be 100% confident that you did not acquire any STI, including HIV from the encounter you described.

I agree with your therapist and encourage you to follow his/her recommendations to stop testing and even more importantly to stop searching the internet on topics related to HIV/STI risk. Much of what you will find there is incorrect and misleading.

As you point out, this will complete this thread. Thanks for your thanks. I hope my comments were helpful and I wish you well. I also encourage you to continue working with your therapist. EWH

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