HIV concerns - petrified!

[gary225]

Hello doctors,

I'm a 29 year old gay male who recently split up with my partner of 13 years - my only sexual partner ever until recently. My friends have been dragging me around town like a charity case telling me to get on with life which is hard but I'm trying which has resulted in me being here due to an incident last week.

I went to a bar with friends and after a couple drinks decided to try something new and ventured into a dark room with my friend. I met one guy and I was very nervous so I didn't do anything other than kissing and mutual masturbation, however the guy did go a bit further and performed oral sex on me for about 20 minutes. He was a bit rough and grazed my penis with his teeth just below the glans. He also rubbed my penis on his face which was uncomfortable as he had stubble. I didn't ejaculate. The next day I noticed a small very red graze on my penis (about 3mm by 3mm) just below the glans on the very thin skin like that of the head of my penis (I am circumcised), it wasn't bleeding but it was clearly a cut/graze of some sort caused by his teeth and has now cleared up an disappeared.

Is this a significant risk for HIV? I didn't seek out PEP which I now regret as my friend who is a doctor said I have definitely put myself at risk and should be concerned - I've also read conflicting information on the Internet. Please help, should I be worried? Will I be HIV positive now? Should I take an HIV test? I'm not sure if the guy had a cut in his mouth or bleeding gums as it was quite dark but the damage he did to my penis by giving me a graze/cut has me very worried as my friend says this is a huge risk as it would provide a route of entry for the virus.

This guy is the second person I've had any sexual contact with in my life, I was trying to move on and be careful but now I just feel so stupid at what I have done - I hate myself for it and haven't been able to face work since!

Please give me your valuable opinion.

Gary

[gary225]

Dear Drs,

can you please help? do I have anything at all to worry about? I'm only freaking out because he seemed to cut me during the rough blow job, is this something I should be worried about and test over or can I move on and get on with life and stop worrying about it?

[gary225]

Dr's,

Would either of you be kind enough to answer my follow up questions? I don't mean to be a bother, I just need some expert advice so I can put my worries to bed - I have a holiday this weekend and would like to enjoy it with less anxiety - this is my one and will be my only follow up, please?

Sorry for being such a pest.

[gary225]

Dear doctors, can either of you help out with my additional questions above? I called a helpline and they said I had absolutely no risk whatsoever even with a cut on my penis and in the event of my partner having poor oral health but obviously they are no doctors. Can you answer my questions above? I promise I won't bother you again.

Thanks

[gary225]

Thanks Dr,

This has helped put my mind at ease significantly. Can I just ask quickly if you have ever come across someone becoming HIV positive this way? Do you think the incident warrants an HIV test or should I stop worrying and move on?

Thanks for your help.

[Dr Sean Cummings]

Good Morning Gary

You've got yourself completely worked up. Relax! I really do not think this represents a signifcant risk of HIV to you at all.

I note your friend's concern but I think his assessment is overly pessimistic and ...wrong.

I certainly do not think this represenst a "huge risk" to you at all.

Yes, if you are particularly gloomy you can construct an argument that involves the injury, bleeding gums, uncontrolled HIV status on the part of the other man....but its all a little too far fetched for me.

You are potentially at risk of other STD's such as syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhoea etc and you should screen for these.

If you are concerned about HIV then its easy to screen for it very effectively and easily in London from 28 days onwards at either a private clinic or an NHS one.

I don't think you were put at any significant risk and I don't think you should have started PEP.

Make sure you get your Hepatitis A and B immunisations when you have your other tests etc done so you are up to date with these.

best wishes, Sean