Anal, Broken Condom

[larry320]

Hello,

I am an early 30's circumcised male caucasion expat in India. Around 8 weeks ago I was extremely drunk in a delhi nightspot and took a local girl home. To my knowledge she was not a sex worker as no payment was discussed or made.

We had vaginal sex with a condom and I am 90% sure we had anal sex also (to my memory) - however when it was over I realised the condom was broken. There were no obvious cuts/abrasions on my penis. I returned home to the country I live in the next day and went straight to a clinic - they advised me to wait until the 3 month mark. So at the moment that is what I am doing. I have obviously been very worried and after an internet search on symptoms I have been monitoring my health religiously. Thus far (8 weeks after potential exposure) I have had NONE of the symptoms that are typically associated with ARS. Am I correct in assuming this is at least encouraging? I have read variously that up to 90% of people infected present with at least a fever?

Needless to say - this whole incident has been a huge wake up call to me and I have totally re-evaluated my sex-life (have not had sex since) and drinking (particularly in combination!).

I guess I am after what everybody on here is after - some quantification of my risk of being infected.

Thanks very much in advance

From an absolute moron

[Dr. Jose Gonzalez-Garcia, MD, MRCGP, PhD]

Hello there,
Try not to punish yourself so much.  We can all make mistakes and also accidents can happen, i.e. a condom breaking.
If you used a condom for most of the duration of the penetrative (vaginal and anal) intercourse, but the condom broke, bearing in mind that you are the man penetrating and the HIV status of the lady is unknown, I would say that the risk of HIV infection to you is low.  However you would certainly need to be tested, either with a Duo test now, or an antibody test at 12 weeks, even though a negative test now would be highly reassuring for you.  You are right in saying that the vast majority of people would have had some symptoms, especially a fever, by now.  Therefore, it is very reassuring to know that you have not had any symptoms.  All in all, I am very confident that you have not been infected and that you are fine.
Best wishes,
Dr Jose

[larry320]

Thanks very much for your prompt and re-assuring post Doctor!

As I am back in a remote place in India - testing will not be easy until I head back home again at the 3 month mark. It will no doubt be the first thing I do when I get off the plane.

I understand that despite your re-assurance there is still some degree of risk so I am still a little worried.

But at the same time - there is not too much I can do about it until I get the 12 weeks results back.

Thanks again.