I had a sexual encounter with a woman of unknown HIV status on the 26th of February. I used a condom,and put lube inside & outside the condom. I penetrated her from behind and she closed her legs, causing her vaginal muscles to contract.
She is well endowed, so this had the effect of squeezing my penis and clutching onto the condom. This caused the condom to slip up ( I heard it slip) to where only the head of my penis and about 1cm or so under it (on the shaft) was covered (see illustration).
Almost immediately, I withdrew my penis. I now worry that when the condom slipped upwards, it may have exposed my inner foreskin to the HIV in her vaginal juices. I however cannot say this happened for sure I am just assuming it did. I thought about my risk and remembered reading that HIV infects the cells inside the foreskin and this exacerbated my fears.
I went in and got PEP (Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate/Lamivudine/Dolutegravir) 30 tablets to be taken once per day at the same time. I took the first pill 48 hours after the incident and have done so religiously.
I have a strong feeling she might actually be HIV+ and possibly on medication (I don’t know for sure), but what I do know is that she has numerous partners. I have the following concerns:
1. Did I have a risk to warrant PEP (note I live in Zimbabwe, which has a high incidence rate)?
2. I took the 1st pill at 17:35pm, 48 hours post exposure. Would it still be effective? I completely panicked and went on to do this in fear.
3. Say she’s HIV+ and on ART, does that lower the viral load in her genital secretions which would lower my chances of contracting HIV?
On the night of day 14 of taking PEP (12th of March), I developed a very worrying symptom - pain in my inner upper right thigh. After searching the internet, I've come to realize that area is called the inguinal area and there are lymph nodes there. I carefully examined the area but could not feel any swelling (just moderate pain). There was mild pain whenever I probed that area or when I sat down. I felt completely fine aside from this. The pain lasted all day the next day (day 15) and by evening, it was mostly gone. Was this a swollen lymph node? Could this have been ARS?
I have not had any other symptoms (no fever, no headache, no muscle pains, no rash, no sore throat). Other than the pain on my upper right thigh, I haven't had any other symptoms.
I am now terrified because I read that swollen lymph glands are a symptom of HIV ARS? Has PEP failed and did I actually sero-convert on day 14? Would ARS occur as that being the only symptom without a fever or other symptoms?
I am finishing PEP on the 26th of March. Although I have been taking the pills every single day at I feel like giving up because I am scared that I might have seroconverted already. I do not know. Please help me as I am very worried about this incident and am regretting everyday. I feel like my life is over because of a stupid mistake.