Hi Doc,
Thanks so much for this forum. Reading it has made me feel better (unlike all the other sites) -- but not quite enough to refrain from asking a question. I hope you don't consider this question too duplicative; I'll be seeing my partner for the first time in a while next month (we're apart for the year), and I want to make sure I don't expose her to anything, least of all HIV.
As indicated, I am a straight male in a committed relationship. Three weeks ago, I had my first sexual experience with a guy I met via gaydar -- something I've been curious about for a while, but will never repeat. He was in his 40s, very nebbishy, said he had not had sex for quite a while. I asked him before we had sex whether he was negative and always played safe and he said yes. During what turned out to be about a 20 minute encounter, I gave and received unprotected oral sex and received (for about a minute) protected anal sex with considerable lube. He did not ejaculate in my mouth and at most I might have swallowed one drop of precum. I didn't see any open sores or redness or anything of the sort. The condom did not slip during anal sex, he did not ejaculate into it, and to the best of my knowledge it didn't break.
Because I have hypochondriacal tendencies, I started to worry the next day. I asked him again if he was negative, and he assured me that he was -- "definitively." But he wanted to hook up again, so I'm not sure if that qualifies for your general rule that people don't lie when asked directly. I have felt fine since the encounter, other than a tiny cold that began before the event and continued after, but I can't stop checking my forehead for fever...
Should I get an HIV test for this encounter? When I told my partner about the experience and my worries, she laughed and said I was just being paranoid. I imagine she's right -- the guilt thing many commentators mention on this site -- but hearing it from you would make me feel much better. And I'm most paranoid of all about the possibility of putting her at any risk.
Your response would be most appreciated. I hope this question is "original" enough to warrant a response. If not, you still have my thanks for the forum.