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Four quick questions
Hi Doctor --
I have four quick questions for you:
One: I occasionally smoke Marijuana (about once a month) -- Could this affect an HIV test (either Orasure or blood test) ?
Two: While at work I used the toilet. I had a sore on my butt cheek -- not sure if it was pimple or herpes (i have hsv-1 and i read you can have an outbreak on your butt cheeks) - Is it safe to say there is no chance of transmission -- that is, no need for me to test -- if perhaps semen was on the toilet seat and may have come into contact with my cut?
three: I have read that the risks for transmission of HIV in unprotected anal sex is 1/100 -- I do not understand how it can be so low! To my medically uninformed mind it seems that such sexual interactions (unprotected vaginal for that matter) should lead to transmission. Could you please explain this?
Finally -- What are the prospects for finding a cure to HIV in the future with the advance in medical science?
I have four quick questions for you:
One: I occasionally smoke Marijuana (about once a month) -- Could this affect an HIV test (either Orasure or blood test) ?
Two: While at work I used the toilet. I had a sore on my butt cheek -- not sure if it was pimple or herpes (i have hsv-1 and i read you can have an outbreak on your butt cheeks) - Is it safe to say there is no chance of transmission -- that is, no need for me to test -- if perhaps semen was on the toilet seat and may have come into contact with my cut?
three: I have read that the risks for transmission of HIV in unprotected anal sex is 1/100 -- I do not understand how it can be so low! To my medically uninformed mind it seems that such sexual interactions (unprotected vaginal for that matter) should lead to transmission. Could you please explain this?
Finally -- What are the prospects for finding a cure to HIV in the future with the advance in medical science?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
No.
This thread is over.
This thread is over.
last question --
elevated liver enzymes are not realted to hiv infection are they doc? or if they are i need not worry about them if the only possible exposure is the one cited above?
elevated liver enzymes are not realted to hiv infection are they doc? or if they are i need not worry about them if the only possible exposure is the one cited above?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
No medical condition has that effect, with the possible exception of life-threatening diseases like terminal cancer.
THanks doctor --
One last thing -- Herpes (HSV-1 or HSV-2) would not affect a test outcome either, correct?
One last thing -- Herpes (HSV-1 or HSV-2) would not affect a test outcome either, correct?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Directly to the questions.
1) The responses on the HIV community forum were accurate. No medicine or drug, including marijuana, has any effect on HIV test results.
2) No transmission risk. Without sex or sharing injection equipment, you can't catch HIV.
3) Even 1 in 100 is much too high. The actual risks of HIV transmission, for each episode of sex when one partner has HIV and the other does not, are about 1 chance for every 1000-2000 episodes of vaginal sex and 1 in 200 for anal sex. It's around 1 for every 10,000 to 20,000 episodes of fellatio (penis-mouth contact) and maybe zero for cunnilingus (oral contact with female genitals). Use the search link to find innumerable discussions on this forum, including explanations for the relatively low odds.
4) If "cure" means eradication of HIV from the body, the chance is very low. Certainly no cure will be available in the next 10-20 years. After that, who knows? However, as HIV treatment improves, more and more infected people will survive longer, and it is possible that someday people with HIV will have normal lifespans.
Best wishes- HHH, MD
1) The responses on the HIV community forum were accurate. No medicine or drug, including marijuana, has any effect on HIV test results.
2) No transmission risk. Without sex or sharing injection equipment, you can't catch HIV.
3) Even 1 in 100 is much too high. The actual risks of HIV transmission, for each episode of sex when one partner has HIV and the other does not, are about 1 chance for every 1000-2000 episodes of vaginal sex and 1 in 200 for anal sex. It's around 1 for every 10,000 to 20,000 episodes of fellatio (penis-mouth contact) and maybe zero for cunnilingus (oral contact with female genitals). Use the search link to find innumerable discussions on this forum, including explanations for the relatively low odds.
4) If "cure" means eradication of HIV from the body, the chance is very low. Certainly no cure will be available in the next 10-20 years. After that, who knows? However, as HIV treatment improves, more and more infected people will survive longer, and it is possible that someday people with HIV will have normal lifespans.
Best wishes- HHH, MD
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