HIV survival in semen outside the host

[vivek15]

Hi,
I'm a 24 years old male. I met a guy(later I came to know he is HIV positive) and we did mutual masturbation. He came first and immediately(within 1 or 2 seconds) he applied his sperm on my penis. Exactly after 2 weeks, I've got pink purplish rashes on the soles of feet, later on the palms of hand. These rashes lasted for good 2 weeks. One week after the onset of rashes (3rd week after exposure) I've started having all the ARS symptoms. Flu like symptoms for 3 days with heavy night sweat, extreme fatigue, loss of appetite, mild abdomen pain, loose stools, white cheese like coating on my inner cheeks that lasts for 3 weeks. I'm terribly worried as I'm the first to get HIV infection in this manner. I read that syphilis will not show all this symptoms in 3 weeks after exposure.I have done 6 weeks HIV antibody test(rapid blood test) and the result is negative As I'm experiencing all the ARS symptoms at the exact time frame, I request you please answer my concerns.

1. How long does HIV in semen active(able to infect) after ejaculation?

2. If that person is not under treatment(probably high viral load), the concentration of virus in his sperm will also be high. Is it still not possible to infect me in the manner that I described?

3.If hiv in blood can be active(in a needle stick) long outside the body, then, why not in the sperm(atleast for 10 seconds in wet sperm)?

4. Is there any other STI that could cause the same set of symptoms within 3 weeks of exposure?

Thanks for your help.

[Teak]

You never had a risk and didn't need testing.

[vivek15]

To complete my previous comment....
I'm waiting for the results and will let u know. Fingers crossed. Need your prayers...

[vivek15]

Thank u Webbers and TheRepublic. I understand that HIV is a fragile virus and will become inactive when exposed to air. However, none of the experiments or studies have proved that HIV in sperm will become inactive so quickly(like within a second). I'm worried just because I've got all the symptoms(certainly real symptoms) in the exact time frame. Also, all those symptoms are well consistent with ARS.  Webbers, could you please let me know is there any study results supporting your comment that this is not at all possible. I've not exaggerated any of the symptoms here. Also, I only had unprotected penetrative sex with my girl friend(which was one year back) in my lifetime. I also got her tested negative 2 weeks back. I've not used IV drugs. I've went to take fourth generation ELISA yesterday. I'll let you know

[Webbers]

1.  It doesn't remain active outside the body.  The virus is EXTREMELY fragile and begins breaking down immediately upon contact with air, which is why INTERNAL infection is the ONLY way it is possible to get infected, as by unprotected anal/vaginal sex.

2. It is 150% impossible to get infected in the manner you've described.  It is not possible at all.  You will never get infected by what you described.

3. A needle stick is not a method of infection. Blood inside a syringe is an airtight space not exposed to air and if that blood is not exposed to air then directly injected into a person then infection is possible.  But in your lifetime with what you do on a daily basis, you will never be in that position so you have nothing to worry about with that method of infection.

4.  This is an HIV specific board, take your other STI questions to the STD board.

[TheRepublic]

Your symptoms have nothing to do with HIV. The bore of a needle is different. It protects the virus from some elements that would render it inactive.