Aa
Worried
Hello Doctors,
I am a male 20 years old, I had unprotected sex with a sex worker on the 23rd of December 2012 in London, that was the first time for me to have sex, and also I had unprotected oral sex twice with the another sex worker in October 2012, then I became extremely worried about contracting HIV, so I did many tests ( PCR RNA at 16 days, DUO test at 6 weeks, DUO test at exactly 68 days, INSTI Rapid test in 83 days, INSTI Rapid test at exactly 94 days, DUO in 6 months, 2 DUO Tests in 9 months " same week" with full STD's screen in Freedomhealth Clinic, and all the results were negative.
I am still worried that I might contracted rare HIV subtype, and the test did not detected them.
My questions are:
- Can I be confident that I am HIV FREE?
- Does the DUO test detect all the HIV subtypes's Antigen? do all subtypes produce the same p24 antigen that DUO test detects?
- Are my tests enough? should I go for a specific test that cover all the subtypes?
I am really worried doctor, the internet made me crazy about HIV and the rare subtypes, I can not focus on my studies, and I go to the gym like almost everyday, but there is something inside me telling me that why you are being health you might contracted rare subtypes and the tests did not detect them :(.
Please doctor make it clear for me.
Regards,
I am a male 20 years old, I had unprotected sex with a sex worker on the 23rd of December 2012 in London, that was the first time for me to have sex, and also I had unprotected oral sex twice with the another sex worker in October 2012, then I became extremely worried about contracting HIV, so I did many tests ( PCR RNA at 16 days, DUO test at 6 weeks, DUO test at exactly 68 days, INSTI Rapid test in 83 days, INSTI Rapid test at exactly 94 days, DUO in 6 months, 2 DUO Tests in 9 months " same week" with full STD's screen in Freedomhealth Clinic, and all the results were negative.
I am still worried that I might contracted rare HIV subtype, and the test did not detected them.
My questions are:
- Can I be confident that I am HIV FREE?
- Does the DUO test detect all the HIV subtypes's Antigen? do all subtypes produce the same p24 antigen that DUO test detects?
- Are my tests enough? should I go for a specific test that cover all the subtypes?
I am really worried doctor, the internet made me crazy about HIV and the rare subtypes, I can not focus on my studies, and I go to the gym like almost everyday, but there is something inside me telling me that why you are being health you might contracted rare subtypes and the tests did not detect them :(.
Please doctor make it clear for me.
Regards,
"Yes. I haven't changed my mind in the past few minutes." I Love this comment! lol. Doctor you're awesome! I shall post a question of mine soon.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
"something inside me like telling me I might be not like most people, I might contracted another type of HIV from my exposures,"
These are irrational feelings without any basis in science or fact.
"What should I do?"
Professional counseling makes sense for anyone who is having irrational fears and anxieties.
Good luck. But that's definitely all for this thread.
These are irrational feelings without any basis in science or fact.
"What should I do?"
Professional counseling makes sense for anyone who is having irrational fears and anxieties.
Good luck. But that's definitely all for this thread.
Hello Doctor Hunter, I am really sorry to post again, this is my last post I promise,
I really feel better after your answers last night, but something inside me like telling me I might be not like most people, I might contracted another type of HIV from my exposures, please advise me Doctor Hunter what should I do?
:(.
Many thanks,
I really feel better after your answers last night, but something inside me like telling me I might be not like most people, I might contracted another type of HIV from my exposures, please advise me Doctor Hunter what should I do?
:(.
Many thanks,
Many thanks Doctor Hunter , I really feel better now.
Regards,
Regards,
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
"So I can be confident that I have not contracted any type of HIV from both unprotected sex and the unprotected oral sex I had last year?"
Yes. I haven't changed my mind in the past few minutes.
Yes. I haven't changed my mind in the past few minutes.
Hello Doctor,
thank you very much for your fast reply,
So I can be confident that I have not contracted any type of HIV from both unprotected sex and the unprotected oral sex I had last year?
I really appreciate your help Doctor, I feel better after your reply, I will try my best to move on, or as you suggested I think I will go to a professional counseling to help me with my situation.
Many thanks,
thank you very much for your fast reply,
So I can be confident that I have not contracted any type of HIV from both unprotected sex and the unprotected oral sex I had last year?
I really appreciate your help Doctor, I feel better after your reply, I will try my best to move on, or as you suggested I think I will go to a professional counseling to help me with my situation.
Many thanks,
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum.
You should not be at all worried. It is an urban myth that there are HIV types that cannot be detected with the standard tests, especially the combination of multiple tests you have had. If there is any possibility that such an HIV strain may appear, it will first show up in the parts of Africa where HIV first evolved, and certainly not in London or any western country. I will also comment that you describe a low risk exposure. HIV is uncommon in London sex workers, and single vaginal sex exposures very rarely transmits HIV.
Those comments address your specific questions, but so there is no possilbe misunderstanding:
"Can I be confident that I am HIV FREE?" Yes
"Does the DUO test detect all the HIV subtypes's Antigen? do all subtypes produce the same p24 antigen that DUO test detects?" Either the antibody portion or the p24 antigen component of the duo test will detect infection with any and all HIV types known to exist.
"Are my tests enough?" Yes.
"should I go for a specific test that cover all the subtypes?" You have already had such testing.
London's Freedom Health clinic is highly respected world wide -- their doctors are the moderator's on MedHelp's international HIV and STD forums. I'm sure their answers were the same as mine.
I hope this has helped. Do your best to move on without worry. If you cannot, perhaps professional counseling would help. It is not normal to have such fears and anxieties after the reasoned, science based reassurance you have had. It seems likely you are just reacting emotionally to a first sexual encounter that you regret.
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
You should not be at all worried. It is an urban myth that there are HIV types that cannot be detected with the standard tests, especially the combination of multiple tests you have had. If there is any possibility that such an HIV strain may appear, it will first show up in the parts of Africa where HIV first evolved, and certainly not in London or any western country. I will also comment that you describe a low risk exposure. HIV is uncommon in London sex workers, and single vaginal sex exposures very rarely transmits HIV.
Those comments address your specific questions, but so there is no possilbe misunderstanding:
"Can I be confident that I am HIV FREE?" Yes
"Does the DUO test detect all the HIV subtypes's Antigen? do all subtypes produce the same p24 antigen that DUO test detects?" Either the antibody portion or the p24 antigen component of the duo test will detect infection with any and all HIV types known to exist.
"Are my tests enough?" Yes.
"should I go for a specific test that cover all the subtypes?" You have already had such testing.
London's Freedom Health clinic is highly respected world wide -- their doctors are the moderator's on MedHelp's international HIV and STD forums. I'm sure their answers were the same as mine.
I hope this has helped. Do your best to move on without worry. If you cannot, perhaps professional counseling would help. It is not normal to have such fears and anxieties after the reasoned, science based reassurance you have had. It seems likely you are just reacting emotionally to a first sexual encounter that you regret.
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
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