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Multiple partners gay
Hi! I first would like to commend this website, as it is much more reliable for logical information than that of other medical websites.
I am a gay male and in the past year I have been very sexually active. I have had casual protected anal sex with 6 different men, all of which have told me they are negative but for some reason I still am having anxiety over whether I have HIV or not. I am scared that the condom broke and they have not told me or something like that. I know that with a condom you guys say that it is zero risk, but I feel that since I have had so many partners (which I regret, I am new to being gay and don't know how common it is to be infected) that I am at a greater risk. I keep worrying about it and I cannot stop. Do you guys think I have a large risk? I am going to get tested soon however I need something to keep me from breaking down in the waiting room!
I am a gay male and in the past year I have been very sexually active. I have had casual protected anal sex with 6 different men, all of which have told me they are negative but for some reason I still am having anxiety over whether I have HIV or not. I am scared that the condom broke and they have not told me or something like that. I know that with a condom you guys say that it is zero risk, but I feel that since I have had so many partners (which I regret, I am new to being gay and don't know how common it is to be infected) that I am at a greater risk. I keep worrying about it and I cannot stop. Do you guys think I have a large risk? I am going to get tested soon however I need something to keep me from breaking down in the waiting room!
Best Answer
I recently was going through the same thing except for I am a female and was having vaginal sex. I did a lot of research on this when I was going through my anxiety and many who are doctors will tell you that condoms are design to tear so that both partners would know. I think you are fine because honestly those who are concerned with their STD status are always those who did some sort of infidelity or those who have no real concern. You fall under no real concern. Its hard to grasp the fact that you had protected sex and the condom didn't break because your anxiety is coming from having sex with multiple partners whose status were unknown and also you were new to gay sex which a high risk group. However, your risk is lowered because you wore protection which is the best way to keep away STDs
Get tested for you peace of mind. It will be negative. Just continue to wear condoms
Actually, you do "have a heightened risk" for HIV. Within the context of multiple same-sex partners, you are going about it with maximum safety, including discussing HIV status with partners as well as consistent condom use for anal sex. Congratulations; most likely you won't ever get HIV.
However, anybody with this sexual lifestyle is at substantially higher risk than if you didn't have multiple partners, or if you didn't have anal sex. Your risk is much higher than it would be if you were heterosexual and having a similar lifestyle with only female partners. But condoms do sometimes break, and unrecognized condom failures or other lapses in safety sometimes occur.
This is not intended to frighten you, but there are no guarantees against HIV given this sexual lifestyle. Even without known lapses in safety, you should plan on periodic HIV/STD testing, along with professional evaluation and examination (in person) by a knowledgeable doctor or clinic -- like once a year or thereabouts.
Sorry if this sounds blunt. I stress that the odds are heavily in your favor and you probably will never be infected. But you do need to have a realistic understanding of it.
However, anybody with this sexual lifestyle is at substantially higher risk than if you didn't have multiple partners, or if you didn't have anal sex. Your risk is much higher than it would be if you were heterosexual and having a similar lifestyle with only female partners. But condoms do sometimes break, and unrecognized condom failures or other lapses in safety sometimes occur.
This is not intended to frighten you, but there are no guarantees against HIV given this sexual lifestyle. Even without known lapses in safety, you should plan on periodic HIV/STD testing, along with professional evaluation and examination (in person) by a knowledgeable doctor or clinic -- like once a year or thereabouts.
Sorry if this sounds blunt. I stress that the odds are heavily in your favor and you probably will never be infected. But you do need to have a realistic understanding of it.
so even though I have had multiple partners I dont have a heightened risk? I have just read these horror stories where people get hiv from condom protected sex. Its driving me crazy
While a broken condom can happen, it is not common. When it does both people are often in a state of panic. Testing is a good idea yearly or when you had a risk, but see no reason to be concerned.
Hi, condoms do eliminate any hiv risks as the virus cannot enter the urethra. If your not sure if the condom broke then do by all means have a test. When it comes to risks, all we can say is that even a one time unprotected exposure could be enough to contact it but on the other hand i feel you would know if it broke by the different skin sensations.
Going forward i would suggest you double check after the act is done to make sure the condom was still intack and on his penis.
Going forward i would suggest you double check after the act is done to make sure the condom was still intack and on his penis.
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