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One Time Short Duration Unprotected Vaginal Sex - testing required?
Hello Doctor,
My question pertains to a single exposure to unprotected vaginal sex for a short duration 5-10 mins max. I met the girl in a bar and do not know anything about her sexual history. I was under the influence and wasnt responsible, which i realise and will make sure doesnt happen in the future.
Intercourse was occuard since we she asked me to use protection and didnt have any on me so we started and stopped a couple times and total duration is less than 10 mins. Initially she was dry and only towards the last coupld mins did she get lubricated.
I have been tested regulalry and am clean. Was looking for advice or reassurance whichever you deem fit.
Also you mention probability to be 1 in 1000, is this also for short durations. Or what is it?
Should i get tested, also i would like to get tested in the next 10 days if you do recommend it will PCP window period fit this.
Kindly let me know the risk i face and if you recommend testing or not. The reason why i cant test after 10 days is cause i live in Dubai, and STD testing is a little differant, if possitive i get reported and could be deported.
Hope to hear from you soon.
My question pertains to a single exposure to unprotected vaginal sex for a short duration 5-10 mins max. I met the girl in a bar and do not know anything about her sexual history. I was under the influence and wasnt responsible, which i realise and will make sure doesnt happen in the future.
Intercourse was occuard since we she asked me to use protection and didnt have any on me so we started and stopped a couple times and total duration is less than 10 mins. Initially she was dry and only towards the last coupld mins did she get lubricated.
I have been tested regulalry and am clean. Was looking for advice or reassurance whichever you deem fit.
Also you mention probability to be 1 in 1000, is this also for short durations. Or what is it?
Should i get tested, also i would like to get tested in the next 10 days if you do recommend it will PCP window period fit this.
Kindly let me know the risk i face and if you recommend testing or not. The reason why i cant test after 10 days is cause i live in Dubai, and STD testing is a little differant, if possitive i get reported and could be deported.
Hope to hear from you soon.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
"That's all for this thread" meant what it says. If you have continued questions about interpretation of your latest test result or the need for more testing, talk to the clinic or doctor that has done your tests so far. Stop posting follow-up comments; this is not a counseling sevice. And please do not start a new thread with the same questions. It would be deleted without reply (and without refund of the posting fee).
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
HIV symptoms cannot start sooner than 7-10 days after exposure. Most likely you just caught a cold. I'm a little surprised your doctor prescribed an antibiotic, however; colds are due to viruses and antibiotics cannot help. (If you are taking the antibiotic on your own, e.g. left over pills, you should stop taking it.)
That's all for this thread.
That's all for this thread.
Dr,
Just one more question, i hope you dont mind.
Its been 3 days. I have developed a sore throat and a mild fever, i am worried that these are symptoms of HIV. Could you please let me know your thoughts.
I am also on antibiotics for my sore throat for 2 days now.
Is this HIV symptoms?
Just one more question, i hope you dont mind.
Its been 3 days. I have developed a sore throat and a mild fever, i am worried that these are symptoms of HIV. Could you please let me know your thoughts.
I am also on antibiotics for my sore throat for 2 days now.
Is this HIV symptoms?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
That information is reassuring. People don't usually lie about HIV status when asked directly.
Glad to hear about the typo and your usual approach to sexual safety.
Glad to hear about the typo and your usual approach to sexual safety.
Just a small follow up question,
I called the girl up and asked her about anything i should know regarding the same situation.
She mentioned that there was nothing i have to worry about and that she works in the us governent and had to have her medical 3 weeks ago before she came here on work. She said she is clean and there is nothing to worry about.
Should this lay to rest my anxiety, since i have been very anxious and nervous.
BTW the message above regarding responsibility was a typo and i meant i am was responsible not that i wasnt. I understand the importance of protection and prevention since i have read numrous posts on your forum in the last 2 years since my previous post.
Thank you v much
I called the girl up and asked her about anything i should know regarding the same situation.
She mentioned that there was nothing i have to worry about and that she works in the us governent and had to have her medical 3 weeks ago before she came here on work. She said she is clean and there is nothing to worry about.
Should this lay to rest my anxiety, since i have been very anxious and nervous.
BTW the message above regarding responsibility was a typo and i meant i am was responsible not that i wasnt. I understand the importance of protection and prevention since i have read numrous posts on your forum in the last 2 years since my previous post.
Thank you v much
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I saw this before my original reply and took it into account.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome back to the HIV forum. You had a similar question 2 years ago -- not exactly the same situation, but that discussion addressed the low risks associated with any single heterosexual exposure (in the US or other industrialzed counbtries), in quite a bit of detail. The low risk nature of events like you describe here are pretty obvious from that discussion.
Of course "low risk" is relative. Picking up an unknown partner in a bar and having unprotected sex is probably the most unsafe you can get, and you might be at substantial risk for some STDs. However, it is statistically unlikely your partner had HIV; and as we discussed last time, the chance of HIV transmission from a single episode of unprotected vaginal sex, if the woman is infected, is around 1 in 2,000. Your chance may be even lower, given the brevity of exposure -- but I cannot estimate how much lower it might be.
As for testing, I recommend it. Even though the HIV risk is very low, it isn't zero, maybe around 1 chance in 100,000. More important, you should be tested for other common STDs. If you have no symptoms, wait until ~6 weeks then see an STD clinic or other provider for testing, which should include a urine test for chlamydia and gonorrhea and blood tests for HIV and syphilis. If you do have symptoms, such as penile sores, discharge, or uncomfortable urination, of course see a health care provider right away.
The HIV test can be a standard antibody test. i don't recommend PCR testing in this situation.
A closing comment: "I wasn't responsible" for my actions, because of alcohol, is obviously BS. You indeed are fully responsible for such actions -- responsible to not get drunk enough to affect your decision making and judgment, and for the decision to have unprotected sex with a casual, pick-up partner. Keep it up and you definitely can expect to catch some STDs along the way. HIV is unlikely, but it's still dumb to take even a low risk.
Regards-- HHH, MD
Of course "low risk" is relative. Picking up an unknown partner in a bar and having unprotected sex is probably the most unsafe you can get, and you might be at substantial risk for some STDs. However, it is statistically unlikely your partner had HIV; and as we discussed last time, the chance of HIV transmission from a single episode of unprotected vaginal sex, if the woman is infected, is around 1 in 2,000. Your chance may be even lower, given the brevity of exposure -- but I cannot estimate how much lower it might be.
As for testing, I recommend it. Even though the HIV risk is very low, it isn't zero, maybe around 1 chance in 100,000. More important, you should be tested for other common STDs. If you have no symptoms, wait until ~6 weeks then see an STD clinic or other provider for testing, which should include a urine test for chlamydia and gonorrhea and blood tests for HIV and syphilis. If you do have symptoms, such as penile sores, discharge, or uncomfortable urination, of course see a health care provider right away.
The HIV test can be a standard antibody test. i don't recommend PCR testing in this situation.
A closing comment: "I wasn't responsible" for my actions, because of alcohol, is obviously BS. You indeed are fully responsible for such actions -- responsible to not get drunk enough to affect your decision making and judgment, and for the decision to have unprotected sex with a casual, pick-up partner. Keep it up and you definitely can expect to catch some STDs along the way. HIV is unlikely, but it's still dumb to take even a low risk.
Regards-- HHH, MD
Sorry i mean should i get the PCR testing?
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