Concern about HIV exposure

[sjones373]

Hello,

Approx. 36 hours ago I had unprotected receptive anal sex with a man who claims to be HIV negative for the first time.  He did not pull out in time and got at least some semen inside of me.  He claims up and down that he is negative, however I just woke up drenched in night sweat.  I normally only have very minor sweats, so the fact that I am drenched had me concerned about Acute HIV infection.  I do not have a fever or any other symptoms.  Since it's within 72 hours I'm considering going to a clinic to ask about Post Exposure meds, but wanted an opinion here first.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Absolutely.  It would be very unusual for symptoms of recently acquired HIV to begin until two week following exposure.  EWH

[sjones373]

Thank you one final question, do you feel the night sweats could be acute HIV or  do you think 36 hours is too soon?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Yes, in general, the sooner PEP is started the better.  Most experts agree there is little benefit after 72 hours and sooner is better.  EWH

[sjones373]

By the time I get to a clinic and get the PEP I imagine it will be close to 48 hours, will it still be effective?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to the Forum.  The encounter you describe placed you at relatively high risk for infection.  Receptive rectal intercourse is the sex act with the highest risk for HIV, if your partner was infected, leading to infection in one out of every 100 exposures.  Thus the critical question is whether or not he had HIV.  If you think he was, the PEP is appropriate.  I note that he states is is not infected however.  It would be great if there were a way for you to determine if he was infected or not.  

Should you opt to take PEP, please make sure, I hope you will at least plan to use condoms  to discuss issues of follow-up of both side effects and for HIV testing

In the future, I urge you to use condoms for casual sexual encounters of this sort.  EWH