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PIERCING + UNPROTECTED SEX + 3 MONTH TEST PLEASE HELP
Hello
I am a 19 year old male. I became sexually active in September 2013 in a securely monogamous relationship with my childhood friend and had always used protection even during oral sex. We both thought it was a good idea to get tested nonetheless so we went for an HIV test on 5 December 2013. Both were negative on HIV 1 and 2 and P24 antigen combo test (CMIA). neither of us had any exposure to any risk activity at least 6 months prior to that so that test was conclusive.
on 28th january 2014, my girlfriend got her ears pierced. NOTE - there was no gun used. they said professionals dont use guns. they pierced her ears with a wire which they then rolled into her ear and let it stay for a week. then she went a week later and got decorative ear studs from the same store and they discarded the wire.
Here begins the problem - I became complacent and oblivious of the fact that she got pierced and we had unprotected sex on 17th february 2014. We also had unprotected oral sex 3 times (I received, NEVER gave).
When i read that piercing carries some risk for transmission, i got really scared. especially because if she gets infected, then I will be too because her viral load would be really high in the first few days ( I researched this on your forum) and the gap between 28 Jan and 17 Feb is merely 20 days.
Scared, I got tested for hiv 10 weeks after my unprotected vaginal sex incident ie on 6 may. Negative. (However, only 20 days had passed since the unprotected oral sex)
My girlfriend got tested on 12th May, 3.5 months after the piercing, negative result.
Specifically my questions are -
1) What is the probability of her getting HIV from the piercing with a wire which they rolled onto her ear (what if they dont use new wires and straighten up the old ones and use them for each client) ?
2) She has been tested at 3.5 months post exposure, and came back negative. That should be conclusive however there are many reports online which say that rarely it may take 6 months to develop antibodies. Should this test be considered medically conclusive? This 6 month thing is most confusing and concerning.
3) I have tested negative after 10 weeks of the unprotected vaginal sex. Should I be worried about 'receiving oral sex' still being in the window period?
4) Please note - HIV 1 and 2 Antibody and P24 antigen tests COMBO were used all the times.
I am a 19 year old male. I became sexually active in September 2013 in a securely monogamous relationship with my childhood friend and had always used protection even during oral sex. We both thought it was a good idea to get tested nonetheless so we went for an HIV test on 5 December 2013. Both were negative on HIV 1 and 2 and P24 antigen combo test (CMIA). neither of us had any exposure to any risk activity at least 6 months prior to that so that test was conclusive.
on 28th january 2014, my girlfriend got her ears pierced. NOTE - there was no gun used. they said professionals dont use guns. they pierced her ears with a wire which they then rolled into her ear and let it stay for a week. then she went a week later and got decorative ear studs from the same store and they discarded the wire.
Here begins the problem - I became complacent and oblivious of the fact that she got pierced and we had unprotected sex on 17th february 2014. We also had unprotected oral sex 3 times (I received, NEVER gave).
When i read that piercing carries some risk for transmission, i got really scared. especially because if she gets infected, then I will be too because her viral load would be really high in the first few days ( I researched this on your forum) and the gap between 28 Jan and 17 Feb is merely 20 days.
Scared, I got tested for hiv 10 weeks after my unprotected vaginal sex incident ie on 6 may. Negative. (However, only 20 days had passed since the unprotected oral sex)
My girlfriend got tested on 12th May, 3.5 months after the piercing, negative result.
Specifically my questions are -
1) What is the probability of her getting HIV from the piercing with a wire which they rolled onto her ear (what if they dont use new wires and straighten up the old ones and use them for each client) ?
2) She has been tested at 3.5 months post exposure, and came back negative. That should be conclusive however there are many reports online which say that rarely it may take 6 months to develop antibodies. Should this test be considered medically conclusive? This 6 month thing is most confusing and concerning.
3) I have tested negative after 10 weeks of the unprotected vaginal sex. Should I be worried about 'receiving oral sex' still being in the window period?
4) Please note - HIV 1 and 2 Antibody and P24 antigen tests COMBO were used all the times.
If either you or nurse girl could help me with one more question,please?
I completely understand her explanation, but the only doubt I have is - what then is the difference between a needlestick injury (which may transmit the virus) and a piercing? I quote nursegirl ------ (Also, an ear piercing would not be a significant enough "injury" per se to allow for the virus to have a portal of entry (which is necessary for transmission).)
Thanks and Regards.
I completely understand her explanation, but the only doubt I have is - what then is the difference between a needlestick injury (which may transmit the virus) and a piercing? I quote nursegirl ------ (Also, an ear piercing would not be a significant enough "injury" per se to allow for the virus to have a portal of entry (which is necessary for transmission).)
Thanks and Regards.
1. Yes it remains the same (speaking for nursegirl) because the "breathing" means it is exposed to the outside elements which break down the virus rendering it inactive to infect.
2. When a risk is had and taken at the correct time...correct.
2. When a risk is had and taken at the correct time...correct.
Thanks for the answer.
I will not trouble you any further, just two very simple follow up questions - Your answer to 1) remains the same even if the piercing needle is hollow? as in it has space for the virus to stay alive and 'breathe' so to speak?
2) The P24 and 1 and 2 antibody combo tests are accurate right? They won't give a false negative?
This will be my last post. thanks.
I will not trouble you any further, just two very simple follow up questions - Your answer to 1) remains the same even if the piercing needle is hollow? as in it has space for the virus to stay alive and 'breathe' so to speak?
2) The P24 and 1 and 2 antibody combo tests are accurate right? They won't give a false negative?
This will be my last post. thanks.
1) What is the probability of her getting HIV from the piercing with a wire which they rolled onto her ear (what if they dont use new wires and straighten up the old ones and use them for each client) ?
There would be no risk, for several reasons. One, the virus does not remain active when exposed to the environment, therefore it could not remain infectious. Also, an ear piercing would not be a significant enough "injury" per se to allow for the virus to have a portal of entry (which is necessary for transmission). Also, there would not be enough blood present on the wire to cause a risk.
2) She has been tested at 3.5 months post exposure, and came back negative. That should be conclusive however there are many reports online which say that rarely it may take 6 months to develop antibodies. Should this test be considered medically conclusive? This 6 month thing is most confusing and concerning.
She doesn't need testing at all for the ear piercing, it wasn't a risk, see above for why. 6 months is outdated. 3 months is the current official recommendation for conclusive HIV testing. Again, she doesn't need testing for the ear piercing.
3) I have tested negative after 10 weeks of the unprotected vaginal sex. Should I be worried about 'receiving oral sex' still being in the window period?
You didn't need testing for oral sex, or for your GF's ear piercing. You don't need any further tests.
4) Please note - HIV 1 and 2 Antibody and P24 antigen tests COMBO were used all the times.
There would be no risk, for several reasons. One, the virus does not remain active when exposed to the environment, therefore it could not remain infectious. Also, an ear piercing would not be a significant enough "injury" per se to allow for the virus to have a portal of entry (which is necessary for transmission). Also, there would not be enough blood present on the wire to cause a risk.
2) She has been tested at 3.5 months post exposure, and came back negative. That should be conclusive however there are many reports online which say that rarely it may take 6 months to develop antibodies. Should this test be considered medically conclusive? This 6 month thing is most confusing and concerning.
She doesn't need testing at all for the ear piercing, it wasn't a risk, see above for why. 6 months is outdated. 3 months is the current official recommendation for conclusive HIV testing. Again, she doesn't need testing for the ear piercing.
3) I have tested negative after 10 weeks of the unprotected vaginal sex. Should I be worried about 'receiving oral sex' still being in the window period?
You didn't need testing for oral sex, or for your GF's ear piercing. You don't need any further tests.
4) Please note - HIV 1 and 2 Antibody and P24 antigen tests COMBO were used all the times.
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