How effective is PEP?

[Nguyenthanhtuan90]

I have a risk with HIV infection, and already taken PEP after 7 hours from the risk!
Can i know how effective is PEP?
Is there any case still infect with HIV after taken PEP?

[Sara_MHModerator]

Our members have very clearly stated what the risks for HIV transmission are.  As they have told you, they include unprotected vaginal or anal intercourse or sharing IV drug needles.  As you had protected sex, they told you that you did not have a risk.  Please work with your own doctor to determine if you should continue PEP given your non risk.

***  thread closed ***

[Nguyenthanhtuan90]

Hello Mike! I still unclear about the HIV and it's transmission!
Im so stressful those days, so i've read many  documents about hiv transmission, and almost of the document show that there is a risk if blood/vaginal fluid/sperm contact to an open wound!
And as i've know, open wound is a wound with fresh blood. And the blood in the people body is a stream, even the blood already come out from the wound, it still connect with an bloodstream inside a body.
When HIV virus contact to the blood from the wound, it will find way to enter the body bloodstream?

Is my understand correct?
So from that, i will have a risk

[Nguyenthanhtuan90]

Thank you so much for your explanation, it make me feel relax a bit since im full of stress.
My doctor is the one who advice me to take PEP after i told him my case!
He said in general, when a vaginal fluid contact with open wound, there is a risk of HIV.
He also adviced me to take a test after 3 months from the risk.

I already took PEP for 15 days, still have 13 days of treatment ahead. Do you think i should continue or stop?  

One again, thank you so much Mike!

[mike_no]

I am really not sure why would your doctor do that. I feel you should see a specialist - infectious disease doctor for an opinion. I can't tell you to stop PEP because it won't be correct for me to go against a doctor.

From a risk assessment point of view, you didn't have a risk, PEP was certainly not necessary for this incident. No testing was necessary either.

[Nguyenthanhtuan90]

Thank you so much Mike!

[AnxiousNoMore]

Continuing PEP would be like you taking a birth control pill just because you mistakenly thought that she might be able to make you pregnant. PEP is for HIV risk, and you didn't have Hiv risk.

[Nguyenthanhtuan90]

Thank you so much ANM &Mike. But...just curious, have you even seen anyone still infect HIV after he took PEP correctly & within 72 hours?

[mike_no]

Irrelevant question. It doesn't apply to you. You didn't have a risk.

[mike_no]

You had no risk. It doesn't matter if she caused a cut or wound on your skin and it came in contact with infected fluid.

There were 2 factors that prevented HIV transmission:

1. HIV can't be transmitted outside of the body, the moment infected fluid establishes contact with the external environment, it rendered inactive, it degrades viral DNA and the lipids that make up the virus' shell, rendering it incapable of attaching to and infecting other cells.

2. The wound was at the initial layer of your skin, the infected fluid possibly didn't have a way to enter in to your blood stream, which is essential for the viral transmission. Practically, you needed to have a fresh big gapping wound that was profusely bleeding and it was in contact with infected fluid for any risk.

Hence, you didn't have a risk. You didn't need to test. You can't pop PEPs with out a recommendation from a doctor. These are not over the counter medical lozenges. Effectiveness of PEP is irrelevant to you since you didn't have a risk. Please read about HIV and it's transmission in the FAQ section of the forum and move on.

[mike_no]

What was your risk please?

[Nguyenthanhtuan90]

My risk:
Last week i have an vaginal sex with an woman.( I used condom)
But when we have sex, she acidentally scratched hard the skin below my testicular, some blood come out. After that, we continue to had sex and her vaginal fluid flow into that scratch ( with blood) ...

[Nguyenthanhtuan90]

Is there any case still infect with HIV after taken PEP?