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Sex with heroin user, risk level?
I have been sleeping with a girl for about two years. She hasnt mentioned that she uses heroin currently, but admitted to using in the past. I know she uses pills and flips them, and is sexually active with her dealer.
We live together. Recently I noticed small red wounds on the top her forearms (not a traditional injection site) In addition, her eyebrows and face have always had some kind of issue with them, which she would cover with small bandages since I’ve known her. Being unfamiliar with drug use and the appearance of addicts, I just ignored these.
We have had unprotected sex the whole time, and have also been in an open relationship more or less where we can see other people but we dont really discuss much about details.
Ive noticed small red dots on various spots on the top of her arm, her shoulders, here and there but dismissed them til now. I am currently having unprotected sex (a total of twice) with someone else and still sexually active with the user. What is the level of risk of hiv and should I tell my other partner about it?
I fear it will cause strife btw my new partner and myself but I also feel like I owe it to her to tell the truth about my first partner and her struggle with drugs. I have no credible proof she is injecting iv drugs but finding the small wounds on her arm (not to mention the small facial wounds/scarring that I previously dismissed) has made me very worried that not only am I at risk, but have also betrayed the trust of the new partner who I care very much about. My partner who is the user has also visibly gotten worse in addition to the marks on her forearm, she has nodded off a few times midday. I am unsure if the wounds are skin picking or track marks since I am totally unfamiliar with the outward appearance of pill/heroin addicts.
I have tested negative for HIV twice, as recently as two months ago. But from my understanding that will only cover the last 3 months? I took another test yesterday, and had sex with the user, later that afternoon. A negative will only tell me that I havent been exposed in the 3 months prior to the test correct?
Does this also mean I should abstain with sex with my new partner for the next 3 months? Until I am fully out of the woods and can truthfully tell her I am negative for sure. I dont plan on sleeping with the partner who is using anymore.
Is there a test that can detect hiv sooner than the 3 month window from exposures? If so when would be a good time to take it, and should my non user partner also be made aware and asked to test herself? Sorry for all the questions but any help would be appreciated.
I am anxious about telling my new partner anything without knowing all the facts, but I feel she should know I am sexually active with someone who is high risk. Im also ready to abstain with the user as I am scared like hell that I could be jeapordizing my health, and that of my new partner who I wish to prioritize in my life going forward. However, I also fear if I tell her that I have been sexually active with a known drug user, (and possibly iv heroin user) that she would be pissed and want nothing to do with me.
Is there an ethical way I can avoid telling her everything about my last partner or should I just tell her everything? How real is my risk level at this point, in your best guess?
We live together. Recently I noticed small red wounds on the top her forearms (not a traditional injection site) In addition, her eyebrows and face have always had some kind of issue with them, which she would cover with small bandages since I’ve known her. Being unfamiliar with drug use and the appearance of addicts, I just ignored these.
We have had unprotected sex the whole time, and have also been in an open relationship more or less where we can see other people but we dont really discuss much about details.
Ive noticed small red dots on various spots on the top of her arm, her shoulders, here and there but dismissed them til now. I am currently having unprotected sex (a total of twice) with someone else and still sexually active with the user. What is the level of risk of hiv and should I tell my other partner about it?
I fear it will cause strife btw my new partner and myself but I also feel like I owe it to her to tell the truth about my first partner and her struggle with drugs. I have no credible proof she is injecting iv drugs but finding the small wounds on her arm (not to mention the small facial wounds/scarring that I previously dismissed) has made me very worried that not only am I at risk, but have also betrayed the trust of the new partner who I care very much about. My partner who is the user has also visibly gotten worse in addition to the marks on her forearm, she has nodded off a few times midday. I am unsure if the wounds are skin picking or track marks since I am totally unfamiliar with the outward appearance of pill/heroin addicts.
I have tested negative for HIV twice, as recently as two months ago. But from my understanding that will only cover the last 3 months? I took another test yesterday, and had sex with the user, later that afternoon. A negative will only tell me that I havent been exposed in the 3 months prior to the test correct?
Does this also mean I should abstain with sex with my new partner for the next 3 months? Until I am fully out of the woods and can truthfully tell her I am negative for sure. I dont plan on sleeping with the partner who is using anymore.
Is there a test that can detect hiv sooner than the 3 month window from exposures? If so when would be a good time to take it, and should my non user partner also be made aware and asked to test herself? Sorry for all the questions but any help would be appreciated.
I am anxious about telling my new partner anything without knowing all the facts, but I feel she should know I am sexually active with someone who is high risk. Im also ready to abstain with the user as I am scared like hell that I could be jeapordizing my health, and that of my new partner who I wish to prioritize in my life going forward. However, I also fear if I tell her that I have been sexually active with a known drug user, (and possibly iv heroin user) that she would be pissed and want nothing to do with me.
Is there an ethical way I can avoid telling her everything about my last partner or should I just tell her everything? How real is my risk level at this point, in your best guess?
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hi - there's been a bit of confusion here. An antigen-only test is useful during the first 4 weeks post-risk event. After that, antigens will completely disappear. This overlaps with the production of antibodies, which start forming around 2 weeks post-infection. So, your antigen test was a bit early, but any negative test is a good sign.
If you are in a developed country such as the US, Canada, UK, Australia, etc., most labs will use the DUO or combo test, which is also known as an antigen/antibody test. It tests for the presence of both antibodies and antigens, and you can take that at a month post-event.
If you want to test earlier, you can ask for an RNA PCR test, which detects the presence of the actual virus in your blood. However, this is expensive and likely to be an out-of-pocket cost. You can take that around 2 weeks post-event.
Re: the sores. I do have some experience with injection drug users, and reddish, sometimes scabby looking wounds on the arms and face are quite common signs. They aren't signs of HIV, but are likely related to the drug use.
If you are in a developed country such as the US, Canada, UK, Australia, etc., most labs will use the DUO or combo test, which is also known as an antigen/antibody test. It tests for the presence of both antibodies and antigens, and you can take that at a month post-event.
If you want to test earlier, you can ask for an RNA PCR test, which detects the presence of the actual virus in your blood. However, this is expensive and likely to be an out-of-pocket cost. You can take that around 2 weeks post-event.
Re: the sores. I do have some experience with injection drug users, and reddish, sometimes scabby looking wounds on the arms and face are quite common signs. They aren't signs of HIV, but are likely related to the drug use.
Your story is hard to follow and has a lot of unnecessary details, so let's make it simple.
A duo is conclusive after 1 month and any other after 3 months. There is no need to test again after you are conclusively negative.
Let me know if that answers all of your questions.
No one wants to be exposed to disease so the ethics of what to do or disclose are quite simple - refrain from unprotected anal or vaginal when you don't know if you are negative, unless you warn your partner that you don't know your status.
A duo is conclusive after 1 month and any other after 3 months. There is no need to test again after you are conclusively negative.
Let me know if that answers all of your questions.
No one wants to be exposed to disease so the ethics of what to do or disclose are quite simple - refrain from unprotected anal or vaginal when you don't know if you are negative, unless you warn your partner that you don't know your status.
9 Comments
Sorry I dont know what a duo is, I guess my question is;
what would the earliest that a test after exposure can 100% determine hiv neg status for myself?
what would the earliest that a test after exposure can 100% determine hiv neg status for myself?
"what would the earliest that a test after exposure can 100% determine hiv neg status for myself?" I already answered that.
You have to find out what kind of test you took then you will know if that test has a 1 month or 3 month window. No one here knows what kind of test you took. How many days after your last unprotected risk did you test?
You have to find out what kind of test you took then you will know if that test has a 1 month or 3 month window. No one here knows what kind of test you took. How many days after your last unprotected risk did you test?
It was a 2 day, window. Nonrapid test where they drew blood to send to a lab; antigen.
The one prior to that, which was a month ago, was rapid antigen test where they pricked my finger.
Antigen is not a duo. Antigen has a 3 month window period but it sounds like you tested after 2 days.
When was your last unprotected vaginal or anal with the person you are concerned about? Oral is not a risk for hiv btw so it is only the anal or vaginal that matters.
When was your last unprotected vaginal or anal with the person you are concerned about? Oral is not a risk for hiv btw so it is only the anal or vaginal that matters.
1 week ago
Ok, take a duo after 3 more weeks or another antigen after 12. Until then you won't know your status, since you don't know the status of the drug user who you had vaginal with last week. I should have asked you when your last unprotected with her was in the beginning - that is the only relevant fact - so I apologize for wasting your time until now.
sb I should have asked you in the beginning when your last unprotected with her was .....
No youve been great ty so much
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