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Risk of HIV and how to proceed in my situation.
Hello there, thank you for taking the time to read this. I am a 26 year old male.
I had a severe lapse in judgment and had unprotected vaginal intercourse with a woman in her early 40s I met online 5 days ago. I am disappointed in myself and a bit anxious about the possibility of a catastrophic outcome. After I expressed my regret in doing what I did, she informed me that she was 100% clean. I have no reason to disbelieve her, other than I do not know her. I have had no symptoms to suggest I should be worried about HIV; nevertheless the encounter was unprotected and thus a potential exposure. Judging by the statistics I have read on HIV the likelihood the woman even had HIV to begin with is extremely small (a very small fraction of 1%), and the further likelihood that the disease was transmitted is about 4/10,000, making transmission for a one time encounter a very very small fraction of 1%. First question: are those numbers fairly accurate?
Second question: how do I proceed with regards to testing? I am unfamiliar with the type and quality of testing regarding HIV. What type of test do I get, and how long do I wait to do it? I would like to get it done as soon as possible. I have no health insurance. How much does whatever tests you may recommend cost? Who should I get it from?
Third question: in the near future, I am to go through the Military Entrance Processing Command (MEPS) to gain medical clearance for service in the military. They test for HIV as part of this examination. I have no idea what type of test they use. If whatever they test yields a negative result, should I just forget the issue? This examination will occur somewhere between 1.5-2.5 weeks after any exposure I may have had.
Thank you for your time.
I had a severe lapse in judgment and had unprotected vaginal intercourse with a woman in her early 40s I met online 5 days ago. I am disappointed in myself and a bit anxious about the possibility of a catastrophic outcome. After I expressed my regret in doing what I did, she informed me that she was 100% clean. I have no reason to disbelieve her, other than I do not know her. I have had no symptoms to suggest I should be worried about HIV; nevertheless the encounter was unprotected and thus a potential exposure. Judging by the statistics I have read on HIV the likelihood the woman even had HIV to begin with is extremely small (a very small fraction of 1%), and the further likelihood that the disease was transmitted is about 4/10,000, making transmission for a one time encounter a very very small fraction of 1%. First question: are those numbers fairly accurate?
Second question: how do I proceed with regards to testing? I am unfamiliar with the type and quality of testing regarding HIV. What type of test do I get, and how long do I wait to do it? I would like to get it done as soon as possible. I have no health insurance. How much does whatever tests you may recommend cost? Who should I get it from?
Third question: in the near future, I am to go through the Military Entrance Processing Command (MEPS) to gain medical clearance for service in the military. They test for HIV as part of this examination. I have no idea what type of test they use. If whatever they test yields a negative result, should I just forget the issue? This examination will occur somewhere between 1.5-2.5 weeks after any exposure I may have had.
Thank you for your time.
Condoms when used properly would act as a barrier but they can break.
Great, thank you so much for your help. If I may, I'd like to ask one final thing.
Even in the absence of symptoms, should I refrain from sexual intercourse for the next three months? Is it ok to remain sexually active if I use condoms?
Thanks again in advance for your correspondence, this will be my final question.
Even in the absence of symptoms, should I refrain from sexual intercourse for the next three months? Is it ok to remain sexually active if I use condoms?
Thanks again in advance for your correspondence, this will be my final question.
No it is not, only 3 months would be considered conclusive.
Hey there, thank you very much for the response.
With regard to your answer, I'd like to ask something else. I have read about the 4th generation HIV test, and saw numbers that suggest it is 99.5% accurate at 28 days post exposure (if I even had one).
Is a negative 4th generation test result at 28 days after contact a conclusive result?
With regard to your answer, I'd like to ask something else. I have read about the 4th generation HIV test, and saw numbers that suggest it is 99.5% accurate at 28 days post exposure (if I even had one).
Is a negative 4th generation test result at 28 days after contact a conclusive result?
Hi, sorry for no replies but just take an antibody test 3 months post exposure.
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