A
female
age
30-35,
anonymous
writes:I am here to ask about the effectivenes of HIV home test such as OraQuick, as well as the rist of Oral sex when it comes to HIV. The reason why I am asking is because I literally just took one OraQuick test, followed the instructions to the T and (Thank God) it came back negative.Let me give you a bit of my story, I have been in a happy and safe monogomous relationship with my husband to-be for about 3 years now. We have both been tested for STI's as well as Pap-Smears (for me) numerous times and we have always tested negative for all of those tests. My boyfriend was the first (and only) guy I have ever had vaginal sex with. the reason why I especify it as vaginal is because about 4 years ago (when I wasn't as smart as I am today, nor had the correct information to realize I was engaving in a risky sexual activity) I decided to experiment with a guy I had just met and (therefore) knew nothing about (I cringe at the thought, I'de like to think I was too naive, but it all comes down to having a teenage mind). We fulled around a few times, both of us naked on the bed (no kind of penetration, semen or blood involved), but one time we engaged in unprotected oral sex (this was my first time ever engaging in any sexual activity, and I was stupid enough to do it with someone I had only known for a short period of time). I was the one giving, while he was receiving, this did it for a short time but the one thing I can say is that he did not ejaculate on my mouth, he ejaculated on my belly. Now, this was 4 years ago, possibly longer so why did I have a sudden freakout about this guy's unknown sexual health status? Well, because I pride myself in being very safe with my partner, we do not engage in risky behaviors, we have been faithful to each other since the start of our relationship, I can safetily say that at this moment I posses above average knowledge when it comes to sexual health. But for some reason, my mind made me forget that one episode in my life that I acted in a reckless way, without even knowing it. Now I know that an HIV positive guy can carry (high/low) consentrations of HIV in their seman. I did not encounter semen, and i do not think I had any cut to worry about in my mouth at the time, but I also know that it is posible for guys to carry the virus in pre-come (now this is where I started freaking out), but I also now that unprotected sex without ejaculation carries a very low risk when it comes to transmitting HIV, but the risk is still there. Because my brain decided to block that memory until now the only think I am certain is that there was no ejaculation in my mouth, but pre-come can be a little tricky, this is when I got scared as hell, ran to the CVS and got a OraQuick and it came back negative. But still, I can't help but worry, not only because of my but also my partner.I know I am probably over reacting, but I just want to get as many opinions on this as I can on this topic.Thank you.
View related questions:
ejaculate, ejaculation, engaged, hiv , oral sex, period, semen, unprotected sex, vagina Reply to this Question
Share |
Fancy yourself as an agony aunt? Add your answer to this question! A
female
reader, Euphoric29  +, writes (11 May 2013):
Dear OP,
I was just on the german webpage for AIDS research, www.hivandmore.de and there it says you CAN'T get HIV from precum during oral sex (from swallowing cum you could).
They say that yes, there might be small doses of HIV virus found in the precum, but they are too few to infect someone.
Obviously, they run different campaigns in the US and germany, but the webpage I visited was meant for doctors and researchers, so I trust it. Unfortunately it's not available in english.
A
female
reader, Tisha-1 +, writes (11 May 2013):
 There's also HPV to consider; apparently oral cancer rates are soaring due to transmission of HPV via unprotected oral sex. In the US, I understand it's considered a bit of an epidemic.
You could look at the website of the test's manufacturer for sensitivity data. However, presumably the exposure was 4 years ago, by this point you would have made test-detectable antibodies. So if you haven't, then you don't have HIV.
You could have been exposed to Herpes and HPV, which would have to be determined by your physician.
As you are so freaked out by the infinitesimally tiny chance of HIV, why not go get checked out by your doctor for that and the other orally transmitted STDs? If that doesn't clear up your concerns, then you might have a different issue with which to contend. Irrational fears have the problem of not being assuaged by logic.
Good luck!
...............................
A
female
reader, Pr3tty_in_pink86  +, writes (10 May 2013):
As the others have said the chance is extremely low, genital herpes type 1 is the thing you should be worried about.
...............................
A
male
reader, CMMP +, writes (10 May 2013):
My opinion is that you're suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder and need to stop worrying.
BTW the real reason to worry about unprotected oral is herpes, not HIV.
...............................
A
reader, anonymous, writes (10 May 2013): This is verified as being by the original poster of the questionHi WiseOwlE,Thank you for the information, As I mention in my previous response to other comments, I had never been tested for HIV before. I always thought I didn't need a test for that because my partner of many years and I have always practiced safe sex with each other. I have been tested for other STI's and have always gotten negative results.I recently went over HIV information with a friend, and that is when I remembered that there was one time that I engaged in a risky behavior, and although I knew the risk of me getting HIV where very low (as you and I both stated), it still made me uneasy because of the fact that I had never really been tested for HIV.I asked the question more so to get information on the home test, which I knew nothing about until I actually purchased it and took it. And It gave me a piece of mind, i just wanted to make sure that was an accurate piece of mind.Thanks.
...............................
A
reader, anonymous, writes (10 May 2013): This is verified as being by the original poster of the questionHi everyone,I wanted to clarify three things:The first one being the fact that when PCP's say they will test for STI's they do not necessarily mean they will test for HIV (usually they test for Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Hepatitis). From my knowledge, one has to request an HIV test in addition to other STI's. Prior to the OraQuick that I just took, I had never been tested for HIV alone, I never thought I had any reason too (another smaller mistake on my part). Second, no you can't get HIV from kissing, hugging or sharing saliva with someone, or touching or sharing eating utensil. BUT, when some has HIV, the virus can very much be found and transmitted through semen as well as pre-come. My worry here, was that although the guy did not ejaculate in my mouth, my mouth could have come in contact with pre-come which is basically a clear fluid that not contains sperms and but can also carry diseases. So if I were to have a sore or cut in my mouth, that pre-come could have very much gotten into my bloodstream.Third, my explanations are not because I am afraid people will judge me, the reason why I provided more detail is because any kind of unprotected sex with people you don't know, let alone know the status of their sexual health, IS considered engaging in "risky sexual behavior" as well as "reckless sexual behavior". the reason for this, is because not only can you not know if someone is healthy just by looking at them (or by their own words), but also sometimes people don't even have a clue about their actual sexual health statues themselves. So of course I consider MY particular behavior at the time, "risky", "reckless" and "stupid", I do not mean to offed anyone by the last one, I mean stupid in a sense of taking the risk of doing something without knowing half of the facts. By no means do I believe a person should feel guilty or dirty because they have some sort of STI. I don't believe anyone should consider themselves dirty, that is another stigma/stereotype I am very much against when it comes to how our society views these topics. I help others feel good about themselves regardless of their situation, everyone makes mistakes, that's part of what I do for a living. But, freaking out (even when you know the odds are very much in your favor) is very much a normal human emotion.I asked this question knowing that the risk of unprotected oral sex without ejaculation is very low, but the risk is still present. Contracting HIV from this very same activity, HAS happened before. My question was more along the lines of wanting to know more about the accuracy and effectiveness of the test itself. I didn't even know it existed until I decided I needed to get tested ASAP for my piece of mind.The reason why I present this information like this, is to share the facts I have about sexual health, because there are a lot of misconceptions and misinformation when it come to how STI's such as HIV can be transmitted. And awareness is something that is very near and dear to my heart.I do appreciate all of your responses, especially Euphoric29, not only were you the most helpful but the warmest too. Thank you.
...............................
A
female
reader, Euphoric29 +, writes (10 May 2013):
Dear OP,
I am not a doctor, but the danger of getting HIV through unprotected oral sex without a guy ejaculating into your mouth is considered very small. Personally, I give oral sex (no ejaculation) without condoms and I don't feel like I'm stupid.
Plus, you've already conducted an oraquick HIV test and it was negative. I read on the internet that in 99% of cases, oraquick is correct. So, I m pretty sure you're healthy :).
What you could do is ask your gynecologist/doctor if those STI tests that you mentioned included a HIV test. Maybe you've already been diagnosed HIV negative and just didn't know?
...............................
A
reader, anonymous, writes (10 May 2013): If you both have been fully tested, I'm not quite sure of your reasoning for this post, unless you've done something recently that wasn't mentioned. Testing is effective when done within a minimum of 30 days since your last sexual activity.You can go to a free clinic and get a full range of testing by yourself. There are clinics available in every town that offer free testing for a full range of STD's/STI's and HIV status. The risk of HIV infection through oral sex is minimal. As you say, unless there is an open sore in the mouth.However; you gain peace of mind by getting proper testing.Many LGBT health collectives offer free testing and are available in almost every town in the country. They sometimes request only a small contribution. The at-home and 20-minute tests are quite accurate, and have a high percentage of detecting HIV infection. Blood is required for testing of other "silent" STI's. Meaning, STD's that may show no obvious or apparent symptoms for many years.It is responsible and wise to protect yourself and others by getting tested for herpes, syphilis, and any other sexually transmitted diseases that can be spread by exchanging blood or bodily fluids. It's always better being safe than sorry. Don't worry. The testing is discreet and completely confidential.If you tested negative on your home test and all the testing as you've mentioned; HIV infection would have been detected long before now. It doesn't suddenly appear years after testing negative; unless there is risky behavior practiced "between testing" that would introduce the opportunity of infection.Otherwise; your guilt and concern doesn't make any sense.
...............................
A
female
reader, R1 +, writes (10 May 2013):
 I would assume you are safe. HIV can be passed through unprotected penetrative sex or blood to blood. Not though saliva or touching or kissing. Don't obsessively worry about it - it's in the past. If you are planning on sleeping around in the future then use protection. Simple!
...............................
A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (10 May 2013): I think you are being completely irrational. You have been tested in the last 3 years for STDs. I assume that includes HIV. Why the anxiety now? You obviously are negative.
Also, you sexual past is nothing to be in turmoil about. There is obviously some type of guilt regarding your past activity. No one is judging you on it, only yourself. No need for all the explanations ...everybody has had sex/oral with people that it didn't workout with. It doesn't make you dirty or show how stupid you were.
Sigh...
...............................
|
