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What Are The Chances Of HIV After Having Protected Oral Sex?
Brief Answer:
Chances of HIV negligible but get tested as per guidelines please
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail.
The risk of HIV by oral sex is less than 1 in 10000 people doing it, and I reassure you that for protected oral sex the risk is almost nil.
In your case it appears that you are having a lot of anxiety in mind and want to confirm that you are not at risk of having HIV after this incident. Many people have anxiety after such incidents and it is best to get tested for peace of mind.
Doing a test after 3 days and getting a negative report is not valid as per guidelines. Even though I am sure you will never get HIV from the above incident, it is best if you get tested as required and get peace of mind. Otherwise you will continue to be in anxiety and worry over this incident.
Regarding the HIV testing, if you go for third generation ELISA test then the usual protocol is to do the test at 90 days and 180 days and both reports being negative confirm that there is no HIV infection. Third generation ELISA requires to be tested at 90 days and 180 days.
If you take the fourth generation rapid test for HIV then doing the test at one month and getting a negative result is confirmatory and no repeat testing is required. This test has high accuracy at one month.
The chlamydia and gonorrhea tests also can take two weeks for most results to be accurate. If you have no symptoms then there is no need to worry.
Hope this answers your question. Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Chances of HIV negligible but get tested as per guidelines please
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail.
The risk of HIV by oral sex is less than 1 in 10000 people doing it, and I reassure you that for protected oral sex the risk is almost nil.
In your case it appears that you are having a lot of anxiety in mind and want to confirm that you are not at risk of having HIV after this incident. Many people have anxiety after such incidents and it is best to get tested for peace of mind.
Doing a test after 3 days and getting a negative report is not valid as per guidelines. Even though I am sure you will never get HIV from the above incident, it is best if you get tested as required and get peace of mind. Otherwise you will continue to be in anxiety and worry over this incident.
Regarding the HIV testing, if you go for third generation ELISA test then the usual protocol is to do the test at 90 days and 180 days and both reports being negative confirm that there is no HIV infection. Third generation ELISA requires to be tested at 90 days and 180 days.
If you take the fourth generation rapid test for HIV then doing the test at one month and getting a negative result is confirmatory and no repeat testing is required. This test has high accuracy at one month.
The chlamydia and gonorrhea tests also can take two weeks for most results to be accurate. If you have no symptoms then there is no need to worry.
Hope this answers your question. Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Brief Answer:
Syphilis is tested accurately after 4 weeks from exposure
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing back with an update.
Sexually transmitted diseases have a window period and if it is tested within the window period then chances are that the result will be false negative. Oral sex might transmit infections like syphilis and herpes but the chances are more if your partner had mouth rashes.
The window period for syphilis is 4 weeks after which tests will be accurate and for herpes the test is 70 percent accurate after 3 months. For chlamydia an gonorrhea the test is accurate after 2 weeks. You can get tested for syphilis after a month for accurate results.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Syphilis is tested accurately after 4 weeks from exposure
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing back with an update.
Sexually transmitted diseases have a window period and if it is tested within the window period then chances are that the result will be false negative. Oral sex might transmit infections like syphilis and herpes but the chances are more if your partner had mouth rashes.
The window period for syphilis is 4 weeks after which tests will be accurate and for herpes the test is 70 percent accurate after 3 months. For chlamydia an gonorrhea the test is accurate after 2 weeks. You can get tested for syphilis after a month for accurate results.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Dr. XXXXXXX
Thank you for your information and assessment. Knowing this I will probably go in for another HIV swab test after 4 weeks along with the Syphilis, Chlamydia and Gonorrhea tests.
In the meantime, being that it was protected oral sex, would your assumption about my probability of having HIV (being negative) be the same as those of any STDs? Since 4 weeks is slightly a ways off. Is there anything else I can do in the window period (assuming 4 weeks) to help lessen the chances besides abstinence?
You mentioned earlier that if I don't show any symptoms then there's no need to worry, are you referring to all STDs or would any of the above be an exception like perhaps Syphilis?
Thank you for your information and assessment. Knowing this I will probably go in for another HIV swab test after 4 weeks along with the Syphilis, Chlamydia and Gonorrhea tests.
In the meantime, being that it was protected oral sex, would your assumption about my probability of having HIV (being negative) be the same as those of any STDs? Since 4 weeks is slightly a ways off. Is there anything else I can do in the window period (assuming 4 weeks) to help lessen the chances besides abstinence?
You mentioned earlier that if I don't show any symptoms then there's no need to worry, are you referring to all STDs or would any of the above be an exception like perhaps Syphilis?
Brief Answer:
No steps to be taken, please get tested at 4 weeks, earlier if symptomatic
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing back with an update.
Since you had oral sex that was protected, the chances of getting any of the STDs is also less likely. Therefore it is best to get tested beyond the window period. Also you have not written about any oral or genital rashes in your partner. Therefore there is no need to worry or take any steps except abstinence.
What I meant earlier is that appearance of any symptom requires you to consult your doctor, get tested and take treatment on confirmation. There is no need to start any treatment without confirming the presence of disease. However a close watch for urinary and genital symptoms is advised.
If there are no symptoms then you can get tested at the end of 4 weeks. There are conditions like herpes which might not cause symptoms in everyone who is infected. For these conditions doing a test after window period is the best solution to know if you have the disease.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
No steps to be taken, please get tested at 4 weeks, earlier if symptomatic
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing back with an update.
Since you had oral sex that was protected, the chances of getting any of the STDs is also less likely. Therefore it is best to get tested beyond the window period. Also you have not written about any oral or genital rashes in your partner. Therefore there is no need to worry or take any steps except abstinence.
What I meant earlier is that appearance of any symptom requires you to consult your doctor, get tested and take treatment on confirmation. There is no need to start any treatment without confirming the presence of disease. However a close watch for urinary and genital symptoms is advised.
If there are no symptoms then you can get tested at the end of 4 weeks. There are conditions like herpes which might not cause symptoms in everyone who is infected. For these conditions doing a test after window period is the best solution to know if you have the disease.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Note: Consult a Sexual Diseases Specialist online for further follow up- Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Pradeep Vitta
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