What Are The Chances Of HIV Transmission After Unprotected Sex?

Posted on Mon, 20 Oct 2014

Question: i had unprotected sex twice a month back with a girl whos hiv status is not known to me but she is working finely physically and after that i had a little fever(99F) for 3 days .I also developed redness on my upper thighs but it was not like rash ,it may be due to gymming and it was little painful when pressed just like muscle injury .And these days i am so frightened against hiv infection and keep searching it on net.Sometimes i feel i have fever but temperature is below(99F),it is only like i hotness may be due to anxiety . i developed no flu like symptoms nor any swollen lymph nodes .Kindly help me.

Answered by Dr. Shanthi E (7 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
HIV is unlikely in you

Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX

I have read your query and understand your anxiety.

You do not know the HIV status of the girl, and also you had unprotected sexual intercourse. This is a risk factor.

I would suggest that you get tested for HIV after 21 days of exposure, and again after 3 months. If the results are negative, then we can conclude that you are HIV negative.

Please practice safe sex always to avoid apprehensions about HIV.

Regards,

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Shanthi E (6 minutes later)

Sir , if the symptoms (flu like) are not there then what are the chances of this infection

Answered by Dr. Shanthi E (4 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
the chances are same

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX

Whether or not you have the symptoms, the chances of infection through vaginal route is 0.33%. This provided, that the girl should be HIV positive.

Hope it is clear to you.

Regards,

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju

Follow up: Dr. Shanthi E (19 minutes later)

I read somewhere that hiv test is correct only after 3 months so should i now go for testing as ony 1 month has passed.Sometimes i feel fever like especially when i am concious of infection,what can be the reason

Answered by Dr. Shanthi E (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
go now after 21 days and at 3 months

Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX

You must go now for test i.e. after 21 days, and also after 3 months to confirm the same

The fever like symptom could be psychological or due to other common viral illnesses.

Take care!

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju

Follow up: Dr. Shanthi E (2 days later)

Today,i went for antibody blood test at Lalpath labs and it was screening test and it came non reactive and approximately 1 month has passed after exposure to possible hiv.What can i conclude from the test?What are the chances of correctness of this tets?

Answered by Dr. Shanthi E (11 hours later)

Brief Answer:
for now, you are HIV negative

Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX

For now, you are HIV negative based on the antibody screening test. The chances of correctness of this test is 95.5%

Hope it is clear to you. Repeat the test after 3 months.

Regards,

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Shanthi E (2 hours later)

Thanx,the chances i.e 95.5%,are they for 3 weeks or 4 weeks.What is the exact purpose of test after 3 months.Should i be worried now?

Answered by Dr. Shanthi E (7 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
at any week

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX

At any week, the chance of antibody test being true is 95.5%. It is called as sensitivity of the test. So, whether at 3 weeks or 4 weeks, the sensitivity is the same.

The exact purpose of test after 3 months is to allow the window period to pass. by then, there will be enough antibody produced, and the test will become more sensitive.

A person can test negative in the window period, and become positive later on. That is why we repeat the test after 3 months.

Hope your doubts are clear now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Shanthi E (9 minutes later)

How often do these test results change as you have seen?I read somewhere that young men produces antibody generally soon,is this true? Should i need to worry now?

Answered by Dr. Shanthi E (2 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
5%

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

In less than 5% of the cases, these test results can change. I have hardly seen a case with changes from negative to positive.

For any person, be it man or woman, young or old, the antibody production takes 3 months to form . It does not occur sooner in young men.

You need not worry now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Shanthi E (7 days later)

Mam ,for some days i am feeling light headedness in the mornings and afternoons but in the evening i am alright after exercising in the gym.Sometimes i feel sore throat but its not severe.When i shake my head ,it pains in the middle and rear portion,can it be related to anxiety of hiv as it has already happened to me initially before testing for hiv but now i am not really anxious then why is it happening to me now.Especially when i am studying i feel freshlessness,lack of concentration .Mam can u tell me the possible reasons.

Answered by Dr. Shanthi E (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
it is anxiety related

Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX

Your symptoms of light headedness, sore throat, pain in the head could all be due to common viral fever or flu.

Your other symptoms of feeling freshlessness, lack of concentration are due to anxiety.

Try to calm down and relax.

Wish you good health.

Take care!

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Shanthi E (37 minutes later)

Actually mam when i shake my head ,it usually pains ,can it be due to migrain or something,i was initially obsessed with hiv so i thought it might be due to hiv but when i am doing some work or when i am not thinking about it i dont feel it much.What is the relation of this headache with mornings?Do hiv poses this kind of problems?How can i cure this?

Answered by Dr. Shanthi E (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
it could be tension headache

Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX

It could be tension or stress headache related to your anxiety about HIV. Migraine headache does not present this way.

Obsession of any cause including HIV can cause this. The headache and its relation with morning is probably because of unrefreshed sleep overnight due to tension about HIV.

Please do not have unnecessary tensions or anxiety about HIV in your mind.

Sleep well for at least 7 to 8 hrs a day.

regards,

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Shanthi E (2 days later)

Mam ,I dont have any flu or other symptoms of common viral so can this light headedness and headache be from viral? Now i don't have much anxiety,does previous anxiety causes these kind of light headedness and headaches ?Does hiv cause these kind of symptoms? Lighthededness is not very severe but i feel sometimes throughout the day that something is there.I read somewhere that tension causes blood sugar to fall that can cause this,is it true?

Answered by Dr. Shanthi E (22 hours later)

Brief Answer:
specific answers are below

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX

Yes, this light headedness and headache be from viral. Also, previous anxiety causes these kind of light headedness and headaches.

HIV can cause these kind of symptoms as well.

Yes, you are right. Tension causes blood sugar to fall and cause this.

Regards,

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Shanthi E (16 days later)

Mam ,now my headache problems and light headedness is gone but sometime i feel general unwell feeling like feverish ,hot flashes but i am generally ok that time and sometimes i feel like fatigue.I think ARS can't come now as 2 months have passes so do u think that this is due to prolonged period of worry? I regularly go to gym and no weekness is felt at that time but sometime especially in afternoons i feel hotness and unwellness,what can be the reason?

Answered by Dr. Shanthi E (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
yes, it is due to prolonged worry

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX

Yes, your symptoms are due to prolonged period of worry.

Most people do feel hotness and unwellness in the noons. This is normal. There is no specific reason for it. It is perhaps related to increased metabolism.

Regards,

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Shanthi E (5 minutes later)

Thanx mam,when i had vaginal sex on the previous day i had a small wound on my finger which stopped bleeding moreoer there was band aid on it ,can it exaggerate incidence of infection if it came into contact with her fluids.And from this feeling of feverish how can i get out?Is there any medication or it will get good on its own?

Answered by Dr. Shanthi E (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
yes

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

If the wound came in direct contact with her fluids, then there are chances of exaggerated incidence of infection. If not, it is No.

Go for regular exercise or do a new project to get out of this feverish feeling.

You can take tablet Becosule one tablet daily for 3 months, you will feel better soon.

Take care!

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Shanthi E (6 hours later)

Mam ,the wound was not bleeding ,i have read somewhere that when bleeding stops there comes protective covering on it which prevents infection ?is it true and does band aid which was on finger prevent infection?What is the exact cause of this feverish feeling?

Answered by Dr. Shanthi E (17 hours later)

Brief Answer:
yes, that is true

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX

Yes, when bleeding stops there comes a protective covering which can prevent infection. It is true.

Yes, the band aid prevents infection by forming a barrier over the wound.

The cause of your feverish feeling could be due to common viral illnesses or due to anxiety.

Take care

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar