
Can HIV Be Contracted Through Protected Intercourse?

Posted on
Sat, 28 May 2016
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team


Question : I am and man who had sex 3 times this week with a woman who was having sex with other men. We used a latex male condom each time and it didn’t break or have any other problems. Because she is having sex with other men too, I’m now deeply regretting the sex and very scared of getting an STD especially HIV. I don’t know by any means that she has an STD and only know that she is active with 2 other men now. She’s been active with 5 total men since her last negative STD testing (December). Also, of the 3 sex acts we had, 2 were definitely vaginal. The third I’m assuming was vaginal but she was on top and I was anxious and not paying any attention to where she put my penis. Is there any way to know for sure if it was vaginal – would it look, feel, or smell different? I’ve never done anal and don’t know any of this. How much of a risk am I at? I’ve read that HIV can’t travel through a latex condom. So am I at a 0% risk since the condom didn’t break, leak, or anything? I’ve also read though that a condom only makes it about 5 times less likely to get HIV. Also, although I think I did everything right with the condom, I did touch it
I’ve read that a definitive negative HIV test result takes 3 months. I really hate the thought of dealing with this for 3 months. Hypothetically, in the worst case scenario, if we imagine that she had just become infected with HIV from another man and had a high viral load, how bad would my risk now be? Or if she had a high viral load, would she have had symptoms and we would have known it?
I’ve read that a definitive negative HIV test result takes 3 months. I really hate the thought of dealing with this for 3 months. Hypothetically, in the worst case scenario, if we imagine that she had just become infected with HIV from another man and had a high viral load, how bad would my risk now be? Or if she had a high viral load, would she have had symptoms and we would have known it?
Brief Answer:
Your sexual acts were safe
Detailed Answer:
Heklo. Thank you for writing to us
I am dr.kakkar(dermatologist and venereologist). I have gone through your query and i have noted your concern
There is no risk of Hiv if the sexual acts were protected and the condom was intact throughout. An intact condom provides adequate protection against Hiv transmission during vaginal or anal sex.
Regards
Your sexual acts were safe
Detailed Answer:
Heklo. Thank you for writing to us
I am dr.kakkar(dermatologist and venereologist). I have gone through your query and i have noted your concern
There is no risk of Hiv if the sexual acts were protected and the condom was intact throughout. An intact condom provides adequate protection against Hiv transmission during vaginal or anal sex.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar


OK, thanks. I did give her oral sex twice and receive it a few times too. Am I correct that that is very low risk, though? Hypothetically, if she were infected and had a high viral load, would that still be very low risk? Thanks.
I just wanted to add that I don't have any oral STDs or cuts in my mouth. I don't have gum disease either but I do have gum inflammation. My dentist says if it gets worse, it would be considered gum disease. So I don't know if any of that impacts the risk of transmission from giving oral sex.
I just wanted to add that I don't have any oral STDs or cuts in my mouth. I don't have gum disease either but I do have gum inflammation. My dentist says if it gets worse, it would be considered gum disease. So I don't know if any of that impacts the risk of transmission from giving oral sex.
Brief Answer:
low risk. i suggest you to get tested to be on the safer side
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Unprotected oral sex carries a very low risk of Hiv transmission but its not totally zero. Presence of other STDs e.g sores or ulcers of herpes labialis does increase the risk of transmission. To be on the safe side i would suggest testing with Combo test for HIV i.e P 24 antigen and anti Hiv antibody. You can take this test as soon as 2 weeks after risky sexual contact. Its very reliable.
Regards
low risk. i suggest you to get tested to be on the safer side
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Unprotected oral sex carries a very low risk of Hiv transmission but its not totally zero. Presence of other STDs e.g sores or ulcers of herpes labialis does increase the risk of transmission. To be on the safe side i would suggest testing with Combo test for HIV i.e P 24 antigen and anti Hiv antibody. You can take this test as soon as 2 weeks after risky sexual contact. Its very reliable.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar


Thank you for your response. That is very helpful. Can you tell me what is the sensitivity of the p24 test at 2 weeks - meaning what percentage of people who do get HIV would test positive at 2 weeks? Thanks.
Brief Answer:
99% sensitivity for detecting hiv
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
P24 antigen is the earliest to appear in blood and a sensitive marker of hiv infection. It is more than 99% sensitive at 2weeks for detection of new hiv infection and the combined P24antigen and anti hiv antibody test, has a sensitivity of 99.9% at 4 weeks of infection
Regards
99% sensitivity for detecting hiv
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
P24 antigen is the earliest to appear in blood and a sensitive marker of hiv infection. It is more than 99% sensitive at 2weeks for detection of new hiv infection and the combined P24antigen and anti hiv antibody test, has a sensitivity of 99.9% at 4 weeks of infection
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Sonia Raina

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