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What Are The Chances Of HIV Transmission Through Unprotected Sex?
Posted on
Tue, 21 Oct 2014
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Tue, 21 Oct 2014
Answered on
Thu, 13 Nov 2014
Last reviewed on
Question : Hello Doctor,
I stay in XXXXXXX XXXXXXX and recently met with an XXXXXXX man who is here in XXXXXXX on work permit. One thing led to another and we felt physically attracted to each other. I always insist on the use of condoms, but on 11th october, 2014, he had penetrated me without any protection for 5 - 10 mins before pulling out. I am stressing myself out now. Please suggest what test can I go in now, so that I get to know my status accurately and without much wait.
I had talked to this man about his HIV status, and he said that he keeps on testing and it was negative in a very recent test. Also he indicated that he had to take a lot of vaccinations before coming to XXXXXXX Does that ensure that he does not have HIV? Is HIV testing mandatory while coming on a work permit to India?
I stay in XXXXXXX XXXXXXX and recently met with an XXXXXXX man who is here in XXXXXXX on work permit. One thing led to another and we felt physically attracted to each other. I always insist on the use of condoms, but on 11th october, 2014, he had penetrated me without any protection for 5 - 10 mins before pulling out. I am stressing myself out now. Please suggest what test can I go in now, so that I get to know my status accurately and without much wait.
I had talked to this man about his HIV status, and he said that he keeps on testing and it was negative in a very recent test. Also he indicated that he had to take a lot of vaccinations before coming to XXXXXXX Does that ensure that he does not have HIV? Is HIV testing mandatory while coming on a work permit to India?
Brief Answer:
Tests provided; he should have been tested
Detailed Answer:
Hello ma'am and welcome.
Thank you for writing in to me.
I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. I understand why you must be anxious, and I also understand that such things can happen. Let me address all parts of your query individually for your better understanding.
When one comes in contact with a HIV-infected individual, it takes at least 3 months or more to detect antibodies formed due to the virus. The most commonly used HIV tests detect these antibodies to confirm/rule out HIV. But there are certain tests that try to detect the virus itself, and not the antibodies produced against it which means they can be used as early as a few weeks from getting infected. Let me list some of these tests for you:
-RNA test (antigen test): Can be used to detect HIV 3 weeks after exposure to the virus. Accuracy is not 100%, and so other tests are suggested later as well
-Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test: Can be used to detect the virus 2-3 weeks (preferably 3 weeks) after exposure. But accuracy of this test can be questioned
-HIV DUO test: This is my favorite test as it carries an accuracy of 99.8% if conducted after 28 days from exposure. So if at all you decide to take this test and return a negative result (god willing), then you need not test again ma'am
The vaccinations provided prior to travel to XXXXXXX do not include anything for prevention from HIV, as there exists no vaccine for HIV that is being used. But as far as a work visa goes, I myself am not situated in XXXXXXX And wherever I have traveled for employment, I have required to submit my HIV status. So I am guessing he too must have been tested for HIV prior to his travel to XXXXXXX but as we (you and I) are both XXXXXXX citizens we would not know what the process is to enter XXXXXXX But if XXXXXXX does follow the same rules as all/most of the other countries, then he should have been tested for HIV and returned a negative result.
So I do think that he should have been tested and he should have been HIV-negative before coming to XXXXXXX So this is certainly good news, but I would either way recommend the tests.
Also ma'am, in the meantime avoid sexual contact. Please also carefully observe your body and if there are any changes please report to me immediately. If at all there are any physical changes, you can always take a picture and upload it to our discussion so I can physically examine it (i.e. if you do not mind of course).
I hope you find my response both helpful and informative. Please do not hesitate to write to me for any further clarifications, I am always here to help you.
Best wishes and best of luck.
Tests provided; he should have been tested
Detailed Answer:
Hello ma'am and welcome.
Thank you for writing in to me.
I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. I understand why you must be anxious, and I also understand that such things can happen. Let me address all parts of your query individually for your better understanding.
When one comes in contact with a HIV-infected individual, it takes at least 3 months or more to detect antibodies formed due to the virus. The most commonly used HIV tests detect these antibodies to confirm/rule out HIV. But there are certain tests that try to detect the virus itself, and not the antibodies produced against it which means they can be used as early as a few weeks from getting infected. Let me list some of these tests for you:
-RNA test (antigen test): Can be used to detect HIV 3 weeks after exposure to the virus. Accuracy is not 100%, and so other tests are suggested later as well
-Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test: Can be used to detect the virus 2-3 weeks (preferably 3 weeks) after exposure. But accuracy of this test can be questioned
-HIV DUO test: This is my favorite test as it carries an accuracy of 99.8% if conducted after 28 days from exposure. So if at all you decide to take this test and return a negative result (god willing), then you need not test again ma'am
The vaccinations provided prior to travel to XXXXXXX do not include anything for prevention from HIV, as there exists no vaccine for HIV that is being used. But as far as a work visa goes, I myself am not situated in XXXXXXX And wherever I have traveled for employment, I have required to submit my HIV status. So I am guessing he too must have been tested for HIV prior to his travel to XXXXXXX but as we (you and I) are both XXXXXXX citizens we would not know what the process is to enter XXXXXXX But if XXXXXXX does follow the same rules as all/most of the other countries, then he should have been tested for HIV and returned a negative result.
So I do think that he should have been tested and he should have been HIV-negative before coming to XXXXXXX So this is certainly good news, but I would either way recommend the tests.
Also ma'am, in the meantime avoid sexual contact. Please also carefully observe your body and if there are any changes please report to me immediately. If at all there are any physical changes, you can always take a picture and upload it to our discussion so I can physically examine it (i.e. if you do not mind of course).
I hope you find my response both helpful and informative. Please do not hesitate to write to me for any further clarifications, I am always here to help you.
Best wishes and best of luck.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Dear Doctor,
First of all, thank you so much for answering back to me in such a way that I feel assured.
I would like to go in for the HIV DUO test. But I think I need to share some more details with you.
We were intimate on 22nd sept, 27th sept, 8th oct, 11th oct and 17th oct. I engaged in unprotected oral sex on most of the days as I was under the notion that it is safe. When the penetration without protection happened on 11th, it got me thinking and reading articles on the internet. What I read is that oral sex can lead to HIV if there is any mouth sore. I don't remember when I had any mouth sore, or bit myself accidentally while eating.
What actually got me worried is that since yesterday evening, I notice that I have a slight cold. My throat is feeling sore. That is what has got me worried. Otherwise I still don't have any signs of fever, swollen glands, etc. It might be due to the fact that the weather is changing and two of my family members were down with cold the previous week. But still I really can't ignore the fact that this is a symptom of HIV.
Can you suggest which day I should go in for the test, taking into consideration that I have performed oral sex.
Sorry doctor, for being so graphic, but I really need my doubts and fears to be cleared.
First of all, thank you so much for answering back to me in such a way that I feel assured.
I would like to go in for the HIV DUO test. But I think I need to share some more details with you.
We were intimate on 22nd sept, 27th sept, 8th oct, 11th oct and 17th oct. I engaged in unprotected oral sex on most of the days as I was under the notion that it is safe. When the penetration without protection happened on 11th, it got me thinking and reading articles on the internet. What I read is that oral sex can lead to HIV if there is any mouth sore. I don't remember when I had any mouth sore, or bit myself accidentally while eating.
What actually got me worried is that since yesterday evening, I notice that I have a slight cold. My throat is feeling sore. That is what has got me worried. Otherwise I still don't have any signs of fever, swollen glands, etc. It might be due to the fact that the weather is changing and two of my family members were down with cold the previous week. But still I really can't ignore the fact that this is a symptom of HIV.
Can you suggest which day I should go in for the test, taking into consideration that I have performed oral sex.
Sorry doctor, for being so graphic, but I really need my doubts and fears to be cleared.
Brief Answer:
I appreciate all the information you have given me
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am.
Sorry Ms. P, I had surgery and finished just 5 minutes ago which is why I could't reply promptly. There need not necessarily be a sore, there can at times be cracks in the mucous membrane through which the virus can enter, but this happens very rarely. But you should know that the rate of transmission of HIV through oral sex is very less (3-5 %), which in my opinion is very less. And in my practice I have not come across any cases of HIV-transmission through oral sex so far.
Changing weather and other members in the family having respiratory infections can easily cause the symptoms you are experiencing ma'am, which is why I do not think you should think much about this right now. Trust me, many a times individuals who are worried about contracting the infection start developing these initial symptoms, but these are all just the mind playing games with them. This could also be the case with you, so do not worry about it P.
Now coming to the most important part of your discussion, the date for testing. as mentioned by you, the last day of sexual contact (which at least included oral sex, if not unprotected vaginal intercourse) was the 17th of October. So leaving a gap of 28 days from the 17th of October, the best day to go in for the test would be anytime on or after the 15th of November.
And please do not apologise to me, I appreciate all the information you have provided me with. The more graphic you are, the better I get to understand your case. I also hope I have explained things in a manner best understood by you so far. Please do not hesitate to write back to me for anything at all, I am always here to help. Keep writing to me with any changes you experience (if you do, god forbid) and keep me updated on when you go for the test, and of course the test result.
Best of luck P.
I appreciate all the information you have given me
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am.
Sorry Ms. P, I had surgery and finished just 5 minutes ago which is why I could't reply promptly. There need not necessarily be a sore, there can at times be cracks in the mucous membrane through which the virus can enter, but this happens very rarely. But you should know that the rate of transmission of HIV through oral sex is very less (3-5 %), which in my opinion is very less. And in my practice I have not come across any cases of HIV-transmission through oral sex so far.
Changing weather and other members in the family having respiratory infections can easily cause the symptoms you are experiencing ma'am, which is why I do not think you should think much about this right now. Trust me, many a times individuals who are worried about contracting the infection start developing these initial symptoms, but these are all just the mind playing games with them. This could also be the case with you, so do not worry about it P.
Now coming to the most important part of your discussion, the date for testing. as mentioned by you, the last day of sexual contact (which at least included oral sex, if not unprotected vaginal intercourse) was the 17th of October. So leaving a gap of 28 days from the 17th of October, the best day to go in for the test would be anytime on or after the 15th of November.
And please do not apologise to me, I appreciate all the information you have provided me with. The more graphic you are, the better I get to understand your case. I also hope I have explained things in a manner best understood by you so far. Please do not hesitate to write back to me for anything at all, I am always here to help. Keep writing to me with any changes you experience (if you do, god forbid) and keep me updated on when you go for the test, and of course the test result.
Best of luck P.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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