Worried about HIV, please help...

[reckre]

Has anyone ever caught HIV orally?

 

[Tatyana]

Absolutely nothing - it's just the symptoms since and then reading on the net. But are the symptoms too soon anyway?

Yes for HIV. No for gonorrhoea.

That is not the time frame in which the immune system works.

You need a throat swab for oral/pharyngeal gonorrhoea.

This is just to cover all the possibilities, as you did say you thought you had symptoms that are localised in your throat/neck.


Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted infection. Public health workers in the UK are worried that gonorrhoea is on the increase, particularly amongst gay men and younger heterosexual men and women.

Transmission
Gonorrhoea can be passed on during anal, vaginal, oral, and mouth-to-anus (rimming) sex. Gonorrhoea can affect the anus, penis, cervix and throat. Untreated gonorrhoea can make a person with HIV more infectious as gonorrhoea increases the number of HIV-infected cells in the genital area and in the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat. Having gonorrhoea can also make it more likely that an HIV-negative person will be infected if they are exposed to the virus. Gonorrhoea can also be passed on from mother to baby during childbirth, and can cause infection in the baby’s eyes, resulting in blindness if left untreated.

Prevention
Using a condom for anal, oral or vaginal sex is an effective way of avoiding infection with gonorrhoea or passing the bacteria on to somebody else. People who are sexually active are advised to have regular sexual health check-ups, where they will be tested for gonorrhoea and other sexually transmitted infections. Most HIV treatment centres have an associated sexual health clinic, where confidential and free treatment can be obtained without referral from your GP or HIV doctor.

Symptoms
Symptoms of gonorrhoea usually appear between two and ten days after infection. However, some people may not realise they have the infection as symptoms may not always be present, or may be mild. In men, symptoms usually consist of a yellowish or greenish discharge from the penis and burning when passing urine. The testicles may also hurt and swell.

Symptoms in women can include a burning sensation when passing urine and a discoloured or bloody discharge from the vagina. If the infection is rectal, both men and women may notice a mucousy or bloody discharge from the anus, pain in the anus, or pain when having anal sex. Gonorrhoea in the throat can cause a sore throat.

If left untreated, gonorrhoea can cause more serious health problems, including pelvic infections in women resulting in pain, infertility, and ectopic pregnancy, and testicular problems in men.

Gonorrhoea can also spread to the bloodstream leading to fevers, and can affect the joints, causing arthritic-like pain and swelling.

Diagnosis
A general sexual health check-up includes testing for gonorrhoea. Sexual health check-ups are free and confidential and many HIV treatment centres have sexual health clinics attached or may offer a sexual health screen as part of your clinic appointment.

To test for gonorrhoea, a swab is taken from the tip of the penis or from the cervix. If you have told the doctor that you have had oral or anal sex, swabs will also be taken from the throat and/or anus. The swabs can be a little uncomfortable. A urine sample may also be taken. It is usually possible to tell immediately from examination of the swabs if gonorrhoea is present in the penis, and in many cases the cervix, but gonorrhoea in the throat can usually only be diagnosed later. However, whatever the site of infection, it can take up to three days for testing to provide conclusive results. It is important, therefore, to contact your clinic for the result of your test so treatment can be given if the bacteria have been detected.

Treatment
Gonorrhoea is treated with antibiotics. Penicillin or ciprofloxacin used to be the first choice antibiotics to treat gonorrhoea. However, over 10% of gonorrhoea in the UK is now resistant to ciprofloxacin and an even larger amount is penicillin resistant. Because of this, many clinics now use the antibiotics ceftriaxone or spectinomycin as first choice gonorrhoea treatment.

 

[Tatyana]

Ok, right...

I was orally raped last Friday 4th April. I didn't have a choice but to swallow unfortunately.

Since then, on the Monday I had developed neck ache which is still prominent now, but could have been caused by sleeping funny!? I started reading on the web and it scared me shitless!! Probably the worst thing in the World to do is self diagnose.

Anyway, on Tuesday I seemed to have a burning under my arms which is barely noticeable now (but then this could be down to the fact that I sprayed deoderant on me straight after getting out of the shower which stang like mad!!!)

Anyway, since then I have been worried sick about HIV etc. So worried that I have been struggling to eat and sleep. Now, as of yesterday my tongue is slightly sore with red dots on the tip and sides!! Now I have just started smoking again (for obvious reasons) so this could be related to that.

Problem is I am in a relationship with a long term (6 yrs) gf - I don't want her to know anything, but I have been putting off sleeping with her since I found out. I spoke with local GUM clinic and they tested me for everything except HIV (they said i would have to wait 12 weeks). All tests came back negative.

I am shit scared, and have considered topping myself. I am at the doctors on Monday to discuss things further. I know many people live with HIV, but I couldn't.

I've done a little bit of research on the guy that did it to me, and he is 20 and has only ever participated in oral sex with guys. He has a gf so I guess that makes him bi-sexual.

Anyway, I'm a 24 yr old male who lives a healthy lifestyle and works out. I'm taking a deca, sus and dianabol cycle at the moment and have never had gay sex. Not sure if it's relevant but I live in Yorkshire.

I will get checked out, but can't for near 11 weeks. Am I being incredibly paranoid, or am I in serious trouble? Can you develop symptoms from reading them? I know they say HIV can be passed orally but I can't actually find any instances of this happening?

Please help, I have no idea what to do and am so down right now.

Don't see your doctor. Google NHS GUMed clinics. They are anonymous and the HIV/STD nurses are usually lovely (I work in a path lab so I have met a lot of them).

Even getting tested for STDs can affect your ability to get life insurance, mortgage etc.

Really unfair and stupid, but that is the level of ignorance at times.

 

[reckre]

I don't have a sore throat though?

Back of my neck is sore, and tongue and mouth...?

 

[Tatyana]

Has anyone ever caught HIV orally?

Yes, there have been a few cases reported.

However considering the millions that have HIV or AIDS, the risk is incredibly low.


REVIEW ARTICLE
Oral transmission of HIV, reality or fiction? An update

Oral Diseases (2006) 12, 219–228
Abstract
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and many other viruses can be isolated in blood and body fluids, including saliva, and can be transmitted by genital–genital and especially anal–genital sexual activity. The risk of transmission of HIV via oral sexual practices is very low.

Unlike other mucosal areas of the body, the oral cavity appears to be an extremely uncommon transmission route for HIV. We present a review of available evidence on the oral–genital transmission of HIV and analyse the factors that act to protect oral tissues from infection, thereby reducing the risk of HIV transmission by oral sex. Among these factors we highlight the levels of HIV RNA in saliva, presence of fewer CD4+ target cells, presence of IgA antibodies in saliva, presence of other infections in the oral cavity and the endogenous salivary antiviral factors lysozyme, defensins, thrombospondin and secretory leucocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI).

 

[Tatyana]

I don't have a sore throat though?

Back of my neck is sore, and tongue and mouth...?

I am not sure what you mean by the back of your neck.

If you have concerns, get tested, that is the only way to be certain.

I would think it would be worth the reduction in stress to overcome a few moments of embarrassment.

If you think that people who work in HIV clinics would be shocked by your situation, think again.

I am sure they have seen and heard everything.

 

[reckre]

So I shouldn't necessarily be worrying about HIV, but definitely about Gornorhea?

 

[reckre]

Just an update for everyone - went to the gum clinic today and had an oral swab, and talked to the doctor who was superb and really calmed me down about HIV. Said my mouth was perfectly normal, and my neck ache was muscular tension.

Anyway, all this worry about HIV got me wondering, so I've had a check up anyway. I caught chlamydia when I was younger and worry now about what else could have been passed, although the doctor was re-assuring and said it was highly unlikely and the chances in the UK of catching HIV from an under 25 is 1 in 10,000, where Chlamydia is 1 in 10.

Anyway, results day is the 21st, and its my birthday on the 22nd. I know i'll be really worried until then, but hopefully will be ok

 

[bigjd69]

Bro did you go to the Police? Get that motherfucker locked up!!!!

 

[pappad]

OK, I am NOT trying to be insensitive or a jerk. I just want to know... How can you be orally raped? I don't need detail just curious. If some dude was able to get his stuff in my mouth I can GUARANTEE you, he will not be taking it out still connected!!!!

I'll be praying for you!!!