I met someone online
I met someone online and about a year later, I stupidly started having unprotected with him. We had unprotected sex about 5 times including oral, but no anal. I don’t know his STD status but I saw something on Tv about HIV a few weeks ago and I’ve been paranoid ever since. I feel like almost everyday, there’s something I read or see to remind me about it. I don’t know if that’s a “sign” that I have it or if I’m being too imaginative. I have no symptoms, but I know that many people don’t have any symptoms. I haven’t had sex with him or anyone else since last year so I’m afraid that I’ve had it for a year now. I went to the local pharmacy once to get the morning after pill and because of my age (16-24) he reccomended I do a chlamydia test. I did the vaginal swab at home, sent it off and was given the all clear a few days later. Although chlamydia is much more likely than hiv, I wasn’t really worried about having contracted it because I know it’s easy to treat. HIV on the other hand is incurable and that’s what makes me so afraid of it, but I know I can’t keep living like this, in constant fear. I can’t bear to go to a clinic so I am considering a home test, but even the thought of that scares me 🙁
VeryScared
Thinking on 02nd July 2017
Hi, I'm "VeryScared" & I contacted the guy I had unprotected sex with last year to ask about his status. He said he's been tested and is clean which is relieving because if he's negative, I'm negative since I've not had unprotected sex with anyone else. I was contemplating on ordering a test but I think I'm just going to my local clinic so that I can be tested for everything
Lozza
Thinking on 30th June 2017
I had unprotected sex once with a man from work (I'm female) I do know him but I have convinced myself I am HIV+ I have been tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea and they have both come back negative which I know are a lot more common. I have ordered a test and it arrives tomorrow. I am just so scared. I don't know what to do
Gary Carpenter, BioSure (UK) Limited
Work on 29th June 2017
Hi VeryScared
Thank you for making this post. You bring up a really important issue.
HIV is absolutely 100% treatable. As long as you know that you have it. HIV infection mostly has no symptoms.
If you are on treatment for HIV you will not become ill and you cannot pass on the virus, even from mother to unborn child. You will live a normal and healthy life. But that is only the case if you get tested and know your status. So, unless you test when you have put yourself at risk, then it's scary.
I would strongly advise you to take control of your HIV status: get tested, in a clinic or at home, it doesn't matter. If you don't know your status you don't have control.
Thanks again for the post.
Kind regards
Gary Carpenter
BioSure (UK) Limited