Reply to Likelihood of Having Contracted HIV?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I had a blood transfusion in the 80s about six months before they started the routine screening of blood for HIV.  Instead of worrying about it for years, I got tested.  Seems to me that a simple test is more effective than worry. [/quote]
I’m stranded at my parents’ in the middle of nowhere. Will have to wait until I get back to Dc to go buy a kit from CVS and test. Meanwhile the anxiety is literally making me sick.[/quote]

You had 5 years to get tested and you still haven't done it... [/quote]
I didn’t think about it until now[/quote]

For the future, you should get tested yearly for Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and HIV when you go to the gyn.  Otherwise, you have potentially put everyone else you had sex with in the last 5 years at risk too. Part of being a responsible sex partner is getting tested for STIs including HIV regularly unless/until you are in a relationship where both partners are 100 percent monogamous.

But yes, definitely get a home kit when you get close enough to a CVS, Walgreen's, etc. Within 20 minutes you'll know. Until then try not to stress too much.[/quote]
Actually, per ACOG, women 13-64 only need to be tested once in their lifetimes, and that is usually done during pregnancy just to confirm. [/quote]

PP who mentioned yearly testing: 1. I get asked every year, do I guess it depends on your doctor and risk factors. 2. I'll have to look at the ACOG recommendations but that seems unfortunate and outdated if true. Heterosexual women are definitely still at risk for HIV It is lesbian women who are extremely low risk. Being on the receivi end of vaginal sex is the 2nd highest risk activity after anal sex.

As a personal example - many years ago I was in a relationship with a man. We always used condoms. He and his ex girlfriend did not. It turned out he was HIV+ and didn't know it at the time. She got HIV, I didn't. This was before the age of home testing. He was very healthy at the time and only got tested because he was having a minor dental surgery done.

Also, for those who are in the dating world and not in a long term/monogamous relationship, yes people should absolutely get tested once per year for all STIs including HIV and at a minimum before having unprotected sex for the first time with a new partner. Testing is responsible for you and your partners.

And for the OP - it's unlikely you have HIV, but even if you do, it's very treatable nowadays and is possible to live a normal life and even have babies when you are HIV+ if you are on treatment and have an undetectable viral load.

I hope everything works out for you![/quote]

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