Question:

This is going to be a rather long question as I am totally freaked out that I have HIV:
I am a married woman that has been in a monogamous relationship for 17 years. Two weeks ago I had a one night stand. He gave me oral sex then we had unprotected intercourse, and I am assuming he had an orgasm and didn't pull out. Then after a 5 min break, I performed oral sex on him. He didn't ejaculate in my mouth nor did I notice pre-cum, then we had intercourse again and I once again assume he had an orgasm. I also should mention that I wear braces, so I know I almost constantly have cuts in my mouth. Four days after this encounter, I broke out in what I think were cold sores, the Dr. diagnosed me over the phone and I began Valtrex......5 days later, I noticed a white coating on my tongue that may be thrush, but it isn't anywhere else in my mouth than on my tongue, it may be the same thing that was on my lips and it wasn't cold sores? I have NEVER had cold sores or thrush previously. I have also had a constant headache, but not severe.

Today it has been exactly two weeks since the encounter. I told my husband everything because I wanted to protect him from HIV and everything else until I can get tested. I am going to go crazy waiting for the 12 week mark to get tested.

What do you think the odds of my contracting HIV/AIDS are? I know nothing of my one night stands past history, i.e. drugs, sex history, etc. - he looked healthy.
Can you get full blown AIDS without contracting HIV?
Thanks for any information.

Answer provided by:

Peter Shalit, M.D.
Internal Medicine

Dear One Night Stand,
You are right to be concerned. It sounds like you may have contracted primary herpes from the encounter. I can't say whether or not you have thrush. A culture of the white material would tell. Regarding your chances of having contracted HIV: well, of course if the man is not HIV infected then your odds are zero of having caught it. If he is HIV infected then there is a definite chance you did. But there is no way to know this without further testing.

I think you should see your doctor now. In an acute medical situation such as your own, Valtrex-over-the-phone is a poor substitute for a face to face encounter with a health care professional. It is true that the HIV antibody test may not be a reliable indicator until a few months have passed. But you can have an HIV RNA PCR test now, or an HIV DNA PCR test if available, and if either or both of these is negative, you can be assured, that you do not have HIV. You should also be tested for other sexually transmitted diseases that you may have acquired during the encounter. Don't wait 12 weeks.

It is possible to have thrush without contracting HIV. It is not possible to have fullblown AIDS without having HIV.

I hope all goes well with your testing.

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