Hey,
I´ll go straight to my situation. I´ve had 4 sex partners in the last two months. I´m female. With two of them I had unprotected sex, intercourse, for no more than about 10 seconds. This because the guys in question had erection problems, after that we used condoms. Some unprotected oral sex was involved too, not too extensive though.

So my questions are:
How easily can you get infected? I know every unprotected sex encounter is a risk potentially, but I also know the hiv-virus does not jump on you as easily as some other viruses.

Can I conclude anything from an hiv-test done now, 6 weeks after potential exposure? This test came back negative. I do plan to take another test in a few months, but can I conclude something from this first one?

The reason I´m freaking out is - like so many others on this board - because I´m having a flu I can´t kick. It started already before I had sex and never got better (vacations for a month, no sleep, much partying etc.).

The other thing is that I just recently got a first herpes outbreak down there. This comes with flu symptoms too, very strong symptoms for me. But still I thought, if herpes, maybe hiv too...? I know the two are not related and herpes you get so much easier, but still...Mind you I don´t even know if I got herpes now or if it just flared up at this moment, with my immune system low from the flu.

But I guess I´d like answers to the first two questions.

Thank you!

First of all, having other STDs such as herpes can make it easier to get HIV. In the case of herpes, proteins that the herpes virus uses to copy itself can "rev up" HIV reproduction thus increasing the HIV viral load at the site of a herpes ulcer. A person's susceptibility to HIV infection seems to be increased 2-5 times if they have an ulcer-causing STD.

To test negative at 6 weeks is comforting but not conclusive, however it did put my mind at rest a little bit because they say most people test positive within 25 days. Get tested again at 3 months just to put it all at rest and be absolutely sure.

As far as the flu thing goes, it's probably from stress, and also the partying may have weakened your immune system a bit and you might've just caught it from someone. Perfectly normal, don't stress out too much, good luck!

Thanks for your answer! I know an active herpes ob can increase your risk for contracting hiv. Actually, any condition where your skin is not at it´s best in the genitals is an increased risk for hiv, makes sense. And believe me, I have not had sex since my herpes appeared!

I know this forum is filled with people who worry themselves sick. I´m probably one of them. It´s impossible to get all conclusive tests on all possible infections, symptoms etc..That would be a full time job! Most people don´t even notice the symptoms people are talking about in these forums. But once you get one thing - like herpes - you tend to monitor everything!

I´m a afraid of all std´s right now, I can´t make head to tails anymore of my symptoms, cold or not, std or not, std transfered to another body part (like the eye) etc.. Unfortunately I´m not at home right now, living abroad, and I don´t know if I can get tested for everything here.

But I am seeing a general doctor in two days and she bloody hell will have to listen to all of my concerns!

Still I agree with the majority in this forum, don´t look for signs, don´t scout the internet for signs - generally the vast vast majority of illnesses come with the same symptoms as a normal cold.

Thanks!