I have been dating a guy for the last two months who is positive. The last time we had sex was two weeks ago Next Thursday and I am concerned that the condom may have split. I checked it but it did look intacted but when I wiped myself I could have sworn I smelt semen. Anyway, for the last five days I have been experiencing a lot of pain in my joints and limbs. No swelling , no headaches no temperatures etc just a weird sharp sensation in my limbs. I have spoken to a few helplines and they have advised that I should get tested since my last exposure was two weeks ago it may be a little early to do anything. I'm seeking advice as to what to do and whether this sounds like seroconversion. Im making myself sick with worry

even in the unfortunate event that the condom did break, there is still a pretty small chance that you have become infected. The people on the help lines offer very unspecific information. Ppl have sex all the time with there HIV+ partners even without condoms and they themselves never become infected. Your chances of being infected after one possible condom breakage is pretty minut. I would say 1 in 2000, just because you said there was a condom present. The odds are 1 in 1000 per unprotected act of intercourse so Im sure protected is at least 100% higher. Dont get to nervous and please dont start checking all the symptoms, stress has an awfully strange effect on the body, can even make you have all the symptoms of soemthing that you dont have (ie: psychosomatic pregnancy, women have all the symptoms including the stomach and yet there is no baby) Mind over body is a scary thing. I think you are fine and congrats for having a relationship with someone who is + there are many out there that wouldnt sit next to someone let alone have an intimite relationship with them. Ingnorance truly is an unblissful thing.

If you're unsure if the condom broke (and it doesn't sound like it did), you may wish to avoid sexual activity with this person in the future. You have to realize that sleeping with an HIV+ person, even if protected, carries a certain degree of risk. If you can't handle that risk, it's better for you not to be in that particular situation in the first place.

wow, i am sure the risk is pretty slim since most ppl who sleep with an infected perosn are not infected themselves.

Thanks For the information and the support. I'm going to the Clinic tomorrow to hae a jab and I will speak to them about my "symptoms" I am really concerned becuase of the sharp stabbing pains which I am felling all over my body. I have NEVER experienced these pains before and obvioulsy even If I had not been sexually involved with someone who is positive I WOULDstill be concerned about these pains

I dont know about the sharp jabbing pains as being HIV related, I know I used to get sharp jagged pains in my side and abdomen and it turned out my apendix needed to be removed, however it was long before I had even had sex let alone came in contact with a positive person. I am sure you are fine!

Just to update you. I went to the clinic last night and spoke to a Dr. He doesn't think that the pains ,which have now developed into a kind of itch, are HIV related. He said that a typical sign og seroconversion is an all over body rash and that signs of seroconversion could take between 2 weeks and three months to become visible. so i guess I just have to watch this space. I'm gogint to arrange an appointment tto see my Dr as these pains are very unpleasant. I know that this is the AIDs/HIV board but does anyone have any idea what they could be? could it be a STI?