I've booked my test but have a couple of questions. I still have a sore throat and my tongue feels very dry. Should this be a concern? The end of it feels like it's tingling.

Also, can fingering be a risk to catching HIV? I read someone that as soon as HIV hits the air, it's dead?

Any help appreciated, thankyou

Hello. I have been in your situation many times. You have done what many of us do..WORRY OURSELVES sick! Your immune system gets low in times of panic or stress and we get a little sick (a sore throat, dizziness all kinds of things.) What you did sexually was very, very safe. It is not as easy for things to get into our bloodstream as everyone thinks. Via your penis, unless you had a herpes sore (and of course you did not!) there is no way for entry. Things EXPEL from the male urethra, but do not go IN. If they did--we'd have shampoo and soap from showers in our bloodstream, anything used in masturbation and more. Can you imagine Jergens lotion getting into your bloodstream via your urethra?! As far as the cut on the finger thing....while not 100% safe, it is very unlikely. And it is true that air kills HIV immediately. HIV needs a host to survive. In truth--it is a very weak virus and it takes a lot of compatible factors for it to be able to "get to it's intended target." And finally....I really don't think the girl has anything at all (that has been proven from what she has said). As soon as this is all over, you might want to tell her you are sorry, but that you were very scared at the time. I think her feelings are hurt.

Good luck to you.

Thanks for your kind words. Have you read about my situation in previous posts? Does 4 seconds of penetration sound like a threat? Also, is the 'only' way to contract HIV through the penis via a cut or open sore? Thanks....

Also, is dry mouth a symptom?

Mr.Devine. Its nice to have someone here helping with information. However, I would suggest that you research your info a bit more thoroughly. Please do not take this as hostile, but you do realize how important it is to give and receive reliable information in this subject.

HIV can enter the bloodstream through the urethra. The reason being, is that HIV only needs to come in contact with mucous membrane tissue, or the most delicate kind of tissue we have (it is usually always moist). HIV is able to attack the cells particular to this tissue and therefore able to penetrate the body. Note that our normal skin is considerably more resistant. But the skin that may not be as resistant include the foreskin, the glans penis (in uncircumcised individuals), and the lining inside the urethra.

While it is true no fluid can go "up" inside you through the urinary track, the truth is that HIV and other STD's don't even need to do so. All they need is contact with sensitive skin. Thats why sex without a condom, be it anal or vaginal carries so much risk. Constant friction of both partners' skin may lead to tissue irritation (when the skin turns red), therefore, combined with the exchange of body fluids, making the conditions for transmission higher.

True. HIV does not survive long in open air. Fingering DOES NOT transmit HIV (Unless your fingers are bleeding profusely). And HIV is NOT an easy virus to transmit either. On most cases it takes more than one time to be infected. As noted, the first thing HIV needs to be transmitted is a carrier, so if the girl was not HIV in the first place, then there is nothing to worry about.

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Best wishes.

[This message has been edited by anyone (edited 07-21-2003).]

Hey Anyone....Thats what I thought, but I am still educating myself with the virus ( and dont know much ) so your post was helpful.
thx
Still learning!

Can the dry mouth symptom be a sign of HIV. What about the tingling sensation on the tongue?

Emp1_99:

Dry mouth is not a symptom of HIV. However is closely related to severe anxiety and stress. I experienced that, along with sore throat, and tingling. Tested negative up to 6.5 months.

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Best wishes.

Hi Anyone

You seem a very knowledgable person on this matter. Do you think a 4 second penetration could pose a threat?

Emp1_99:

While it is true that one can acquire HIV from a single exposure (read threads from "I am +" on this board), a 4 second exposure with a person not even known to have HIV, makes the possibility of you having acquired HIV, virtually impossible.



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Best wishes.

Well she tells me until she's blue in the face that she is clear. Her and her boyfriend were tested around a year ago and were both clear. The only thing that worries me is that, although he hasn't actually had penetrative sex with anyone since, he has received oral on two occassions. Should this pose a threat do you think?

Absolutely not. Your risk is still low. Receiving oral (getting head), poses only a theoretical risk. No known cases of getting HIV by getting head have been documented. The more risk if any, is for the person giving the head.

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Best wishes.

Low/Virtually impossible risk? I'm confused...

Virtually impossible, extremely low, very unlikely. As in "In my honest opinion, I think you are not infected, but that's just me and my short experience".

Come on man, I hope not to sound mean, but are you wanting to hear an "you are absolutely not infected, impossible"? No one can tell you that, not even a doctor, only an ELISA test at 3 months or more. And the reason is because no one but you went through the particular experience.

Just as I had my own experience, and no one could tell me for sure over the internet. Only a test told me that I'm negative. I suggest not to focus in the chances, but in trying to live past this. Anxiety will only add to your problem. It did it to me, sure as hell it can do it to you too. So be smart about this one man.

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Best wishes.

What (if any) STD's can a man get by receiving HEAD? Unprotected that is.

Can you receive STD's by french kissing?

Thanks in advance.

You can get Herpes (if the person has an herpes sore in the mouth), and this applies to both getting head and french kissing. Through french kissing you dont get an "STD" per say, but you could definitely get Mononucleosis, or a bacterial infection.