I've had a sexual encounter without a condom a while ago and i wanna know HOW and WHEN do i know for sure if i haven't caught HIV/AIDS ( or other STD's) without having tests done,please!?
And if i have , what would be the simptomes over time?
2006-12-04 03:22:29 · 11 answers · asked by xXx 2 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ STDs
AIDS prevention is one of my missions. You will never know if you're HIV (+) until you get really sick, which could take years. An HIV test at 3 months and again at 6 months is the only way to get your answer. Of course, this is provided you're not having any unprotected sex during this time. Now, some people will have milk flu-like symptoms about 2-3 weeks after being infected, but even if they notice them, they won't attribute them to being exposed to the AIDS virus.
I know you're scared, but you need to do this. You'll feel much better and will practice safer sex once you find that you're negative. If you are positive, the earlier you get treatment the better.
It absolutely breaks my heart to write this, because I do understand your fear. I work with AIDS patients almost everyday and it's very sad, but especially sad when they're very young. And that's who AIDS is hitting hardest right now.
Now you probably have nothing to worry about. There's a very good chance that you will test negative. Then you'll realize that this scare may have been the best thing that ever happened to you. Because here's the thing, if you don't get tested, one day this fear you're feeling right now is going to blow over and you may just take one more chance. That chance could be strike #3.
Please go and get tested.
As far as other STD's go, some may not show any symptoms at all, especially if you're a girl. But if you're a guy, the only STD that I can think of at this very moment that would be evident very early on (within days) with very pronounced symptoms that you would have to address would be gonorrhea (the clap). It's too painful not to, and symptoms come on pretty fast.
Syphilis, I rank this one behind AIDS. It can lead to death, although it's not a fast death. It's transmitted by the blood and is diagnosed by a blood test. It's first symptom is a painless sore at the point of entry of the spirochete to the body. Yes I said spirochete. Syphilis is not caused by a bacteria or virus. It's actually caused by a little work-like organism that makes holes in everything it comes in contact with, including vessels, organ, etc. It is very easy to treat, however, in the first stages.
Herpes symptoms could be, but not usually, so mild that you won't notice. Genital warts may take months or years to appear. I group these together, because once you have them, you always will. But the stigma has lightened on these two, because so many people are infected with them.
All the rest of the STD's are pieces of cake. Although some of them may cause serious complications if left untreated, they can be cured very easily with either a shot or some pills (either antibiotics or antimicrobials).
The main thing is that you must be treated. Don't be embarrassed. Your doctor has no right to be judgmental. He or she will treat you and your problem with professionalism. You can also try the health department if you don't have the money to see a private doctor. They charge based on income, so if you have no income, you won't have to pay anything.
And remember, if you're not yet able to readily go and get help for these type things when they come up, you may need to rethink having sex right now. What's the rush anyway? It's darned sure not worth it!
My name is Vee. I'm an RN. This is what I do - give health advice and answers. One of my crusades is HIV education and prevention. You can find me on myspace with ext. name: jowajepublishing. If you have an account, add me. I'd love to have you as a friend. Contact me and let me know how everything went if you'd like.
2006-12-04 05:12:27 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should call your local health dept. I think that you could get a test for HIV 6 weeks after exposure but I'm not sure. Things like herpes can take years to show up and they can test but can't tell if cold sore or venereal or they couldn't a few years ago and HPV in girls they can test cervix but I don't know if they have one for men.
If you call your local Health Dept. at ours they have a clinic that only test for stds and give out info and free condoms. They have tons of literature about all the stds and can be more help.
2006-12-04 05:17:42 · answer #2 · answered by bess 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is no time limit. Don't wait to get a symptom. It may be weeks, months or ever years before you will know. And if its HIV it may start out with the common cold and you would never think it was HIV. Get testing now and ever 6 months for at least the first year.
2006-12-04 03:45:57 · answer #3 · answered by Bob 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a situation you shouldn't have gotten yourself in to my friend, if you're not in a one person relationship and are out sowing your seed you need to get a condom on...
... "Dont be daft and dont be silly, put a condon on your willy" ... Madonna
Serioulsy though there are lots of STD's you could have caught with varying symptoms, some STD's dont even have syptoms like Clymidea, this can cause problems with infertility and the long term result may even result in you never being able to "get it up" again, serioulsy.
Check out some sites and just bite the bullet and get checked out, better to be safe than passing STD's about, no one will thank you for that...
There are hundreds of sexual health site get on one and wisen up
Good luck
2006-12-04 03:33:15 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Umm you need to get tested. HIV can stay in your system for 10 years on average without symptoms. As far as the rest, you need to get tested as well, they can be symptomless as well and they can be very serious if not treated. Do not have unprotected sex anymore. Playing with your health is not worth it. Take care.
2006-12-04 03:53:43 · answer #5 · answered by ShanaJ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to get in and be tested....most symptoms go unnoticed because they are Flu like symptoms and or sore throat, and body aches...sometimes you won't have any of these symptoms for a while....It is very important that get tested every six months, and if you had unprotected sex than you need to go in now...so that you don,t infected others if you have it....That in all honesty is putting others lives at risk. Good Luck.
2006-12-04 04:04:44 · answer #6 · answered by autumn w 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
why dont you get a test? go to a free clinic this is personal info, and it can be done in 20 minutes, better to know right away. The symptoms and consequences are much worse then the tests.
2006-12-04 06:07:55 · answer #7 · answered by Teri Molina 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Diseases like the Herpes virus can take years and years and years to find out. I know an elderly lady who had her first outbreak after 50 years.
You will never ever be completely sure unless you get tested. Go do it, dude. You can go to clinics and they dont even have to know your name. Just get it over with or risk spreading a disease or getting more.
2006-12-04 09:23:17 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
HIV and AIDS can go years in your system without side effects.
2006-12-04 11:04:47 · answer #9 · answered by That_Girl_ 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
STDs can lie dormant within your system for up to 6 months before it is detected.
HIV can lie dormant for many years before it is detected.
I would think twice about who you have sexual relations with.
2006-12-04 03:29:55 · answer #10 · answered by S H 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋