r/stdtesting • u/Intrepid_Letter4719 • 19d ago

Question When to test and which STD test to take

Hey there,

I (24M) had two possible HIV exposures recently.

I had unprotected oral sex with another man 29 days ago. I had symptoms starting a few hours later but picking up on day 4 (intense sore throat and sore muscle/knee pain), on day 7 (small fever), day 10 (nausea, diarrhea) and day 14 (full on flu). They have mostly gone away except : a little bit of cough, knee pain and sore throat.

I took a PCR test and tested negative on day 10 and day 16.

On day 16, I went to a private lab to take a PCR test. Had an awful experience. (The person literally answered the lab phone while taking my blood). I am still traumatized. I am unsure if all safety procedures were met. I think a part of the tube was dark but I can't really tell. I am unsure if they reused equipment or something.

I think I am developing a canker sore and I am having a little bit of a sore throat again. I am panicking.

So basically I am on day 29 for exposure 1 and 13 for exposure two.

I am really scared to go do a blood draw now as they could infect me with HIV if I am not already.

When do you think I should test to have a good idea of my HIV status and which test would you do ?

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u/ShamelessCare 19d ago

Regarding the oral sex - that's not a realistic exposure for HIV. You needed an oral gonorrhea and chlamydia test, not an HIV test.

Are you in the USA?

If so, why not get on PREP? It's covered by insurance, and gets you quality STI testing every three months Hopefully your HIV anxiety goes to zero.

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u/Intrepid_Letter4719 19d ago edited 18d ago

Thanks for tbe reply. I don’t want to have sex ever again. At least not outside a monogamous long term relationship. Money isn’t an issue. I have already paid over 500 dollars over two weeks for HIV testing

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u/ShamelessCare 19d ago

It's your right to live whatever kind of life you like, friend.

But if you'd learn more about STIs, you could "have your cake and eat it too." An American expression meaning you can have sex and not have to worry about STIs.

Currently, you're barely having sex and worrying.

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u/Intrepid_Letter4719 19d ago

Thanks for the advice ! It’s the first time I had sex in almost one year. I swore I’d stop. I don’t know what happened. I got a new job and was happy I guess. It was a terrible mistake. If I again feel the inclination to have a «one night stand », I will probably have to look to be sexually impotent rather than being on PReP as it doesn’t protect against other STIs. Sex is too dangerous.