Question
I have started PEP and want to know if I will be okay?
28 November 2010. Related: PEP/PEPSE, Side effects.
I had sex with a transexual man. I was on top and without me realizing the condom had ruptured, I washed myself and went home. But I did not feel comfortable. So I sent a text asking the man I had just had sex with if he was HIV positive, to which he answered, yes. I freaked out and went inmediately to the internet and did some research. I read about PEP, so the next morning I went to the clinic and I was placed on – Truvada 200 mg, Norvir 100 mg and Reyataz 300 mg. This was 36 hours after the incident.
I have had no side effects. But for the last two days, I have felt as if I have some fever. I tested my temperature and it is within the normal parameters of 98.2 and 98.7. Please tell me do I have a shot to be well? The person I had sex with told me that his viral count is below 40. Please help.
Answer
Thank you for your question.
I am sorry to know that you are distressed. What is important is that you have taken the right steps to giving yourself a chance of remaining uninfected. PEP is effective the earlier that you take it and should be taken within 72 hours of being exposed to HIV. You started PEP within that time frame.
Additionally, as the person who you had sex with is on treatment with an undetectable viral load, then your chances of an HIV infection are much more reduced than if that person was not on treatment.
If you take the PEP as prescribed this will reduce the small chance that you were exposed to HIV.
Symptoms do not occur this soon after an exposure.
Good luck.
hi, i had unprotected insertive anal sex with a new partner, they said they are 100% clean and they have told me that they are on PreP. i was still really paranoid, so i started a course of PEP 30hrs after the intercourse. should i be worried? will the PEP work? am i at risk or am i just going crazy?
Hi Xavier, as your partner is taking PrEP there is no risk to him as long as he has been taken it as prescribed.
This would mean there is no risk to you.
PEP/PrEP will not prevent other STIs. Is your partner using a condom with other partners to prevent transmission of other infections they may be at risk of? The best way to do this is by using a condom.
I have a sexual partner who is negative and on PrEP. But he has had 5 other possible sources.. I am on PEP even though he was on PrEP, should I continue or and I going to be okay?
Hi Jerrold, what you have described is a very low risk of transmission, if any risk at all. As you have started PEP it means your risk will be almost zero. You can confirm your status from 6 weeks after the last dose of PEP using a 4th generation test.
For information about testing please see here: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/hiv-transmission-and-testing
Started pep at 62 hours after exposure. The guy status is unknown but he was sliding his penis up and down my anal region and as soon as he stuck the tip of the penis in without lubrication it hurted cause some pain and bruising I said ouch he pulled it out immediately.
What are my chances I have swollen glands but no fever or muscle aches got test 12 days after the incident because of the swollen glands the test came back negative and not detected.
Swollen glands do not hurt but I’m scared pep is failing. By the way everyone in my house has a fever and a cold but me.
Hi Jonathan, please see here for more information: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/hiv-transmission-and-testing
I had sex with a lady and some days later I started experience some symptoms like urinary tract infection and gastritis fever I tested non reactive on 10 September and 17 of October it’s non reactive
Could it be that I still have hiv in me
Hi Jonathan, as you used as condom there is no risk of transmission.
For more information please see here: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/hiv-transmission-and-testing
I had sex with woman and used protection. As I was removing my penis from inside her the condom remained inside.We checked the condom and the semen was inside the condom. We went to get tested the next morning and she found to be positive. I immediately took PEP which was now about 10 hours since the incident.
Its been 10 days now and my lymph nodes on my nexk area are slightley swollen. Can this be a sign that I am now infected
Hi Ella, please see here for more information about transmission: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/hiv-transmission-and-testing