BellaOnline Forums Health and Fitness AIDS & HIV I am at Risk

Hi.... I had a sexual encounter in October2005 with an xboyfriend of unknown HIV status. I gave blood this year March 2006 with family members and recieved a thank you note telling me my next date when I can donate. However, I am afraid that I have HIV and that I might have passed it on to a donor. Is 5 months post encounter long enough to rule out HIV infection???? I am so ashamed of myself for cheating on my current boyfriend of 3 years and feel tremendous amount of guilt. Please respond thanks guys

If there was any infection found in the blood then they would have told you and would not have used your blood.

They test it these days for all kinds of infections so as to not go round spreading it that way.

Post deleted by Bella_Harmony

As someone who used to work a sex info hotline in San Francisco, I have to say that HIV tests can now detect HIV antibodies in the blood (the sign that you have the AIDS virus) as soon as two to four weeks after the sexual encounter.

They do test donated blood for the HIV virus, so if you were invited to donate again, you can rule out HIV infection, HOWEVER that is not how you should be managing your sexual health. Diseases like herpes and HPV (warts) will not show up in a blood test at a blood bank. And those you will have for life.

Michelle is not accurate in her statement that if you have sex with a person who is HIV+ that you will have to continue to be tested for sero-conversion for the rest of your life. If you do have unsafe sex with someone who is HIV+, or who contacts you to inform you that they have learned that they are, you do need to get tested, but testing at one month or later does give an accurate exposure answer. You can't sero-convert years after a single exposure.

Essentially, since the blood bank didn't call you and tell you that they found a blood-born STD in your blood sample, you can rule out having any of those, however, that doesn't mean you didn't get one of the other ones. Herpes, warts and chlymidia all wouldn't show up to them.

If you need more info about safer sex and how to protect yourself, or you need to find a clinic for testing, you can visit http://www.sfsi.org where they have tons of info, and you can call or email them with specific questions.

Thanks Rae for correcting that.

I apologize for my outdated info - I was not trying to alarm anyone, just trying to be cautious.

<img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> I am sorry

Michelle, it's hard to keep updated on the medical info, so don't feel bad.

Yes,hun you would have been told if you had AIDS apparently you dont so becareful in the future:}

I have a question. I have been losing wieght and running a fever the past few weeks now.. I was sexuly active with someone how HIV type 2.. and im really scared... I had read the signs of HIV and im having just about everyone... what should i do?

Amanda i hope you have seen a doctor by now, and i hope your safe. I also hope you learned a valuable lesson. that any one having unprotected sex is at risk not only for HIV, but to name a few you can catch
Chancroid
Gonorrea
Granuloma inguinale
Lymphogranuloma venereum
Syphilis
Chlamydial cervicitis
Genital herpes
Molluscum urethritis
Trichomoniasis
just to name a few, i think the scariest part of all STDs is the kind you get not from sleeping around but the kind you get from your partner, husband or wife who have cheated i personally don't think sex is worth dying for, stay safe