Ask HIV InSite

Ask HIV InSite answers general questions about HIV transmission, prevention, and treatment. You can find them organized below by topic. (All archived questions and answers were reviewed last in January 2007.)

If you are experiencing anxiety about a possible HIV exposure, we recommend that you read How do you get (and avoid getting) HIV? For immediate assistance, you may want to call a hotline.

Recent Questions & Answers

		Can I Get HIV from Sharing Snorting Gear? 7/11/07

		Blood on My Penis: Was I exposed to HIV? 5/11/07

		HIV from Food? 5/4/07

		Could I Have Acquired HIV from My Mother? 4/12/07

		Pregnant and Afraid of Being Infected 3/26/07

		Anal Douching and Serodiscordant Couples 2/13/07

		Condom Broke During Insertive Sex 1/30/07

		Can Statistics Help Me Figure Out My Risk? 1/25/07

		Could the Lube Be Contaminated with HIV? 1/12/07

		How Risky is Starting Intercourse without a Condom? 1/9/07

		Is It Better to Spend Money on Education or Researching a Cure? 12/19/06

Hot Topics

		Does 'Fingering' Put Me at Risk for HIV?

		Risk of HIV and STDs from Oral Sex

		Can HIV Survive Outside the Body: Is This a Hoax?

		Low or Undetectable Viral Load: Lower Chance of Transmission?

		Still Worried about HIV

		Broken Condom During Vaginal Intercourse

		Is It Safe for Two HIV Positive People to Have Unprotected Sex?

		Would an ELISA and a PCR Test at Three Months Be Sufficient?

		My Girlfriend Wants to Have Unprotected Sex but I Keep Saying No

		My Partner's HIV Test Was Inconclusive. What Does This Mean?

		Is Mutual Masturbation with Ejaculation Safe?

Sex, Transmission, & Risk

Persistent Anxieties

	A note from the editor: Do you suffer from persistent anxieties about getting HIV or infecting loved ones? Do you find yourself testing over and over again, not believing your results? You may suffer from a treatable condition called obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

		Still Worried about HIV

		Anxiety Manifestations

		I have hairy leukoplakia but tested negative at 17 weeks. Could the antibiotics cause a false negative result?

		Could I have been infected through a blood sugar test?

		Fear of HIV has changed my life

		I got panicked and extremely fearful after a low-risk encounter.

		I have tested negative at ten months after exposure. How can I be sure I'm really negative?

		I can't sleep for fear of AIDS. Can you help me?

		An Indian male of 30 years of age suspects that he could have been infected with HIV.

		The more I read, the more scared I am. Can I be sure that I am OK?

		I was masturbating alone while I had broken skin on my penis. Is there a chance I may have AIDS or HIV?

		A lesbian at very low risk for HIV infection insists on getting tested twice a year. Should she get tested so often?

		I have worked myself into an obsession about the manifestations of HIV infection.

		I think I am positive based on my AIDS symptoms. Is this possible after only two years since my possible exposure to HIV?

		A classic case of AIDS phobia after a safe contact with a sex worker.

		It has been 9 weeks and I still monitoring my body for signs of HIV infection.

		I've been having lots of symptoms lately. Is it HIV or just allergies?

		I think I see white spots on my penis. My doctor says it's in my head. Am I overly worried?

		Can anxiety about HIV cause the symptoms of HIV infection?

		I worry constantly, and I'm afraid!

Vaginal & Anal Sex

		The Condom Broke: Risk for Infection for Insertive Partner?

		Risk for Insertive Partner in Unprotected Anal Sex

		Broken Condom During Vaginal Intercourse

		Rectal Symptoms of STDs or HIV?

		Bareback Sex and PEP

		How safe is it to have sex with my HIV-positive boyfriend?

		I am an HIV+ woman with an undetectable viral load. What are the potential risks to a potential boyfriend with or without condoms?

		How many lesbians in the U.S. have HIV/AIDS?

		What are the health consequences of daily unprotected anal sex?

		My condom broke while I was the top with a positive partner. What are the odds of infection?

		I had protected anal sex with a transsexual sex worker, what are my risks from his/her saliva?

		Do two HIV-positive people need to practice safer sex with each other?

		I had unprotected anal sex with a woman who turned out to be positive. What do you suggest I do?

		My boyfriend might be cheating on me and can a used condom on the sidewalk infect me?

		If all my partners and their partners have tested negative, what are the chances of HIV infection?

		Three years ago my friend had sex with a person with AIDS. Is she infected?

		My girlfriend wants to have unprotected sex but I keep saying no.

		If I have unprotected vaginal sex with a positive person how likely am I to get infected?

		What is the difference, in terms of HIV risk, of an open sore on the penis and the mucous membrane of the urethra?

		Does the man have to ejaculate in order to be at risk for HIV?

		I was a virgin, he was a virgin, we used a condom. Can I still get infected?

		Do heterosexual infectivity rates underestimate the infectivity of vaginal secretions?

		I had unprotected vaginal sex one month ago. What is my real life probability of being infected?

		Will you provide correct information about infectiousness of cervico-vaginal secretion?

		Is it easier for a man to transmit HIV to a woman than vice versa?

Oral Sex & Kissing

		Risk of HIV and STDs from Oral Sex

		Oral Sex Question With a Twist

		I gave someone oral sex despite having a cut on my lip. Do I need to test?

		How risky is pre-cum in the mouth?

		A sex worker noticed blood on my penis. What is the likelihood that I am HIV positive?

		Oral sex under the influence

		Can HIV be transmitted from biting the foreskin?

		I recently experimented with another man, and am concerned about HIV infection.

		What are the risks of rimming and how can I make it safer?

		Can you get AIDS from swallowing a small amount of blood of an infected person?

		My lover is bisexual and I am concerned about deep kissing. Is this a risk for HIV?

		Is it possible to transmit HIV through pre-cum?

		Can I be infected by the cum of a previous client when receiving oral sex from a prostitute?

		I was the insertive partner in protected anal sex and received unprotected oral sex from him. What is the risk of this?

		What is the risk of receiving oral sex from a sex worker?

		I gave a guy a blow job. He did not cum in my mouth but I had a cold sore. What is my risk?

		I gave a friend oral sex. Do I need to be tested?

		Why aren't schools telling kids that oral sex is NOT safe?

		If both parties have decayed teeth, what is the risk of deep kissing?

		How can men minimize HIV risk during oral vaginal sex?

		What is the chance of being infected by sucking on nipples?

		Can HIV be transmitted through oral sex? I've heard that gallons of semen are required.

		I want to work in gay porn but am concerned about STDs...

		Does knowledge about risk of transmission affect behavior?

		I unexpectedly had oral sex with a man after drinking...

		Is AIDS transmitted by wet kissing?

		Can sweat or wet kiss on the cheek transmit HIV?

		Risk of oral sex without ejaculation?

Sex Workers

		One Time Sex with a Prostitute: Am I Infected?

		Three months ago I was drunk and had sex with a female sex worker. What should I do?

		I am worried sick. Please help me assess my risk.

		I recently contracted herpes from a sex worker and am worried that I contracted HIV.

		Could I have been infected from a "special" massage?

		I had sex at my bachelor party. Am I at risk and when can I test?

		My condom slipped off while having sex with a sex worker. What is my risk?

		I had unprotected sex with a sex worker in Bangkok. What is different about HIV risk in Thailand?

		What is the HIV risk associated with vigorously rubbing the dried vaginal fluid of a randomly selected club dancer onto an area of mild dermabrasion?

		A condom broke with a sex worker 15 months ago. So far I've tested negative. Could I still test positive in the future?

		My condom broke during sex with a prostitute, should I seek postexposure treatment?

		I slept with a prostitute and have been struggling with the fear of HIV infection for 3 months.

Pregnancy and Mother-to-Child Transmission

		What Can I Do to Prevent Transmitting HIV to My Unborn Baby?

		Should My Pregnant Wife and I Get Tested for HIV?

		Are HIV Tests Routine for Newborn Babies?

		Can Two HIV-Positive Parents Have an HIV-Negative Child?

		Transmission of HIV From Mother to Child

		I'm 17, HIV positive, and pregnant. I don't know what to do.

		My fiance tested positive but my daughter and I have tested negative. Is this possible?

		My partner died of HIV last year. How can it be that my daughter and I are both HIV negative?

		What are the implications of starting antiviral meds before conception?

		Do you have any recommendations of how to go about disclosing a positive HIV status to a child that was infected perinatally with HIV?

		Does an elective caesarean section help reduce the risk of perinatal transmission?

		I'm an HIV+ male and my wife is negative and we want another child. How can we minimize the risk of infection?

Needles & Caregiver Exposure

		Can HIV be transmitted via an alcohol swab?

		My sister was stuck with a needle from a positive patient. What can she do?

		I recently tested positive after a blood transfusion. Is it safe for me to take care of my children?

		Can health care workers legally test a patient's blood sample wihtout consent?

		If someone positive spits in my eye, what are the chances of transmission?

		Does bleach kill the virus in a needle?

		Can blood in drinking water infect you?

		Is it safe to live with a positive family member? Who needs to know about their status?

		Is there any risk of infection by giving blood at an HIV testing facility?

		I am a schoolteacher. One of my students is HIV+ and has nosebleeds. Are universal precautions enough?

		What are the chances of transmitting HIV through a needle?

		Should caregivers to AIDS patients be tested after the death of the patient?

Testing & the Window Period

		What Does an Inconclusive Test Result Mean?

		Anxiety About My HIV Test Results

		Should I Get Tested?

		Can We Really Be Sure of Our HIV Test Results?

		Specific Blood Test for HIV?

		Unprotected Sex with a Stranger: Should My Husband Be Anxious?

		When Can You Reliably Detect HIV?

		Time from Point of Infection to Appearance of Symptoms

		Accuracy of Over-the-Counter Testing Kits

		Over-the-Counter Testing Kits

		I'm scared about taking the HIV test for my annual health exam.

		How long should I wait to be tested after being raped?

		Why can't you test for HIV using a complete blood count?

		A lesbian at very low risk for HIV infection insists on getting tested twice a year. Should she get tested so often?

		If I have symptoms, despite testing negative, should I test for other strains of HIV?

		Can HIV take more than six months to develop antibodies?

		I'm trying to determine when I should go get an AIDS test.

		If my partner tested negative, does that mean I'm negative too?

		The people who raped me 6 years ago died of AIDS recently. Should I test again?

		Do people have to test negative for 11 years before they can truly rely on the test result?

		I had sex with a man, and then with my wife two weeks later. I tested negative at one month. Could I have infected her?

		My doctor boyfriend asks me to test every three months. Is this necessary?

		What is the difference between confidential and anonymous testing?

		Would an ELISA and a PCR test at three months be sufficient?

		Would drinking wine the night before my test affect my test result?

		Can I consider myself negative after my sixth negative test?

		I won't get tested. Can I diagnose HIV infection based on my symptoms?

		My doctor told me my swollen adenoids could be HIV but I shouldn't worry? I haven't slept in days!

		My partner's HIV test was inconclusive. What does this mean?

		I just returned from central Africa and I am pregnant. Will keeping the baby increase the risk of contracting HIV?

		Is it more common to have a false positive than a false negative?

		My girlfriend donates blood regularly. Can I assume she is HIV negative?

		I spent some time in central Africa. Do HIV tests detect HIV group O?

		Is there an over-the-counter HIV test?

		I haven't been tested for HIV...Would I notice any symptoms if I were positive?

Condoms & Lube

		What's the Risk of a Broken Condom without Ejaculation?

		The Condom Broke: Risk for Infection for Insertive Partner?

		Confused by Your Answers

		Are Condoms Foolproof?

		My partner started unrolling the condom inside-out. Can I get infected this way?

		I used two condoms with a prostitute. Will this protect me from HIV or STDs?

		Do condoms have little holes?

		Are silicon lubes okay to use with latex condoms?

		What is the risk of transmission when removing the condom?

		Is it possible to be infected with HIV virus but not STD virus? Are all condoms equally reliable?

		Does baby oil damage condoms?

		If women are much more vulnerable to HIV, does the condom efficiency varies greatly depending on the gender?

Miscellaneous Transmission: Hands, Cuts, Sex Toys, and Inanimate Objects

		HIV from Butt Play, Oral Sex, and Other Things That Turn Me On?

		Does 'Fingering' Put Me at Risk for HIV?

		Will a Spanking Leave Me with HIV?

		HIV from Contact with Wet Towel?

		Douching to Prevent HIV Infection?

		Can I Get Infected from Contact with Feces?

		Saliva, Mutual Masturbation, and Risk for HIV?

		How Does HIV Enter the Penis?

		Can HIV Survive Outside the Body: Is This a Hoax?

		Can Mosquitos Spread HIV?

		Low or Undetectable Viral Load: Lower Chance of Transmission?

		Can Two HIV-Negative People Get Infected From Unprotected Sex?

		Cybersex and HIV?

		Can You Get HIV From a Vibrator?

		Is It Safe for Two HIV Positive People to Have Unprotected Sex?

		Is it easier to become HIV positive if you've had mono?

		Is it safe for my family to live with my HIV-positive brother-in-law?

		Can HIV be transmitted in the shower?

		Can you get HIV from fighting?

		Is it possible for one woman to transmit HIV to another woman during sex?

		Can I get HIV by trying those "tester" lipsticks at department stores?

		Would precum touching the skin around my anus be considered a risk of transmission?

		I pricked my finger on a rose. Can I get HIV this way?

		Does one person in a sexual relationship have to have AIDS in order for it to be transmitted, or can it just develop between two males?

		Can HIV be transmitted by a bar of soap?

		Are my husband's feelings related to the amount of virus in his body?

		Do latent STD infections also increase HIV risk?

		Can I get HIV from scratching my face with dirty fingernails?

		My girlfriend is HIV+ and we have good sex, but I have a few questions...

		Can I get chlamydia from a lap dance?

		Could I have given my girlfriend TB?

		Do STDs increase the risk of HIV transmission?

		Can you get HIV by eating something that has hair of an HIV infected person in it?

		If my partner's viral load is undetectable, what is the risk protected sex?

		My ex had sex with someone with HIV. What are the chances he is infected?

		How long does HIV survive outside the body and what conditions are necessary?

		How risky was my contact with a masseuse?

		I had my first homosexual encounter and my girlfriend is coming back to town. Will a negative result with a three month window be enough?

		Is the head of the penis a permeable mucous membrane?

		What are the chances of transmission where the man doesn't change the condom between partners?

		Can HIV be transmitted by shaking hands with HIV+ blood on them?

		How soon after infection will a person be infectious to others?

		Will soap water help to reduce the risk of HIV infection?

		Have there been reports of transmission through fingers or while using condoms?

		If you have a paper cut on your finger...

		Is mutual masturbation with ejaculation safe?

		Can HIV be transmitted if two people have sex in a pool and then someone swims in that pool?

		Does a low viral load make sex safer?

Medicine & Science Questions

Viral Load & T-cells

		Is There a Correlation Between T-Cell Count and Staph Infections?

		Can you explain low CD4 counts at a low viral load?

		Does the rate of production of CD4 cells affect the result of an HIV test?

Treatment Options

		No Meds Even if I'm HIV Infected?

		Once Daily Medicines: Can I take just one pill once a day to treat HIV?

Drug Interactions and Side Effects

		Where can I find information about interactions between HIV medications and street drugs?

		What can I do to avoid bone loss from taking protease inhibitors?

		What can be done about fatigue?

Supplements and Herbal Products

		How do workout supplements affect people with HIV on HAART?

Signs and Symptoms of HIV

		What Are These White Bumps on My Penis?

		Do My Symptoms Mean That I Got HIV?

		Can the Sore on My Penis be an STD?

		HIV-Related Rash?

		Coincidence or HIV?

		Sore Throat, Swollen Glands 6 Weeks after Event: HIV or Just Strep?

		Cold-like Symptoms: Sign of HIV?

		Night Sweats: Symptom of HIV Infection?

		I have a white coating on my tongue. Is this HIV?

		I tested negative, but does this rash mean I'm HIV positive?

		Is a bilateral stroke associated with being HIV positive?

		What type of pharingytis is most common in acute infection with HIV?

		Is hair loss or damage to the eyes (vitreal floaters) a common symptom in the first few months after infection?

Basic Science

		What is the Average Life Expectancy of Someone with HIV?"

		Hepatitis A and HIV Coinfection?

		Did the Green Monkey Start AIDS?

		Should I be worried that my 33 year old gay son is ill with pneumonia? Is it the beginning of AIDS?