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Home / Answered Questions / I had sex in April for the first time, we used a condom but not for oral didn’t know I had to I got really sick a month after nausea chronic diarrhea for about a month a got a bad rash on my back and it got me worried maybe I got something so I went it got tested to find out I was negative but postive for clay media I got treated for it with 4 easy pills but my mind started running wild and I couldn’t sleep eat talk to my friends or family with out stressing that I may be carrying the virse got so bad that I would try to kill myself every night I thought about it and the fear of even having it , so I got a test done on May 12 came out nagtive again went back June 20th came back negative but knowing it takes 3 months to be 100%sure I went back again July 21 came out negative can I put my mind to rest and stop worrying but it also says it can also take up to 6 months this were I get more mad and worried cause I think I’m finally free to move on then I see that should I do another test just to be sure and why did I have hiv symptoms but don’t have the virse that’s also what scares me cause what if I do and it’s just taking more then 3 months to show in my blood should I do another one this ending August or wait till October and when is the window period 100% over and accurate three months for six months really wanna stop living in fear everyday and going in and out of doctors office feeling even worse hopeless ,also how did I have an sti even though I used a condom and can you get hiv even when using a condom ? Please help

I had sex in April for the first time, we used a condom but not for oral didn’t know I had to I got really sick a month after nausea chronic diarrhea for about a month a got a bad rash on my back and it got me worried maybe I got something so I went it got tested to find out I was negative but postive for clay media I got treated for it with 4 easy pills but my mind started running wild and I couldn’t sleep eat talk to my friends or family with out stressing that I may be carrying the virse got so bad that I would try to kill myself every night I thought about it and the fear of even having it , so I got a test done on May 12 came out nagtive again went back June 20th came back negative but knowing it takes 3 months to be 100%sure I went back again July 21 came out negative can I put my mind to rest and stop worrying but it also says it can also take up to 6 months this were I get more mad and worried cause I think I’m finally free to move on then I see that should I do another test just to be sure and why did I have hiv symptoms but don’t have the virse that’s also what scares me cause what if I do and it’s just taking more then 3 months to show in my blood should I do another one this ending August or wait till October and when is the window period 100% over and accurate three months for six months really wanna stop living in fear everyday and going in and out of doctors office feeling even worse hopeless ,also how did I have an sti even though I used a condom and can you get hiv even when using a condom ? Please help

Hi and thanks for writing in with your concerns. It sounds like you have been very worried. Using a condom for sex is considered safe sex and that is why using a condom is recommended to prevent HIV transmission. Testing at 3 months post sex is considered the accurate time to test and cover the window period now because the testing has improved from the older time line  of 6 months. So if you had protected sex in April, you did not get HIV. If you tested negative in July – 3 months later- then you do not have HIV. If you have symptoms now, then these symptoms are caused by something else,  not from HIV as you do not have HIV.  If your symptoms persist, then consider seeing a doctor to find out what else would be causing them. Sometimes being really worried can cause our bodies and minds to act in different ways and finding ways to work out the stress can be helpful. Hope this helps. Health Nurse