A service provided by the BC Centre for Disease Control
In the years since SmartSexResource launched, we have developed a library of questions asked by you, and answered by our expert sexual health nurses.
Our answered questions library cover a broad range of sexual health topics and common questions we hear at our clinics.
Hi, and thank you for your question
If the same tests are ordered by both providers (eg. HIV testing is ordered by both the STI clinic and by the care providers in a hospital) then both tests should have the same result.
For example, if a person does NOT have an HIV infection, and has an HIV test done in two different locations (one in an STI clinic and another done at a hospital) then both test results will be negative. It is always a good idea to ask a care provider (doctor or nurse) which tests are being ordered. A laboratory can only run tests on blood that a doctor or nurse has asked them to perform.
Let us know if this does not answer your question or if you have any more questions or concerns.
Health Nurse
Hi, and thanks for your question
We don’t typically see HIV passed from oral sex, and the risk to the person receiving oral sex is considered very low. We more commonly see gonorrhea and chlamydia or infections that are passed through skin-to-skin contact like herpes or syphilis being passed this way. We always recommend routine testing for all sexually transmitted infections (HIV, syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea) for any sexually active individual
Our clinic finder can help you locate a clinic near you for testing.
Also check out our Know Your Chances charts. They are sometimes useful in understanding which STIs are passed through different types of sexual contact.
Let us know if this does not answer your question or if you have any more questions or concerns.
Health Nurse
Hi, and thanks for your question
When you have blood taken for an STI test, the blood sample gets sent to the laboratory for the actual testing. The lab tests the blood for whatever the nurse or doctor has ordered on the requisition (sheet of paper that gets sent with the blood). Some tests, like syphilis, HIV and Hepatitis A, B, & C can be run from the same sample of blood in the same tube. The only way to know what your blood is being tested for is to ask your testing provider which tests they are ordering on the requisition when they take your blood.
Let us know if this does not answer your question or if you have any more questions or concerns.
Health Nurse
Hi
Having a beer or another type of alcohol before doing a HIV test from the blood, would not affect the results.
Let us know if you have any more questions or concerns.
Health Nurse
Hi, and thanks for your question
It would be very unlikely that an infection would get spread this way. Generally speaking, sexually transmitted infections are transmitted through sexual contact, not through the mode you describe. Of course if you have continuing concerns you could visit your family doctor for further assessment and follow up
Let us know if this does not answer your question or if you have any more questions or concerns.
Health Nurse
Hi, and thanks for your question.
The symptoms you are describing are not specifically related to an HIV infection or any other sexually transmitted infection (STI). In fact, they are much more common with other things such as common colds and flus. If there is no sexual risk or risk through sharing needles with an HIV-infected person for intravenous drug use, then I would recommend visiting a family doctor or doctor at a walk-in clinic for a general full assessment and discussion.
When it comes to STI testing, we generally recommend testing for all STIs including chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis in addition to HIV since these infections are actually much more common than HIV.
Let us know if this does not answer your question or if you have any more questions or concerns.
Health Nurse
Hi, and thanks for your question
This can definitely be normal. Some people have bigger more palpable (able to be felt) lymph nodes very close to the surface of the body, especially if a person is on the thinner side. Others are naturally smaller and a bit deeper down and less easy to feel. The fact that they are not causing you any pain is a good thing.
Of course we also do recommend regular testing for STIs including chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV for all sexually active individuals regardless of whether there may be symptoms or not as many STIs don’t have any symptoms at all.
Have a look at our Clinic Finder to locate a clinic near you for testing
Let us know if this does not answer your question or if you have any more questions or concerns.
Health Nurse
Hi, and thanks for your question.
These symptoms could be related to any number of things ranging from viral or bacterial infections all the way to stress, fatigue and anxiety. However, they are not symptoms of any STI. If you are concerned about an STI from the encounter 4 months ago or any other sexual encounter we would recommend seeing a care provider for testing.
Have a look at our Clinic Finder to help locate a clinic for STI testing near you
Let us know if this does not answer your question or if you have any more questions or concerns.
Health Nurse
Hi, and thanks for your question.
The window period (the time between when a person comes in contact with a sexually transmitted infection (STI) and when the STI will show up on a test) for HIV and for syphilis is 3 months. In fact, 95% of HIV tests are accurate after just 6 weeks but it can take up to 3 months for the final result. It sounds like you have tested several times after this 3 month window period, which means that your tests will be accurate and that you are negative for both HIV and syphilis and it is not necessary for you to get tested again.
The symptoms you describe do not sound specific to either infection. It does sound like you are feeling quite anxious and it might be helpful for you to see a counsellor to talk about the anxiety you are feeling about this sexual encounter and the fear of possibly acquiring HIV or another STI.
Let us know if this does not answer your question or if you have any more questions or concerns.
Health Nurse
Hi, thanks for your question. Yes, you can get tested now and any test results would be considered accurate now as the incubation times ( time when able to be detected e.g. 2-6 weeks for chlamydia) for various sexually transmitted infections including HIV have been covered by 3 months. You can find an STI testing clinic at https://smartsexresource.com/get-tested/clinic-finder
Let us know if this does not answer your question or if you have any more questions or concerns. Health Nurse