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 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, and thank you for your question.
Condoms, when used properly, can prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV. Even if a partner is HIV positive, with correct condom use the risk of acquiring HIV would be very low.
The best way to check if you have an infection is to get tested. We always recommend routine testing for STIs including chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV for all sexually active individuals
Let us know if this does not answer your question or if you have any more questions or concerns.
Health Nurse
Hi, and thank you for your question.
Condoms, when used properly, can prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV. Even if your partner was HIV positive, with correct condom use the risk of acquiring HIV would be very low.
Of course the best way to determine if you have an infection is to get tested. We recommend routine testing for STIs including chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV for all sexually active individuals.
Let us know if this does not answer your question or if you have any more questions or concerns.
Health Nurse
Hi, and thank you for your question
Condoms, when used properly, can prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV.
The symptoms you describe are not associated with an HIV infection. If you are concerned about any current symptoms or about STIs I would recommend seeing your doctor for assessment. And of course, we recommend routine testing for all STIs (including chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV, and syphilis) for all sexually active individuals.
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. It’s great that both you and your partner have been able to do HIV testing. Acne is not a symptom of HIV infection. At 12 weeks your negative HIV test is considered accurate and based on the information you provided, you do not have HIV. If you have symptoms that you are concerned about, please consider seeing a health care provider for an assessment for other causes. 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. It can be hard to tell if you have a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Many STIs do not always show symptoms. Often, people who pass an STI to a sexual partner do not know that they have an infection. The only way to know whether or not you have an STI is to get tested.
Symptoms of an STI may include:
Discharge from penis
Changes in vaginal discharge
Bumps, sores or a rash on the genital area (penis, vagina or anus)
Blood in the urine
Burning or unusual feeling when urinating
Pain in the pelvis or testicles
Pain during sexual activity and intercourse
If you or your sexual partners have any of these symptoms, it is important to see a health care provider. Getting tested for STIs is confidential, easy, and usually free. If you have symptoms or want to do testing, you can find an STI clinic near you by going to 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
Hi and thank you for your question.
Using condoms for vaginal and anal sex are a great way to lower your chances of getting a STD. The trick with condoms is that they have to be used from start to finish of the sexual encounter, and they have to be put on correctly. Also, condoms only protect the parts that are covered. That means, infections that are transmitted skin to skin are still possible even if using condoms – like herpes or genital warts.
Ideally, you would also use some kind of barrier or condom when having oral sex, as some STDs can be passed orally – for example gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis.
Though uncommon, some STDs can be passed through deep kissing. Herpes is one example.
Here are some resources that you may find helpful:
Chances with Oral Sex: https://smartsexresource.com/sites/default/files/Oral-Sex-Table-v3.png
Chances with Anal or Vaginal Sex: https://smartsexresource.com/sites/default/files/Anal-Vaginal-Sex-Table-v3.png
Chances with Other Kinds of Sex: https://smartsexresource.com/sites/default/files/Other-Sex-Table-v3.png
Assessing Risk: https://www.srhweek.ca/caring-for-yourself/sexually-transmissible-and-blood-borne-infections-stbbis/assessing-risk/
If you are sexually active, and have new or different partners, or your partners have new or different partners, it’s always a good idea to get tested regularly. Ideally this would happen any time you experience symptoms, or if you don’t have symptoms, test a couple of months after a new partner or risk – this would cover off any window periods (the time from infection to the time it can be picked up on a test).
Hope this helps.
Health Nurse
Hi there and thanks for your question.
There are many factors that lead to HIV transmission and the different risks associated with getting HIV.
In order for HIV to be transmitted, you need to basically consider 3 conditions:
1) There has to be a person with body fluids (blood, semen, vaginal or rectal fluids, breast milk) containing good quantity and quality of HIV
2) An activity with another person (unprotected sex, sharing drug injection equipment, pregnancy or breastfeeding, occupational exposure)
3) An entry point in to the other person (rectum, vagina, mouth, vein, broken skin).
If any of these conditions are not present, HIV will not be transmitted. Even if HIV gets into the body, it will not necessarily result in infection.
This website has some great information on HIV and transmission: https://www.catie.ca/en/pif/fall-2011/exposure-infection-biology-hiv-transmission
The long and short of it is that based on what you have described, your risk is very very low…that said, if you are in doubt…getting tested is the best thing. Which is what you have done.
4th generation HIV tests are the really really good tests for detecting HIV early on. The main reason is that these tests look both for a part of the HIV virus itself, and your immune system response.
I am not sure where you are writing from, but in BC, 4th generation tests are the first line blood tests done on people who have a blood test for HIV.
These tests can usually pick up infection by about ~2-3 weeks (16-18 days) after an exposure. At 6 weeks, 99% of individuals infected with HIV will have detectable antibodies.
37-38 days after an exposure should be plenty enough time to pick up an infection if it were there.
I hope this answers your questions.
Health Nurse
Hi there and thanks for your question.
Based on what you have described, the likelihood of you getting HIV is very low.
That being said, if you are at all concerned you can go and get and HIV test to put your mind at ease. In BC, it is recommended that everyone (regardless of their risks) be tested for HIV at least once in their life. Any time you have a change in your health, or you are worried about a risk you may have had (sexual or as you have described here), that is another indication for testing.
In order for HIV to be transmitted, three conditions need to be present:
1) A person has to have body fluids (semen, blood, breast milk, vaginal or rectal fluids) that contain a good quantity and quality of HIV
2) There has to be an activity with another person ( unprotected sex, preganancy and delivery, sharing injection equipment, occupation exposure)
3) An entry point in to the other person (rectum, vagina, mouth, vein, broken skin)
If any of these conditions are not present, HIV will not be transmitted. Even if HIV gets into the body, it will not necessarily result in infection.
This is also explained in the Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange (CATIE) website: https://www.catie.ca/en/pif/fall-2011/exposure-infection-biology-hiv-transmission
I hope that this helps.
Health Nurse
Any time you have sexual contact with a new partner and/or a partner whose STI status you do not know, you may be at risk of catching an STI. It’s always a good idea to be tested for STIs like gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, and HIV whether you have symptoms or not. If you have symptoms, you should be seen right away by a health care provider so that they can order the appropriate tests for you and especially from the appropriate sites.
Hope this helps.
HealthNurse
