Expert: Kristen Brannock, MPH - 4/15/2009

Question
hi terry,
i'm from new zealand and recently visited india where i was involved in sexual intercourse with an indian woman(prostitute) whose hiv status is unknown, i made sure to use protection, she infact made me wear two condoms just in case......but i did some stuff during the foreplay which lasted for about 5 minutes that probably put me in a low to a medium risk  situation as far as i know......
1)i sucked on her nipple(don't think she was lactating)
2)i fingered her vagina a little(don't recall having any cuts of any sort at the time) unless it can go through the nails, but i did have some traditional indian dinner later on which involved eating with my hand(the one that i fingered her vagina with) but i did wash it with soap.
3)some vaginal fluid was spilt on my thighs and i did not wipe it off or wash it......i just threw my clothes on almost immediately.....i washed only when i got back to the hotel..........
i have been having symptoms ever since.......i had a sore throat 1 week post the possible exposure and now i'm having headaches and wheezing a month post the exposure which again on consultation was diagnosed to be a bacterial infection of the throat, i'm on medication for the throat infection now........
i got the hiv elisa test twice so far the last one being a month post exposure......
it would mean the world to me if you could assess my risk of exposure.....i'm scared to death man......and i don't know if i'm imagining things........pleeeeeeese reply as soon as possible.......

regards
john

Answer
1. This is not Terry...you must have sent your question to the wrong person.

2. What is your question exactly? You are doing what you need to do to know if you contracted HIV or not- getting tested.

3. Wearing 2 condoms is NOT safer than one. It is in fact, riskier because the friction between 2 latex condoms increases the likelihood that they will break.

From what I read, I think the only risk you put yourself in is having sex with a sex worker. Not touching her vagina etc.