Expert: Terry B - 8/2/2009

Question
QUESTION: if i used a very low quality condom when having sex with a prostitute but the condom did not burst, should i be worried about HIV????

i did hear popping 3 times but when i cummed , it was there inside the condom. also while having sex, i saw the condom .it was intact{i could not see any tear in it....}

ANSWER: Dear Worried:

Peace and Namaste.  An intact latex condom prevents HIV in fluids from passing through the membrane.  As such, it protects one or both partners from infection.  If the condom is of such low quality that blood, semen, or vaginal secretions can pass through it, it certainly lowers the degree of protection.   On the other hand, it appears that it does reduce (by your description) the amount of ejaculate (cum) to which your partner was exposed.
It is unclear whether it protected you from blood, vaginal secretions, or the semen of your partner.

It would seem, however, that it would reduce the amount of the fluids to which you were exposed.  I would say that you reduced - though perhaps not as much as you might have - the risk.

Be on the safe side, abstain AND get some condoms from a local testing center and learn your current HIV status, then return in 6 weeks and be tested again.  Most programmes offer condoms to those at risk of transmission.

Best to you and yours,

Terry

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: namaste. i have told you that it {condom} contained my stuff & i could not see any breaks in the condom. it was latex condom for sure. if it is impervious on the inside{because it reduces the woman's exposure to my fluid} how can it allow her vaginal secretions to get in????? and also in this case would a 6 week testing be conclusive????

Answer
Namaste again.  

I cannot evaluate what is a very low quality condom from your first email so was unclear as to whether latex or not.  Secondly, seeing your ejaculate in the condom doesn't guarantee that some didn't seep out - again, not clear what 'low quality' means in real life.  Bottom line is that if you were in contact with any of her vaginal secretions or blood - and oft the shaft of the penis is exposed even when a condom covers the tip - it places you at some risk.  

6 weeks for an antibody test wouldn't be conclusive, but at 6 weeks if you were infected it would probably be reactive and show positive.  Not "conclusive" but good indicator.  There are other tests - PCR and bDNA that can look for the virus or parts of it instead of the antibody - or p24 antigen testing.  Problem with p24 - cheapest of the alternative - is that it has as high as a 12% rate of false positives - alarming you needlessly.

I hope that helps.

Best to you and yours.

Terry