2012-04-07, 01:22 PM
Jesus without airing my dirty laundry and recounting the ENTIRE EXPERIENCE for all of you to read I'll just say it was more in line with what Jared said than other freakouts. I appreciate your concerns and am glad you're voicing them, but please don't worry - of all people I'm the last person you should be nervous about, given I'm the one actively studying how the damn virus replicates and kills people. I KNOW the risks and everything associated with them, and quite honestly wouldn't have even gone for testing out of uncertainty had something else not happened down the line.
Everyone please wrap it up and practice safe sex. That's still what I vocally advocate for and will forever, but the circumstances of this encounter were enough so to make me want to get checked, even though it was still relatively safe. I was 80% certain I was fine, but like I say, uncertainty is best met with facts.
P.S. HIV tests aren't just a gay man's requirement. While the disease is prevalent in 1 in 3 to 1 in 2 of us, it's something anyone sexually active in the 18-26 range should have checked yearly, along with a full STI screening, per the recommendation of the CDC. The only difference between sexual orientations is in HIV testing, where it's every 6 months for that age range for MSM (men who have sex with men).
Alright, sexuality lesson aside, let's get back to the thread please.
Everyone please wrap it up and practice safe sex. That's still what I vocally advocate for and will forever, but the circumstances of this encounter were enough so to make me want to get checked, even though it was still relatively safe. I was 80% certain I was fine, but like I say, uncertainty is best met with facts.
P.S. HIV tests aren't just a gay man's requirement. While the disease is prevalent in 1 in 3 to 1 in 2 of us, it's something anyone sexually active in the 18-26 range should have checked yearly, along with a full STI screening, per the recommendation of the CDC. The only difference between sexual orientations is in HIV testing, where it's every 6 months for that age range for MSM (men who have sex with men).
Alright, sexuality lesson aside, let's get back to the thread please.