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How Effective Are Condoms Against HIV?

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Posted on Thu, 17 Jul 2014
Question: How effective are condoms against HIV? What are the statistics?

What are the statistics of Oral sex and HIV?

How conclusive is ELISA 4th gen DUO at 20 days?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Praveen Rodrigues (10 hours later)
Brief Answer:
93%; 0.04%; 30 days are the 3 values to your Quest

Detailed Answer:
Hi there.
There is no single study that throws light on this subject uniformly with a single value thrown up on....effectiveness of condoms.
One estimate of true condom effectiveness (protection) ranges from 60% to 96% with an average of 85% But the NIAID's criteria that differentiated between 'users' & 'non-users' of the condom in comparision..the rate was 79% This increased to 93% for those who 'always' stated they used a condom.

By the percentages of oral sex & HIV, if you mean transmission rates, this is significantly lower 0.04% albeit is a difficult one to ascertain clinically.

ELISA 4th Gen DUO is said to be conclusive anywhere between 4- 6 weeks...ie in about 30 days. So I am afraid, 20 days is touch & go. Please go in for a PCR test for mRNA.

Good Luck & Godspeed.
Dr Praveen Rodrigues MD
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Praveen Rodrigues (4 hours later)
Thank you doctor.

I will try to explain the whole situation now.

May 12, 13 and 25: I was in Brazil last month where I had sex with 4 prostitutes on dated mentioned. I always used condoms and checked after sex whether there is any breakage or not and found none. But gave women oral sex(Licked there vagina).
XXXXXXX 1: I had a dry, white coated and hairy tongue with dry throat. Visited a doctor, who gave me hexamedine oral spray.
XXXXXXX 3: I was concerned about the issue so I got tested for all STDs, used 4th Gen Duo test, they all came back negative (This test was done at 7 days and 20 days after the sex encounters)
XXXXXXX 10: My tongue issue didnt go away so I visited the doctor, he said its an allergic reaction and said its tonsillitis nothing to worry. and he gave me anti-histamin.
XXXXXXX 24: I had a swollen node exactly infront on my right ear with pain in it and swelling exactly below both the ear and between jawline, painless. I visited the doctor again and told him about the sex encounters, he got concerned but told me that its unlikely they are related, but gave me a shot of steroids to bring the swelling down.
I requested him to do all the tests again(6 weeks and 4 weeks after the encounter), awaiting results.
XXXXXXX 27: My throat is little choky in the back end, and I have slightly blocked naustrals like a cold/flu. The swelling in front of the ear is gone, no fever, no other pain, just a swelling below the ears.

My fear has affected my sleep, I have tremors in my whole body because of the anxiety. Can you please advise do I need to worry based on my symptoms and the timeline.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Praveen Rodrigues (19 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Chill Dude..All is well;put it past you & move on!

Detailed Answer:
Hi there...Chill dude..it is just anxiety. Wait for the results & if & when negative, drop me a line & sign off the entire issue.
However, if I were You, I wont go licking prostitutes' vaginas' & suggest you curb your instincts in preference to a "safety first" approach....you may have gotten away lightly this time but every day aint sunday....do take a rain check & evaluate your approach.
Best of Luck & Take care....Cheers!
Dr Praveen Rodrigues MD
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Praveen Rodrigues

Dermatologist

Practicing since :1993

Answered : 1193 Questions

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How Effective Are Condoms Against HIV?

Brief Answer: 93%; 0.04%; 30 days are the 3 values to your Quest Detailed Answer: Hi there. There is no single study that throws light on this subject uniformly with a single value thrown up on....effectiveness of condoms. One estimate of true condom effectiveness (protection) ranges from 60% to 96% with an average of 85% But the NIAID's criteria that differentiated between 'users' & 'non-users' of the condom in comparision..the rate was 79% This increased to 93% for those who 'always' stated they used a condom. By the percentages of oral sex & HIV, if you mean transmission rates, this is significantly lower 0.04% albeit is a difficult one to ascertain clinically. ELISA 4th Gen DUO is said to be conclusive anywhere between 4- 6 weeks...ie in about 30 days. So I am afraid, 20 days is touch & go. Please go in for a PCR test for mRNA. Good Luck & Godspeed. Dr Praveen Rodrigues MD