Important note: Information in this Q&A was accurate in 2007. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date. Chances of gonorrhea and HIV coinfection?
I'm a heterosexual male, and about 12 days ago, I had a unprotected sex with a female sex worker in Shanghai. I started out by having a condom, but I took it off (I was under the influence of alcohol...stupid I know) and the unprotected sex lasted about 10-15 minutes. On the 8th day after the encounter, I was diagnosed with gonorrhea. I haven't taken an HIV test yet, since I understand that I have to wait at least 3-4 weeks for any remotely reassuring HIV tests to come back...and this waiting is driving me insane. My question is, assuming the female sex worker was HIV+, what are my chances of contracting HIV if I have also gotten gonorrhea from her?
I haven't had any partners since that encounter. I haven't had a sore throat per se, but I do have trouble swallowing (like there's something stuck in my trachea or esophagus...not sure which one it is), and I do have a slight cough (more along the lines of constant throat clearing of mild mucous than a full blown cough).
I'm scared to death here as I've read that HIV, in the presence of other STDs, dramatically increases your chances of contracting HIV, and also that the HIV epidemic is increasing here in China. I can only pray that I don't have HIV at the 3 month mark...
Ross Slotten, M.D.
Klein and Slotten Medical Associates
Private Practice in Family Medicine
With a special interest in HIV disease
I understand your concerns, and it's impossible to reassure you that you somehow did not also get infected with HIV. It's true that the risk of HIV transmission increases with other coinfections, like gonorrhea, syphilis and herpes. However, the so-called ulcer-causing diseases (syphilis and herpes) are more associated with HIV transmission than gonorrhea. Odds are in your favor; but you won't really know until you've had your HIV test.
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