HomeAnswersObstetrics and Gynecologyocd

How to overcome the fear of HIV due to OCD?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I suffer from OCD. My fear and my thoughts now are about HIV inflection. I know everything about HIV. I have done many tests to clear my fear and come back negative from my last exposure which was about four months ago. The problem is about my latest test. It was a home test kit. It was negative but when I read that the strip is percolated with recombinant antigens and proteins then my OCD increased. I started to fear that if I touch the membrane of my own test and spread these antigens in the house in everything. I fear that when I wash my hands after the test and touch the towel before I wash them these antigens stay on the towel. What if my mom uses it for her body and I was afraid that she could catch HIV from this. All doctors told me that these antigens are not contagious and it is not the virus. What is your opinion? My fear is about these recombinant antigens and proteins. Are these contagious?

Kindly help.
Answered by Dr. Obinna Ugwuoke

Education:

Fellowship in Obstetrics and Gynecology

Professional Bio:

Dr. Obinna Ugwuoke is a dedicated Medical Professional who achieved a Fellowship in Obstetrics and Gynecology from the West African College of Surgeons in 2022. With three years of clinical experience. He contributes his expertise to NAF Hospital in Lagos, Nigeria. Driven by passion and skill, he continues to make significant strides in women's healthcare.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Consult other doctors in the same speciality

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

The recombinant antigens are not contagious. They are not the real HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). Also, if it was HIV, it does not survive outside a host for long to be transmitted from surface or towel to an individual. So, neither you or your mother have been exposed to the virus by touching surfaces or using a towel in your house because:

1. The recombinant antigens are not contagious and they are not the actual virus.

2. Even if it was the actual virus, the virus does not survive outside a host for long, so can not be transmitted from the surface or towel at home.

I hope this information will help you.

Thanks.

Ignoring similar symptoms could be risky.Share your symptoms and get personalised medical advice.Response in < 4 hours·Verified physicians·100% confidential

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

Thank you for the reply.

My mom used the towel after three days. I understand all of these are from my fear and anxiety. I want to tell her to take PEP, but I think no doctor suggests this. I did not know about all of these, and when I read about antigens, I got scared and felt guilty that I did not wash my towel after I used them to avoid my mom or others using them.

Kindly help.

Answered by Dr. Obinna Ugwuoke

Education:

Fellowship in Obstetrics and Gynecology

Professional Bio:

Dr. Obinna Ugwuoke is a dedicated Medical Professional who achieved a Fellowship in Obstetrics and Gynecology from the West African College of Surgeons in 2022. With three years of clinical experience. He contributes his expertise to NAF Hospital in Lagos, Nigeria. Driven by passion and skill, he continues to make significant strides in women's healthcare.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Consult other doctors in the same speciality

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

There is no need for PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) for her. Even if there was HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) blood on the towel, there would still be no need for PEP as the virus would have been long-dead by the time the towel was used. So, your mother is fine and should not be given PEP, thereby exposing her to side effects from the drugs.

I hope this information will help you.

Thanks.

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

Thank you for the reply.

I feel calm right now because my OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) cannot make me clear. I can understand how impossible it is for antigens to leave the membrane and stay on my hands. The water on towels, even if they stay on them, makes them inactivated. Even if antigens are activated, they are not contagious.

Answered by Dr. Obinna Ugwuoke

Education:

Fellowship in Obstetrics and Gynecology

Professional Bio:

Dr. Obinna Ugwuoke is a dedicated Medical Professional who achieved a Fellowship in Obstetrics and Gynecology from the West African College of Surgeons in 2022. With three years of clinical experience. He contributes his expertise to NAF Hospital in Lagos, Nigeria. Driven by passion and skill, he continues to make significant strides in women's healthcare.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Consult other doctors in the same speciality

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

You are welcome.

I hope this information will help you.

Thanks.

Patient's Query

I want to ask you something more. I had relationship for some months with a guy was work at port police and he has graduate from port police university about 2 months before our relationship started. I know that there do them many blood test and sometimes hiv and hepatitis tests but i dont know how long before. The only sexual activity without condom we have was oral sex and 2 times ejaculate in my mouth. Generally i have healthy mouth. I think that is still low the possibility to catch hiv from him but my fear dont keep my mind free. I will go for hiv test when i can because I must travel to do it. I want to tell you more that now i am in a new relationship. My new boyfriend had done tests before and was negative so we start dont use condom about three months now. We have vaginal anal and oral sex. One time i had blood period a little while we have unprotected vaginal sex. He make now tests for hiv and hepatitis again because he donate blood and is negative again. How many possibilities that i have something from my previous exposure with the port police guy (oral sex with ejaculation in my mouth) of that but he dont catch it? I think is zero and i think i am negative too but my mind cant keep calm. Which is your opinion?
Answered by Dr. Obinna Ugwuoke

Education:

Fellowship in Obstetrics and Gynecology

Professional Bio:

Dr. Obinna Ugwuoke is a dedicated Medical Professional who achieved a Fellowship in Obstetrics and Gynecology from the West African College of Surgeons in 2022. With three years of clinical experience. He contributes his expertise to NAF Hospital in Lagos, Nigeria. Driven by passion and skill, he continues to make significant strides in women's healthcare.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Consult other doctors in the same speciality
Hi Although oral sex is also a route for transmission of HIV, the risk for you is negligible as your oral mucosa is healthy and the risk of your previous partner then having HIV is also negligible as the Academy screens for that. My personal opinion is that you don't have HIV infection because of the above reasons. Additionally, You can go for HIV test to settle your mind. But, for now, enjoy your life, free your mind and live happy because you are free from HIV infection.

Patient's Query

I am here to tell you that all my tests are negative and now i am in a relationship healthy and i hope will engaged in a little time. My only problem is my fear for hiv. Everything i touch or do fear about it and i have scratched hands from washing them every time. Yesterday I was sitting next to my cousin and we were both wearing shorts. when after five minutes I went to the bathroom after taking off my underwear, I saw some vaginal fluid on my thigh the size of rice and with the logic that it is from my underwear, I wiped it with the bottom of my finger and washed it straight away. On the same finger, a nail had bled a few minutes before. Since my logic was telling me that the liquid was mine at the time I took off my underwear and of course it touched my thigh, then I started to worry and think that it might have been my cousin's somewhere on her and it touched me and got stuck all over I'm afraid because I also had the wound on the upper part of my finger, maybe if my cousin had HIV, there is a possibility of transmission. I know logically it would probably be my fluid but my ocd it's making scenarios again and even though I didn't see it touch the point of the wound, I can't get it out of my mind that it could have gone to my wound when I touched it and washed it. What is your advice and your opinion? Should I take PEP? Am I exaggerating right? I sorry for my fear thoughts again and again but i love your answers. Help me so much and thank you.
Answered by Dr. Obinna Ugwuoke

Education:

Fellowship in Obstetrics and Gynecology

Professional Bio:

Dr. Obinna Ugwuoke is a dedicated Medical Professional who achieved a Fellowship in Obstetrics and Gynecology from the West African College of Surgeons in 2022. With three years of clinical experience. He contributes his expertise to NAF Hospital in Lagos, Nigeria. Driven by passion and skill, he continues to make significant strides in women's healthcare.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Consult other doctors in the same speciality
Hi. Lets assume it is from your cousin. Lets also assume she was HIV positive. That secretion you saw on your thigh would have been there for at least 5 minutes. The secretion is NOT BLOOD, so the quantity of HIV virus in it would have been very very low. Secretions with the virus have been on your thigh for at least 5 minutes, so the HIV would have died due to it been outside a host. So, there is absolutely no possibility of you getting HIV from that secretion. Also, the secretion is most likely yours. For the secretion to be from your cousin, it is most likely you guys have climb over each and had foreplay that would have increase vaginal secretions from her before part of it can slip to your thigh. So, you don't need to take PEP.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor, My last period was starting 24/12. Until now it hasn't come. Me and my husband have sex with pull out method many times. I do 4 pregnancy test the last 3 days and were all negative but 1 was digital clear blue and write pregnant 1-2 weeks. I was so happy but two tests before this and other two after this was negative. I read at sites that clear blue digital has many false positive tests the last months. All these tests i do in the last 3 days. 3 of them was negative and after 1 hour has a line but i think is evap line. I have many symptoms like cramps, headache, sometimes breast and back pain and from last Friday i feel like my period come but it didint come. I want to do a blood test but here is dificult because we must travel with boat to do it. Which is your opinion? Can the digital test be right and the others negatives wrong?
Answered by Dr. Obinna Ugwuoke

Education:

Fellowship in Obstetrics and Gynecology

Professional Bio:

Dr. Obinna Ugwuoke is a dedicated Medical Professional who achieved a Fellowship in Obstetrics and Gynecology from the West African College of Surgeons in 2022. With three years of clinical experience. He contributes his expertise to NAF Hospital in Lagos, Nigeria. Driven by passion and skill, he continues to make significant strides in women's healthcare.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Consult other doctors in the same speciality
Hi. Digital testing has a lot of false positive result. The main test would have been to do a blood test as this would actually show if you are pregnant or not. Since you cannot do a blood test, wait for a week and repeat the urine test. If it comes out negative, you would have to do a pelvic ultrasound scan to determine what is causing a delay in your period. Also, withdrawal (pull out) method has very high failure rate. This is because of the pre-ejaculate that is released before the ejaculation proper. This pre-ejaculate has viable sperm cells capable of causing pregnancy. So, my advice is for you to get a contraceptive that is suitable for you or use barrier method or study your cycle to determine safe and unsafe period. Sex should be avoided during unsafe period.
Medically reviewed by iCliniq medical review team
Published At May 6, 2024
Reviewed At May 6, 2024

Education:

Fellowship in Obstetrics and Gynecology

Professional Bio:

Dr. Obinna Ugwuoke is a dedicated Medical Professional who achieved a Fellowship in Obstetrics and Gynecology from the West African College of Surgeons in 2022. With three years of clinical experience. He contributes his expertise to NAF Hospital in Lagos, Nigeria. Driven by passion and skill, he continues to make significant strides in women's healthcare.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Consult other doctors in the same speciality

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

default Img
Dr. Obinna Ugwuoke

Obstetrics and Gynecology

Consult this doctor

Education:

Fellowship in Obstetrics and Gynecology

Professional Bio:

Dr. Obinna Ugwuoke is a dedicated Medical Professional who achieved a Fellowship in Obstetrics and Gynecology from the West African College of Surgeons in 2022. With three years of clinical experience. He contributes his expertise to NAF Hospital in Lagos, Nigeria. Driven by passion and skill, he continues to make significant strides in women's healthcare.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Consult other doctors in the same speciality
Listen to related tracks in our music library

Related Questions

Will HIV infection spread from contracting blood spilled on a surface?

Can OCD be cured?

HIV or AIDS and Other Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Geriatric Patients

Is OCD hereditary?

Does HIV infection transmit through vaginal fluid without any intercourse?

HIV Testing and Its Prevention

Comprehensive Second Opinion

Read answers about:

ocdhiv

Ask your health query to a doctor online

Obstetrics and Gynecology

*guaranteed answer within 4 hours

Disclaimer: No content published on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical diagnosis, advice or treatment by a trained physician. Seek advice from your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with questions you may have regarding your symptoms and medical condition for a complete medical diagnosis. Do not delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice because of something you have read on this website. Read our Editorial Process to know how we create content for health articles and queries.