Took event prep but only an hour before and now worried I have HIV

[smallcocksissyboi]

A few weeks ago I hosted a gangbang in a popular London hotel. In my horny state I said in the ad that I would take any and all loads in me, but one of the tops asked me if I was on prep and I told him no. He convinced me to take a couple of prep pills of his before (and in the days after).

 

I proceeded to take multiple random loads that night with no idea as to the tops’ status. I did get nervous during the fucking as I hadn’t looked up how long it takes for event based prep to take effect and I probably only took the first pills about 30 mins before taking loads

 

I’ve since had really flu like symptoms (not covid) so really anxious that I’ve been pozzed. Any tips on whether it’s likely or whether the prep I took was likely to have not worked?

[BootmanLA]

No one's going to be able to answer this with anything more definitive than "maybe".

Event-based PrEP may not reach its full protection capabilities unless it's taken between 2 and 12 hours before the first sex or if you don't take the additional doses on the subsequent days. That doesn't mean you definitely would get pozzed, for several reasons:

1. It's possible that none of the tops had HIV (even in large cities, a majority of gay men are not poz). 

2. It's possible that any poz tops among them were undetectable (which is the case for the vast majority of poz men).

3. Even when a top is poz AND detectable, there's no guarantee one load from him is going to infect any particular bottom.

An HIV antigen/antibody test MAY detect HIV infection as soon as 18 days after infection, but such a test might produce a false negative for several weeks more. A nucleic acid test, which tests for the viral particles themselves, may detect a bit earlier, but this is usually only ordered when you have symptoms of infection but the antigen test read negative.

Note that at worst, the PrEP failed to protect you. It's not like PrEP taking too soon before sex made you MORE likely to get infected.

If you're really anxious about this, I would strongly advise you to avoid unprotected sex until you get a definitive answer from testing, and if you are negative (and want to remain negative), get on PrEP and follow the instructions (whether daily or event-based). You shouldn't start PrEP until you know for certain that you're negative (because taking PrEP while poz can lead to treatment being ineffective), and since you're worried about infection, you shouldn't risk unprotected sex until you can get on PrEP if you're negative.

[rawwhitebottom]

One thing you may not know is that PreP use came from that of PEP (post exposure prophylaxis) use first.

72 hours is considered the timeline to where if one was to rectally receive a poz load it would lead to infection if there were adequate amount of viable virus in the load.  That is why PEP is best when started as soon as possible after a possible exposure event.  And if considered a significant risk there would be three total medications one would be placed on for therapy.  Depending on where you are in the world and their standard of care practices. Here in the states it usually consisis of TRUVADA or DESCOVY so 2 nucleosides and one third agent usually an integrase inhibitor (raltegravir or dolutegravir) or protease inhibitor (daruniavir)   And usually given for 30 days.

So do not forget this is always an option if someone has too fun of an event without planning ahead.