What if the condom breaks?

Hello Dr. Randy! What do I do if the condom actually breaks once? (Bernd, 56 years)

First of all: I love to cruise. Even though I'm currently doing without it for corona reasons, I can hardly wait until the "cruising season" starts again for me.

I still have one question: What do I do if the condom should actually burst or tear at some point? I mean, I'm 65 years old and don't know the guys and can therefore not estimate how often they change their partners and how high the risk of infection is. Understandably, I'm especially worried about HIV infection.

My absolute horror is that I have to endure the uncertainty. When would I be able to take an HIV test? Where would I have to go? To the doctor?

Kind regards Bernd

Dear Bernd,

First of all, you are of course not alone with your worries. There are many gay men who ask themselves the famous: "What if?" question. And indeed: even if the condom is one of the safest contraceptive devices (if it is used correctly), it can of course happen that the rubber tears.

The good news is, however, that you can still reduce your personal risk of contracting HIV afterwards. This is where so-called "PEPs" come into play. These are HIV medications that are intended to prevent infection after the fact.

To achieve the safest possible effect, it is important to start taking the drug as soon as possible after sex. Experts advise not to let more than 48 hours pass. After that, the probability that a possible infection can be prevented decreases significantly.

Especially when cruising, the risk of contracting HIV is greater than when having sex in a committed relationship. If your rubber breaks during sex with your partner, it would make sense to weigh the individual risk. Of course, the situation is completely different when having sex with a complete stranger. Here you do not know - as you wrote yourself - whether he is possibly HIV-positive.

Of course, you do not have to decide alone whether it makes sense to start PEP treatment or not. Because: before taking the tablets, you need a consultation with a doctor. (On the Internet, you can find lists of practices or outpatient clinics that specialize in PEP, among other things). If you are unsure, you can also contact the AIDS help centers.

However, please keep in mind that PEPs are not a kind of "free ride". In other words, just because you don't feel like having sex with a condom, it doesn't mean that you should just skip the condom and rely on the effect of PEPs. These are medications that are taken over a period of four weeks and can also be associated with side effects.

To answer your question, I can provide you with the following "step-by-step" guide to get you started:

1. Keep calm (even if it is difficult)
2. Contact a doctor or a specialized practice as soon as possible (you can find the phone numbers on the Internet).
3. Get advice and weigh the individual risk in the process
4. If necessary, start taking PEP medication.

After medication, it is also a good idea - to be on the safe side - to make an appointment for an HIV test.

Kind regards
Dr. Randy

 

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