If nine months have passed since a high-risk sexual encounter and a blood test for HIV antibodies is negative, HIV infection can be completely ruled out. You are currently a healthy individual; there is absolutely no need for further worry or anxiety.

In reality, however, a significant number of people remain trapped in "AIDS phobia" (HIV phobia). At the slightest physical symptom, they fear they may have been infected. Consequently, after high-risk behavior, some individuals go to the hospital for testing every week or every two to three weeks. Like the original poster, some continue testing for nine months or even a year. A small number of individuals fall into a state of extreme anxiety, becoming true sufferers of AIDS phobia. This involves psychological issues and requires the intervention of a psychiatrist, along with the individual's active participation in developing a correct cognitive understanding, to help them escape this predicament.

HIV infection has a critical period known as the window period. This refers to the interval from the time of high-risk exposure until HIV antibodies can be detected; this is the period that causes fear for many people. In reality, with current testing methods, the window period for third-generation HIV antibody tests is four weeks. Fourth-generation HIV testing methods, which detect both HIV antibodies and the p24 antigen, require only three weeks. Once you understand this, there is no need to be so worried.