[Question #10277] Anal Frottage/Rubbing

24 months ago

Hi Doctor, I am a male, and this was with another male. There was no oral, we had mutual masturbation and kissed. I know there is 0 HIV risk there. However, what concerns is the following: he asked me to bend over and started playing with my butt/anus area, I know he rubbed his penis around the outside area of the butt, and touched my anus/sphincter area with his finger which may have had Pre-cum on it. I’m not sure, but I believe he may have rubbed his penis against my anus as well. This would have been very momentarily. There was no penetration, I can guarantee that. But he had slightly stretched out my anus by pulling apart my butt cheeks, could his pre-cum have touched my sphincter area (now slightly spread out) with his penis so the pre-cum could be in contact with mucosa membrane? There was No penetration or dipping, it would strictly be momentary contact with my spread out sphincter area, which I guess would reveal more of the anus but definitely not penetration (I would know as this would take some effort). I am about 36 hours from the encounter. PEP is still an option I think. Otherwise I was thinking of testing around the 10 day mark with a PCR RNA test.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

24 months ago

Welcome back to the forum. Thank you for your continued confidence in our services.

However, I'm not sure why you're here. It should be clear from our replies to your previous questions what sorts of sexual practices do and do not risk HIV transmission. The bottom line is that for sex between male partners, only penile-anal penetration carries significant risk; and that risk is nearly completely eliminated by properly used condoms, assuming no overt condom breakage. As discussed previously, it seems you over interpret potential risks that you find discussed online, probably mostly on non professional or professionally moderated websites. Even with unprotected anal sex with ejaculation in the rectum, with a known infected insertive (top) partner, typically under one in 100 exposures result in transmission of the virus. Logically, then, what can the risk possibly be with the very minor amounts of secretions involved in the kinds of exposure you ask about here?

Even if your partner had HIV -- which, as discussed before, you could have discussed with him before the event and certainly afterward -- this was a zero risk event for all practical purposes. I certainly would not advise PEP, and I doubt any other responsible expert would recommend it. I don't even advise HIV testing on account of this event. Given the details of this and the previous exposures described, I would suggest you not be tested for HIV after every sexual event, but instead get tested on a regular basis such as once a year. Even that would be mostly for the reassurance you will gain from the negative results, and not because of any real risk of infection.

I hope these comments are helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear.

HHH, MD

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23 months ago

Hi Doctor. Just a general quick question. Does fingering, so someone fingering my anus for example, have any risk of STDs? I believe it’s 0 for HIV. How about Hep c? I often get haemorrhoids so bleeding could occur, what if the other person also has a hang nail or minor cut on their finger?

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

23 months ago

Fingering is not known to transmit HIV or other STDs. In theory, any blood contact could elevate the chance of blood borne infections like HIV and hepatitis B and C. However, in the circumstance you describe, any elevated risk (if any) would be for the fingering partner in the event of contact with your blood, if you are infected. Having hemorrhoids or other rectal bleeding doesn't elevate the risk of catching any infection, only maybe for transmitting it. Even in this circumstance -- if you anally finger your partners -- there is little if any real risk. Choose your partners wisely, use condoms for anal sex, be vaccinated against hepatitis B, and consider PEP or PrEP in your sexual practices with other men -- and you will be close to 100% protected for life!---

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

23 months ago

Looking back at your posting history, I am reminded that this was your fourth question in 7 months about HIV/STD risks in your sexual activities with other men, plus follow-up questions like this one. It should now be entirely clear what is a risk (primarily unprotected anal or oral sex) and what is not (contact without penetration, fingering, etc). If you have any further concerns along these lines, please go back and read the existing discussions. Excessively repeated questions on the same topic or exposure are not permitted, so this will have to be your last one on HIV/STD risks; future new questions along these lines may receive no reply and the posting fee will not be refunded. This policy is based on compassion, not criticism, and is intended to reduce temptations to keep paying for questions with obvious answers. In addition, experience shows that continued answers tend to prolong users' anxieties rather than reducing them. Finally, such questions have little educational value for other users, one of the forum's main purposes. Thanks for your understanding.

I do hope the discussions have been helpful. Best wishes and stay safe (as you have been doing!).

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