I had a sexual encounter with a woman in Colombia where I received a handjob without a condom, then oral sex with a condom, followed by vaginal sex for about a minute, ending the session with oral sex. The same condom was used.

Afterwards, I ran the condom under the faucet to see if there was any leakage, glad to say there wasn’t any! I did notice some red spots on my penis after sex, they aren’t painful but a bit red. My questions for you all are the following: should I look into PEP while I am still here in Colombia? Am I okay to resume having sex with any other potential partners? And was this a generally safe sexual encounter?

I’ve read online that it is very difficult for a man to get HIV from a woman when condoms are used. Sometimes hearing from the professionals is reassuring… Thank you in advance.

In your first thread on the forum 15 months ago, we specifically discussed the absence of HIV/STI risk from hand-genital contact. Oral sex also is near zero risk for HIV and low risk for all STIs, even without a condom; with a condom oral sex is absolutely zero risk. It's also near zero for vaginal sex. All things considered, this was a very safe sexual exposure.

The notion of water testing condoms for leaks is nonsense. There is no such thing as such small defects that a water test might detect being a risk for HIV or anything else. If a condom doesn't break wide open, you can be sure protection was complete.

For those reasons, I certainly can confirm your closing statement about the effectiveness of condoms in preventing HIV. I would not advise testing for HIV or any other STI on account of the exposure described.

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

HHH, MD

Thank you for getting back to me so quickly. I thought I should also mention that I am not circumcised. My usual post-sex regiment is to clean off my genitals, try to urinate, and I pull my skin back to allow the head of my penis to “air out.” Is there any benefit to what I am doing? Specifically the latter?

Thank you for educating me on testing condoms. I will stop doing that. Wish you well.

It is natural and common for men to wash with soap and water, including under the foreskin, after sex. It can't hurt, although without vaginal, anal or oral exposure, it probably makes no difference in STD risk. I see no benefit in siply foreskin retraction to "air out", regardless of the type of exposure. Washing is likely far more important than air exposure.

One last follow up: what if you fall asleep with the condom on? Any issues there? We used two condoms as we ended up taking a break.

That completes two follow-up questions and replies and so ends this thread. I hope the discussion has been helpful. Take care and stay safe.