[Question #11060] Irritation from cleansers
17 months ago
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I had unprotected oral sex and protected vaginal sex with a sex worker. She assisted me in washing my genital area with a body wash, which could have been a different product, like hand wash or shampoo. The body wash (or whatever the cleanser was) irritated my penis and urethral opening and caused pain. Despite this, I engaged in the sexual activities anyway. I could still feel the pain after the sexual activities.
My questions are:
1. Does the irritation from the body wash or other products on my urethral opening and penis increase my risk of contracting HIV and STIs during vaginal sex and unprotected oral sex?
2. I understand that this is a very low-risk situation and do not plan to get tested for HIV. Would you agree with this decision?
If anything above is unclear, please let me know.
17 months ago
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I would like to add some details. I have some teeth that have been treated with root canal therapy, and a few of them have dental crowns. Would these details increase my risk of HIV infection from performing oral sex on the sex worker?
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
17 months ago
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Welcome to our forum. Thanks for your questions. Congratulations on your approach to safe sex. It will be too much too. Keep you healthy. Before I dress your specific questions. Let me remind you that most commercial sex workers do not have TII including HIV, and, even when infected, most single exposures, do not result in infection. as far as the specific questions you ask:
1. Soaps, body washes are antibacterial, and as a result, while they can be irritating, I would not anticipate any increase in risk for STI or HIV related to the irritation you mentioned.
2. Given the specifics of your situation, I would have no concerns about HIV. While testing is always a personal decision, I would not feel the need.
As I mentioned to many other clients, dental work and root canals in no way change your risk for acquisition of HIV or other STI’s
Bottom line I would not have meaningful concerns regarding the exposure you describe. I hope this assessment is helpful. EWH.
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17 months ago
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Thank you, Dr. Hook. I have a follow-up question. Generally, are there any risks of HIV transmission if, while performing oral sex on sex workers, their genital fluids and blood enter my eyes? Do you know of any such cases?
Forgive me if this sounds strange, but I have relatively long hair, and I worry that it may have come into contact with the genital fluids and blood, and then entered my eyes. Or, what if the genital fluids and blood dropped into my eyes when she was riding on my face?
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
17 months ago
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I am aware of a very few cases (too few to really provide statistics for) that describe acquistion of HIV from performing cunnilingus on an HIV infected persons. The "official" estimate, which is just a guess, is less than once in every 10,000 exposures and this guesstimate may well be too high. I have never heard of HIV acquired from exposure to HIV infected sections or blood from the eyes. I would not be worried. I urge you not to. EWH---
17 months ago
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Thank you, Doctor. You mentioned, "Soaps, body washes are antibacterial, and as a result, while they can be irritating, I would not anticipate any increase in risk for STI or HIV related to the irritation you mentioned." Does this apply to other commonly used products like shampoos, conditioners, and shaving creams?
If my penis and urethral opening were irritated by any of these products (soaps, body washes, hand washes, shampoos, conditioners, shaving creams, etc.) and became painful, my risk for HIV would not increase, correct?
17 months ago
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I am not sure what products were used to wash my penis and urethral opening.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
17 months ago
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Sigh. I wouldn’t worry about which soaks or cleansers were used in the washing process. My response is unchanged.
In addition, because of this repetitive question, you have now exhausted your three follow ups, which we provide for each clients questions. This thread will be closed shortly without further answers. You need to relax and move forward. EWH.
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