[Question #11108] Fingering and skin conditions

17 months ago

I performed vaginal and anal fingering on sex workers. There is a hard and large callus near my finger. My cuticle is somewhat damaged and lifted, resembling a “hangnail” but harder and much larger (about 1 cm in width). The skin around my fingernails is very dry. I don't feel any severe discomfort in my fingers, except that they feel very dry and hard. I guess it’s due to my writing posture, but I am not sure.

During the fingering, the condition mentioned above was present. There was also some redness, possibly my blood, on and around the 'callus'. However, I don't recall my finger bleeding during the fingering.

Do I need to worry about HIV?

Do you know of any conditions (such as skin conditions, infections, etc.) on fingers that can increase the HIV risk during fingering?

17 months ago

I would like to add that I am not entirely sure what the hard piece of skin near my fingernails is, but it looks to me like big calluses and/or corns.

17 months ago

Sorry, I would like to add some more information: After observing carefully a few minutes ago, I've found that many of my fingers have calluses, corns, and hangnails; most are small. However, on one of my fingers, there are large and hard calluses and corns with some redness, which could be my blood, as I initially described.

17 months ago

I apologize for posting again. I can see redness (which might be my blood) near many of my fingernails, but I don't recall any of my fingers bleeding when I was fingering the sex workers.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

17 months ago

Welcome to our forum. Thank you for your questions and for your implied confidence in our service. I’ll be glad to comment.

The activities you describe fall into the general category of masturbation which includes use of one’s fingers stimulate a sexual partner in the genital area or elsewhere, rubbing one’s body on another person’s body with their genitals, or other forms of hand to genital contact.. There is widespread agreement, amongst experts in the field, the world health organization, and the US Centers for Disease Control that masturbation is a no risk activity in terms of risk for acquisition of virtually all sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. This is true even when, in the course of masturbation, persons get their partner’s genital secretions on themselves in the course of masturbation. This is also true, even when there are calluses, cuts, scrapes, or hangnail present.

In persons whose only exposure is masturbation there is no medical or scientific reason for testing for HIV or other STI’s. I hope this information is helpful to you. Based on your description of your activities, I would not worry and I encourage you to move forward without concern and without testing. EWH.

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16 months ago

Thank you very much for your help. My only experience has been mutual masturbation with multiple sex workers.

I've just realized that the calluses and/or corns on my fingers are actually much larger than 1 cm. I've ignored them because they haven't impacted my daily life, except for causing some discomfort. Does this change your assessment?

What if they are some kind of warts?

From your reply, I deduce the following summary:

Engaging in mutual masturbation with sex workers, even with the presence of large calluses, cuts, abrasions, and other skin issues on any parts of my hands (fingers, palms, backs of the hands, etc.), which rub against the sex workers' genital areas (including the clitorises) and anuses, enter their vaginas and anuses, and come into contact with genital fluids and blood, poses no risk of HIV transmission. Therefore, there is no need for HIV testing.

Am I correct? I think so, but I just want to confirm for reassurance.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

16 months ago

The size of calluses is irrelevant to risk. What you describe really dose not sound like warts. Even if they are, the types of HPV viruses which cause warts on the hands and feet are different from those that cause genital warts and do not infect genital sites. If you are concerned that these lesions are warts, I would suggest you see a dermatologist. I would not worry however that they have ANY relation ship to sexual activity of STI/HIV risk.

Your restatement of my statement above is correct

EWH

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16 months ago

Thank you, Dr. Hook! I will consider seeing a dermatologist.

However, even if they are warts, is my risk of HIV transmission through performing vaginal and anal fingering on sex workers with these warts on my fingers still considered zero?

Edward W. Hook M.D.

16 months ago

We provide up to three responses to each client's questions. Therefore this thread will be closed shortly after this response.

For all of the reasons mentioned above, even if the lesions you describe are warts, there is no risk. Please don't worry. EWH

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