I’m just wondering why there is so many mixed opinions online on what can and what can’t spread. 

Indeed there is a lot of conflicting information online about saliva and STI transmission. However, you won't find as much debate or disagreement if you limit searching to professionally run sites (like medical centers and public health agencies) or professionally moderated sites, like this one. The greatest online sources of misinformation and uncertainty are sites run by and for people with STIs or HIV, or at risk for them -- like Reddit, for example. The fact is that even the busiest public health sexual health/STI/HIV clinics never see infected patients whose only possible exposure was hand-genital contact or other exposures with saliva contact. Even oral sex is quite safe, with far lower STI risks than unprotected vaginal or anal sex. And "airborne" transmission of STIs doesn't happen at all -- in fact, I'm not aware of even any online disagreement about that:  I don't think I've ever seen a website or online statement that said STIs can be passed through the air or by coughing, sneezing, etc.

The bottom line is that hand-genital contact has never been known to transmit HIV or any STI, even when genital fluids are used for lubrication, and certainly not with saliva. Saliva kills or inhibits HIV and other STI germs; and in any case, not enough germs can be carried over to transmit infection. You should not be worried at all and do not need testing for anything.

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

HHH, MD