[Question #12228] Small cut on thumb

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9 months ago
I had an encounter with a massage parlour. Woman was 24 years old. 
I had a very small cut on my right thumb which happened 4 days before the encounter so the cut was partially healed. Absolutely no blood visible nor did I need a band-aid. 
She gave me a naked body slide and I fingered her slightly with my right middle and index fingers. I later then touched my own penis (masturbated) a couple of minutes after fingering her. I am concerned that vaginal fluid may have contacted the small cut on my thumb or potentially went into my penis hole to which it could infect me with HIV 

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Edward W. Hook M.D.
9 months ago
Welcome to our forum. Thank you for your questions. I’ll be glad to comment. The encounter you described was a no risk event. There is no risk for acquisition of HIV or STI from body rubs, or masturbation when a partner’s genital secretions get onto you. That is true, even if you have cuts and abrasions, which are in contact with genital secretions. This would be the case whether the cut that you describe had blood or not and irrespective of whether it was recent or four days old. 

Similarly, the fact that some of her general secretions may have been close to, or even on the entrance to your urethra does not change this assessment. There is no reason for concern. There is no need for testing.

I hope this information is helpful to you. EWH.
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9 months ago
Thank you for your prompt response. Could you elaborate on why there is no risk from this description? I've read that cuts can be an entry point for HIV. Although I've also read that the virus dies quickly when exposed to air and direct contact would need to occur. I did get tested 14 days after. Typically how accurate are blood tests drawn from vein and sent off to a lab. I'm in Australia 
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
9 months ago
I presume that what you mean by "I have read" is that you looked on the internet.  Much of what is found on the internet is misleading and incorrect, either because it is out of date, taken out of context, exaggerated, or just plain wrong.  Years ago there was concern that persons with FRESH curs which were contaminated with blood or genital secretions from a person with untreated HIV might acquire HIV in that way.  This method os acquistion of HIV has proven to be almost non-existent.  The blood vessels in cuts seal of within minutes when the bleeding stops, the flow of blood is  OUTWARD, not inward which would be needed to introduce infection material into the blood stream.  I have never seen nor heard of ax exposed person with a cut which was not bleeding who acquired HIV from the sort of exposure you describe.  

Laboratory is Australia are highly regulated and reliable.  

You are worrying entirely too much.  EWH
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