[Question #12284] STI risk assessment

8 months ago

Hello experts,

I am a man in the Seattle area, married to a woman.

I have been curious though about coming to a gay bath house for a while, and I satisfied said curiosity tonight.

I did not want to have any contact, as I wanted to keep it safe for my and my wife's sake.

I however ended up having a guy masturbate me for a few seconds, potentially with same hand with fluids he was using on himself.

With another guy, I masturbated him and touched his testicles and buttocks, and kissed nipples. I rubbed my cock against his leg and waist area, his cock also rubbed same area (no penis contact). He ended up cunning for this frotting but not in my body, however, I felt some of his cum ended up in my hand which was in my penis, and maybe a couple drops may have ended up in my penis head. I am really worried it could have gotten into my urethra and be an STI risk.

My wife is unaware of this and we have regular unprotected sex. Is there any risk I may pass something onto my wife because of my experience above?

Should I take doxy to account for potential syphilis?

Is there any gonorrhea, chlamydia, hiv risk?

Should I stop unprotected sex until I test?

Edward W. Hook M.D.

8 months ago

Welcome to the Forum and thanks for your questions. I’ll be glad to comment. Masturbation, giving or receiving, is a no risk activity in terms of risk for HIV, gonorrhea, chlamydia or other STIs, even when participants get each other’s genital secretions on on another. Further, no STIs, including HIV, are transmitted through transfer of genital secretions on someone’s hands. Similarly, these infections are not transferred through kissing or non-penetrating rubbing.

Syphilis is transmitted through direct contact with infectious lesions. The likelihood that the activities you describe put you ar risk for syphilis are minuscule both because of the activities you describe and because syphilis is relatively rare.

I would not recommend doxycycline in this circumstance. Nor do I see a reason for testing or avoidance of unprotected sex with your wife. EWH

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8 months ago

Thanks Dr Hook,

I am really nervous as the man I masturbated with (they were a couple, but the one I think I have gotten semen on my hand and penis head) seemed to be having sex moments earlier, probably unprotected, so since I don't know him at all, I am considering him high risk / positive partner.

So, even supposing he was HIV+ untreated, and if the semen got into my glans / urethra directly from his eyaculation (ie it was not semen in someone's hand for a few seconds/minutes), would that still be no risk? I washed with soap and peed immediately in case that makes any difference.

Finally, can you elaborate a bit on to the biological reasons why, even if a "theoretical" risk, it doesn't really happen in practice? What makes this transmission method (fluid from hands or genital-genital) different than when said same fluids have contact with the same tissues, but instead during penetrative sex?

Edward W. Hook M.D.

8 months ago

Even if he had untreated HIV, transfer of genital secretions to another person on someone’s hands has never led to HIV transmission. You are not going to be the first.

Transmission requires DIRECT, not indirect contact. Even then, the majority of exposures to infected persons do not lead to transmission of infection

I think you are worrying entirely too much.

You have one follow up remaining. EWH

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8 months ago

I understand semen in hands will not make transmission viable, but is that the same situation if I got the semen in my penis head directly from his shooting? It was dark, but Indefinitely felt my fingers and penis head wet as he cummed and when I asked if he did he said yes. If semen got directly from there to my own penis, is that still "indirect" contact or would that be "direct" contact needed for transmission.

Finally, can you elaborate on why more direct contact such as in penetrative sex is needed?

Thanks!

Edward W. Hook M.D.

8 months ago

Sigh. Even if his ejaculate got directly on the head of your penis there is NO risk. Really!!

The infected secretions need the friction and mechanical action of penetrative sex for transmission to occur.

This thread is complete. There should be no need to return to the Forum regarding this episode. If you wish to hear the same message from someone else, see the excellent clinicians ar Seattle’s superb Sexual Health Clinic. EWH

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