[Question #12453] Hiv Risk

7 months ago

Hello, doctors.

I am a heterosexual man. I have had two relationships that had a similar occurrence.

1- I received unprotected oral sex and had vaginal sex with a condom with a woman. After sex, the condom seemed intact. I took the condom and there was nothing abnormal. I stretched the condom several times to the maximum, "playing" with it. But when I went to fill it with water, a small hole appeared approximately in the middle. I do not know if the hole was during sex or if it happened after I kept stretching it.

2- In the second case with another woman, I also received oral sex and had vaginal sex with a condom, but this time when I removed my penis, a small hole appeared, a very small hole that was about 3 or 4 cm from the condom reservoir.

Searching on the forum, I saw you mention that when the condom does not break completely, it can be assumed that it did its job and that small leaks would not pose any risks. Please note that there was never a complete rupture and both times my urethra was covered.

In these two cases, can I assume that I had protected sex or was there any risk and should I get tested for these two events? Thank you

Edward W. Hook M.D.

7 months ago

Welcome to our Forum. Thanks for your questions. Congratulations as well on your commitment to safe, condom-protected sex. I agree with you that if the tip of your penis was covered, you were almost certainly protected and would not worried.

At the same time, I must say that it is quite unusual for even small holes to appear in condoms that are not out of date. Are you sure that the condoms you used had not been stored in a heated area (heat can weaken condoms) or that they were not out of date? EWH

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7 months ago

In the first case, after intercourse, I stretched the condom as far as it would go several times. I don't know if that was the reason for the hole.

In the second case, yes, the condom had been in the car for several days.

As I said, in the first case the hole seemed to be in the middle of the condom, and in the second case the hole was a few centimeters from the tip.

I've read several similar topics about small leaks. I don't know if that would be a risk. I've read that when condoms don't break completely, it can be considered protected intercourse.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

7 months ago

As I said above, I think the encounters you describe, even when the condom problems are considered was low risk.

I also agree that stretching the condom in the way you describe may have led to creation of the small hole you noted.

Finally, heat is the enemy of latex and without a doubt can weaken condoms. I once had a patient who wondered why her condoms kept breaking until we realized that she kept them over the stove at home :). I suspect being in a hot car could have the same effect.

You have one follow-up remaining. EWH

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7 months ago

It could have been for the same reasons.

I read several posts on the forum that when the condom doesn't break completely it can be considered a protected relationship. The condoms didn't break. In the first case I had the condom in my hand for several minutes and only noticed the defect in the water test.

I saw some posts where you said that if the tip of the penis is covered there are no risks. Is the tip of the penis the urethra or the entire head of the penis? I have the foreskin.

Can I be unconcerned with the relationship between these two events? Or are these cases where you have to take the test?

Edward W. Hook M.D.

7 months ago

This is a repetitive follow-up. The following response will be my final response. You should not need to return to the Forum.

If the tip of the penis is covered, you are virtually completely protected against HIV as well as gonorrhea and chlamydia.

I would not be overly concerned about this encounter. Testing from time to time, while always a good idea, is not essential at this time.

This completes this thread. It will be closed now. EWH

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