Your question suggests you have a basic misunderstanding about HIV transmission. Infection requires lots of virus to have access to certain kinds of cells that typically are deep inside the body or at least under the upper layers of skin. Even ejaculation in the vagina, with billions of HIV deposited and retained for hours, the woman has only one chance in a thousand of catching HIV. Simple surface contact of infected fluids -- blood, semen, vaginal fluid, etc -- carries no known risk. That includes the inner surface of the foreskin. (Am uncircumcised man having insertive vaginal or anal sex with an infected person, with several minutes of exposure of the inner surface of the foreskin, also has roughly one chance in a thousand of being infected.) For the same reasons there has never been a proved case of HIV transmitted by hand-genital contact, even when genital fluids are used for lubrication.

It's important to be careful in interpreting individual research papers. The results of the one you read do not necessarily imply high risk of virus transmission from brief superficial contact.

All in all, this was a zero risk exposure, even if your partner has untreated HIV-- which probably he does not. (Did you ask about his HIV status? Of course that should be routine for any and all new sexual exposures between men!) I definitely would not advise PEP and see no need for testing on account of this event. Of course if you are otherwise sexually active with other men, you need to be tested for HIV from time to time; if not tested recently, perhaps this is a good time, while it's on your mind. But not because of this event.

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

HHH, MD

I agree 100% with your bold-type statements. As for your clinic's comment, remember that clinics deal with infected people, not people who stayed uninfected despite possible risks. It is true that your activities might not be totally risk free in theory. But what does "theory" mean if there are no proved cases of HIV transmitted by hand-genital contact? In the 40 years of the world wide HIV/AIDS epidemic, not a single case. Can it occur? Maybe. But what are the odds you'll be the first known case? From a partner you don't even know has HIV?

Truly, you should not be at all worried. As noted above, feel free to be tested if you need the negative results to move on. But if I were in your situation, I certainly wouldn't do it.