[Question #12689] HIV exposure is this a realistic exposure that needs testing

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6 months ago
Hello , I hope you’re well and thank you for this amazing service you offer 
I would like to ease some of my anxiety about this situation that has been eating away at me I don’t know if it’s really cause for anxiety or no : 
I’m a women based in France and I have had a sexual encounter with a man with rubbing of genitalia without any clothes maybe his tip rubbed the entrance I’m not sure in the heat of the moment, gave him a handjob he finished on me and some got on the outside of the vagina, inner labia and maybe in the opening I don’t know, several hours later I must have missed a spot while cleaning I noticed semen in my underwear could some got inside of me and get me exposed is this an exposure worth testing or it’s 0 risk ?
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
6 months ago
Welcome to the forum. I'm happy to help.

You really should not be worried about HIV or other STIs in this situation. In theory, genital-genital contact (without penetration) can transmit STIs, especially those transmitted primarily by skin-to-skin contact (like herpes, HPV and syphilis), with no risk for those transmitted primarily in genital fluids (e.g. chlamydia, gonorrhea and HIV). However, even for the skin-skin infection, actual risk is extremely low, probably zero for all practical purposes. In my 50 years in the STI business, I've never seen a patient who acquired any STI from such an exposure. And hand-genital contact also is entirely risk free, even when genital fluids are used for lubrication.

For these reasons, from a medical or risk perspective there is no need to be tested. On the other hand, many anxious persons feel more secure after negative testing than from professional opinion, even highly expert opinion. If so, you are free to be tested. In that case, consider a urine or vaginal swab test for gonorrhea and chlamydia, which is valid any time more than 4-5 days after exposure; and syphilis and HIV blood tests in a few weeks. If you do this, stay relaxed until testing  is done:  almost certainly all tests would be negative. (Alternatively, if both you and he were tested now with negative results, you both would know there was no risk for either of you.)

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

HHH, MD
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6 months ago
Thank your doctor for your quick reply 
I know I’m probably over reacting and do believe that I have anxiety related to hiv.
So I am mainly worried about that, would the interaction that i described not be considered as a fluid exchange as some sperm did get on my vagina and inner labia ( as I said I don’t know if some got inside as the ejaculation initially occurred by a handjob while on top of me  ), there was indeed no real penetration maybe his tip rubbed me. Would the exposure to sperm that way still be a considered as risk free for hiv 
Thank you very much doctor i apologise if i seem redundant.
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
6 months ago
There's never been a reported case of HIV in someone whose only known exposure was genital-genital contact without penetration. If it occurs, it is exceedingly rare. In addition, in the 21 years of this and our preceding forum, with thousands of questions from persons worried about HIV from a sexual exposure, nobody has yet told us they eventually tested positive. You won't be the first! If and when it finally happens, surely it will be from a typical high risk exposure (think unprotected anal sex between two men) and not a near-zero risk event like yours.

Please try not to worry. And don't overreact to regret over a sexual experience and decision and HIV risk from that event. They aren't the same!
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5 months ago
Hello , hope you’re well you thank you for your previous answer as it helped me greatly in easing my anxiety, I am still with the same partner but we have condom protected sex now (no oral or any unprotected activity ) we had sex maybe 4-5 times and I don’t think the condom broke we have discussed testing he says he got tested a few months back and had no unsafe sex since than and plans to get tested again to ease any worry I might have. 
Would the sex we are having now be considered 100% safe sex ( mainly for hiv) 
Would it be noticeable for me if the condom broke during intercourse 
I have a pimple that appeared on my butt would that be completely unrelated to any hiv exposure 
Thank you very much and i apologise again .
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
5 months ago
Given your partner's sexual history and your own, the chance he has HIV is extremely low. However, the only way to be completely certain is for him to be tested.  Many couples seek mutual HIV/STI testing early in a new relationship. Consider a respectful, sensitive conversation with him, perhaps proposing you both be tested for HIV. Maybe you would learn he is just as concerned about your possible risks as you are for his. And if tested for HIV, why not other common STIs as well (gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis).

We're experts in STIs and HIV, not all aspects of human sexuality. I'm not aware of any data on how often people notice condom breakage, but in my experience, most people notice it immediately. However, probably there are exceptions, especially for the receptive (vaginal or anal) partner.

Pimples are not associated either with HIV infection or increased risk of becoming infected.

That completes the two follow-up comments and replies included with each question and so ends this thread. Thanks for the thanks -- I'm glad to have helped. Best wishes, stay safe, and try to lower your concerns about HIV. You are at very little if any risk for it. Best wishes and stay safe.
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