[Question #12885] Massage with more than usual contact

4 months ago

Hello Experts,

I am a mostly healthy married male in my mid 40s in the US. A few times a year a go to massage parlors and get happy ending handjobs after the massage which I understand is a no-risk activity and you typically don't recommend testing.

However 8 days ago I decided to get a message and I then I got a little crazy and asked her to sit on my face (with panties on) while she did the happy ending handjob. I did not lick or touch her vagina or anus. My nose and potentially mouth did touch her panties.

I'm sure this isn't related but since a day after the massage I've been dealing with a horrible sinus and an ear infection with fever and headache, with dark green phlegm and mucous. I'm just mentioning this because I just wanted to; at least, describe that I wasn't feeling great after the massage. I have been working with my urgent care to help with this issue.

Would you recommend any STI testing? I'm assuming this is a no-risk thing, but I didn't see any similar questions in the forum. Am I ok to resume unprotected sex with my wife?

Thank you again,

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

4 months ago

Welcome to the forum. Thank you for your confidence in our services.

You describe an exposure with no measurable risk of HIV and exceeding low if any risk for other STIs. That your nose and mouth were in contact with your partner's underwear doesn't mean anything; indeed, it would not be significantly risky even if your nose and mouth had direct contact with her genitals or anal area.

Neither HIV nor other STIs cause sinus symptoms, earache, or mucus. Clearly you caught a cold. Symptoms of colds typically start within 5 days of exposure, so probably you caught it sometime after the massage events. (I would not have advised an urgent care visit for these symptoms. Most likely they told you it's a virus and there's no treatment likely to help much, except for the usual cold remedies like decongestants, cough medicines, and so on.) It probably would be a good idea to avoid sex with your wife to prevent giving her your rather nasty cold -- but there's no reason to avoid sex on account of your massage experiences.

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

HHH, MD

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4 months ago

Thank you Dr HHH,

It wasn't my intent to imply that the sinus symptoms were related to the encounter, but I was trying to give a picture of my current state of health.

I definitely had no intention on doing anything with my wife until this sinus and ear infection are both gone simply because of how unwell I feel, but it sounds like you are giving the green light after this has resolved. I went to an ENT this week and they gave me a 10-day supply of an antibiotic so I hope that works.

Thank you again,

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

4 months ago

Glad to know you understand the situation. Here's hoping the antibiotic helps the sinus symptoms. What antibiotic is it?---

4 months ago

Dr HHH,

When I originally went to urgent care I was given doxycycline. That gave me horrible nausea. So I called the urgent care and told them this and they switched me to azithromycin. 2 days later when I went to the ENT they told me to stop taking the azithromycin. The ENT then gave me the 10 day supply of sulfamethoxazole. So that is what I am on now. The ENT said that it could take up to 3 weeks to resolve. I still can't hear out of my right ear at all and still have quite a bit of pressure specifically on the right side of my head.

The mucous does seem to be getting lighter in color though; which seems like a good sign.

Hopefully I get relief soon. All this is quite uncomfortable.

Thank you for all that you do.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

4 months ago

We deal only in STDs, no other health problems -- therefore no comment about your sinus problem. Except that all three of the antibiotics you were prescribed often are used for sinusitis and usually are effective.

That concludes this thread. Best wishes and stay safe.

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