[Question #12947] Brief unprotected vaginal exposure
3 months ago
|
Female in 30s here with fully clean tested previous sexual history and 100% sure of no STDs. First sexual partner in long time with male in 30s with previous long term ex, 1 brief partner after and claims was tested (though no details of testing known). There was unprotected exposure in which the penis was just inserted without a condom into the vagina maybe 2-3 inches though not fully before taken out with this duration maybe 1-2 minutes max. After this, a condom was put on before any full penetration. What are the chances of any STD exposure and which STDS? Would you recommend taking any preventative measures after this exposure? And when would you recommend getting tested? Is there anything else that should be of concern? Thank you!
![]() |
Edward W. Hook M.D.
3 months ago
|
Welcome to the forum. Thanks for your questions. I’ll be glad to comment. The encounter you describe appears to be relatively low risk. Your partner stated that he had been tested and most people tell the truth. STI can be transmitted with partial penetration as you experienced, but that penetration was brief, and indeed, most single exposures, even with infected persons do not result in infection. This is not an exposure that I would recommend preventative treatment for.
Testing is always a personal choice. Despite your low risk, many of our clients find comfort in the additional information that a negative test provides. Testing for the most common STI‘s- gonorrhea, chlamydia and trichamonas will provide conclusive results anytime more than 3 to 5 days following your encounter. Other less common STIs such as syphilis and HIV will take six weeks for conclusive results and are substantially less likely than the other SDI I mentioned.
I hope this information is helpful. Personally I would not worry. EWH
---
3 months ago
|
Thank you Dr. Hook for the information and reassurance. How likely are other STDs like Hep A/B/C and HSV 1/2? And by low risk, would you say I can think of this incident as "virtually no risk" where I can just forget about it without worry and continue living as if I am STD free?
![]() |
Edward W. Hook M.D.
3 months ago
|
As a 30-year-old you should’ve been vaccinated against hepatitis B, which offers virtually complete protection. Hepatitis A and C. are not meaningful STI’s.
If your partner had general herpes and had lesions or asymptomatic shedding at the time of contact, you would be at very, very small less than one percent risk.
EWH
---
3 months ago
|
Thank you for the further information. In general, I am curious when you say "If your partner had general herpes and had lesions or asymptomatic shedding at the time of contact, you would be at very, very small less than one percent risk", is this for kissing or for penetration or for both? And is this the same despite the sexual risk of the partner?
![]() |
Edward W. Hook M.D.
3 months ago
|
I know that you have interacted with Terri, our Forum HSV expert a month ago on related topics. My comment was directed at risk for genital herpes from genital penetration which was the exposure you asked about. I note that you worry about these things but she is the one for you to go to on this. I do think that you are worrying about STIs in general and herpes specifically more than you need to. EWH---