[Question #12999] Risks of performing hand job
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3 months ago
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Yesterday, I (32yo male) gave a hand job to another man (late 30's black). My first ever same sex encounter. We met online & I know nothing about his sexual health/history. I was fully clothed the whole time, only contact was my hands on his genitals. He ejaculated onto my hands. There were no visible lesions/sores on his penis, and there were no fresh wounds on my hands (aside from some minor eczema irritation). I washed my hands immediately after. I live in a region where black MSM are disproportionately affected by STI's such as HIV and syphilis. I know I am at 0% risk for gon/chlam/HepB from this exposure. I suppose some minor risk of HSV or HPV (which do not concern me as much). My biggest worry is the potential of contracting syphilis on my hands. Is this a realistic concern? Some websites suggest there is a slight risk. Others say hand jobs are completely safe, but I think that generally refers to receiving rather than giving a hand job. Any risk of HIV (his semen on my hands)?
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
3 months ago
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Welcome to our Forum. Thanks for your questions. You are getting a reply somewhat more quickly than is the norm because I happened to be on the site when your question arrived. Ay follow-ups may take longer.
The event you describe was a no risk event for all STIs. Participating in mutual masturbation is considered a no risk event by the WHO, the CDC and all experts in the field. That you get your partner's ejaculate on your hands is of no consequence. While I suppose there may be a theoretical miniscule theoretical risk for infection, I have never heard or seen such a case. The skin of the hands is particularly resistant to infection. This is not something I would be the least bit worried about. I certainly see no reason for testing or concern in general. EWH
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3 months ago
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Thanks for the response Dr. Hook. That helps to put my mind at ease.
I read some other questions related to hand jobs on this forum. But most were asked by those receiving a hand job in a massage parlor or similar setting, versus actually performing a hand job on someone else. I didn't know if that made a difference concerning risk.
A few follow up questions, several specific to me and a few more general questions about syphilis for my education:
1) So even assuming this man was actively infected with both HIV and syphilis (highly unlikely) my risk would be near-zero with no need for testing from this one event, correct?
2) Do you see any need for me to monitor my hands for sores and abstain from any hand-genital contact with my regular female partner for any period of time?
3) Do you ever see patients presenting with a primary syphilis chancre on their hands as the main source of infection? Is this something that ever happens in reality or is it a theoretical concern only?
4) Does syphilis always present with an open chancre sore? What is the incubation period between acquisition and being infectious to others?
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
3 months ago
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If anything, the risk of performing masturbation on an infected partner would be lower than receiving one.
1) So even assuming this man was actively infected with both HIV and syphilis (highly unlikely) my risk would be near-zero with no need for testing from this one event, correct?
Correct
2) Do you see any need for me to monitor my hands for sores and abstain from any hand-genital contact with my regular female partner for any period of time?
No
3) Do you ever see patients presenting with a primary syphilis chancre on their hands as the main source of infection? Is this something that ever happens in reality or is it a theoretical concern only?
Once in 40 years
4) Does syphilis always present with an open chancre sore? What is the incubation period between acquisition and being infectious to others?
yes. Average incubation is about 3 weeks
Please don't worry. One follow-up remaining. EWH
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3 months ago
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Thanks for answering my questions. I feel much less worried now.
A few more questions for my last follow-up. These will be educational to me and hopefully to others reading the forum, as well.
1) Why is it that performing a hand job on an infected partner would be marginally less risky than receiving one? Is it simply due to skin on hands being a less efficient point of entry for viruses/bacterium than genital skin and/or urethral opening? (i.e., easier to transmit an infection from hands to genitals than vice versa?)
2) I'm not particularly concerned about HSV or HPV risk from my encounter. Mainly because of how prevalent these viruses are (my regular female partner already has genital herpes from a previous relationship, and I know most sexually active adults have some strain of HPV). That said, many online sources claim any type of skin-to-skin contact can spread these, including hand job. Are they just being overly conservative? It sounds like the "skin-to-skin" STI's are really only effectively spread between skin involving the genitals, anal, and oral sites. Is that a fair assessment?
Thanks again. I really appreciate the services offered here!
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
3 months ago
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Final responses:
1. The skin is far thicker than the skin in the genital region and therefore more susceptible to scrapes scratches and introduction of infection.
2. Please spend much of our time on this forum trying to correct misinformation found on the Internet. Much of what is there is incorrect either because it is out of date, misunderstood, or simply wrong. The Internet also tends to amplify minor considerations into major ones.
This completes this thread. I hope the information I have provided has been helpful. There should be no need for you to return to the forum regarding this encounter. EWH.
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