[Question #13255] Risk of transmission
1 months ago
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I had a massage parlour lady rub my face and close to my eye lightly scratched the outer side of my eye and possibly rubbed my eye ball slightly. No bleeding nor did I see any blood on me after the event. Skin barrier not visibly broken.
Knowing the eye is a mucus membrane my question is can viruses hepatitis or stds be a risk from this encounter.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
1 months ago
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Welcome back to the Forum. Thanks for your questions. I would consider the interaction you describe no risk. STIs are not transferred from person to person through transfer of infected secretions on one person's hand to another person, even with direct mucous membrane contact. I would have no concerns and see no reason for testing. EWH---
1 months ago
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Thank you for your response.
Again reading online which I understand isn't a great option for information at times. Suggest mucus membranes a route for infection. The ladies hand wasn't bleeding and I didn't notice much secretions however there was massage oil being used which made it difficult to know what is secretions. So not even potential dried tiny bits of potential blood or any secretions going into my eye would raise no concern? It's been 2 days since the event and I didn't have any irritation or pink eye or conjunctivitis at all.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
1 months ago
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I think that you, like so many others, have been misled by the internet. While a great means of communication, much so-called information to be found there is incorrect, either because it is out of date, a misinterpretation or oversimplification, or just plain wrong. While sexually acquired HIV is acquired through penetration of the virus through mucous membranes other factors such as the type of mucous membrane ( there are many) and friction to work the virus into the membrane, among many others, affect whether or not infection takes hold. That’s the reason that less than 1 in 2000 direct exposures to untreated infected persons result in infection. You do not know that your partner was infected (VERY unlikely) or that genital secretions ( or blood) were transferred to your eye. Further and most importantly HIV is NOT transmitted by transfer if infected material from person to person on someone’s hands. There was no risk of infection to you through the encounter you describe.
Please don’t worry. EWH
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24 days ago
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My follow up is does this same rule of thumb apply to for example putting on a condom the wrong way around then flipping to the correct way have little to no risk of infection? Again I've read that it could spread std due to pre cum being on the condom which could infect.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
24 days ago
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Final response:
Flipping a condom in the manner you describe is always a bad idea. Once a condom has been put on the inside may have genital secretions present which can put a partner at risk for pregnancy ( if a female) or infection ( either gender if you are infected). If your partner is infected and there has been any penetration at all, no matter how brief, flipping the condom puts you at risk for infection. Please never flip a condom.
This thread is now complete. Take care. EWH
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