Me again.  Sorry to bother you with questions to which I believe I already know the answer.  I try to read through the FAQ’s prior to asking questions, but this just seems faster.

I recently visited a massage parlor and engaged in mutual, unprotected oral sex for about 30-60 minutes (off and on) and protected vaginal sex.

My questions are as follows:

1. I know getting gonorrhea from receiving oral sex is rare, but possible.  I will most likely have an opportunity to have intercourse with my girlfriend on Monday of next week (5 days from now).  As a precaution, I was going to have a gonorrhea test on Friday (2 days post exposure) so that I receive the results before I see her.  Do you feel testing is necessary and is that enough incubation time to get a reliable result?

Next, while I was performing cunnilingus, I tasted what seemed like blood.  Perhaps she had recently finished her period.  If that is the case, what are the chances of hiv transmission and do you feel testing is warranted for this as well.

Thank you for all that you do.

1. Is testing "necessary"? From a strict risk assessment, I would say no; the chance you were infected is very low. But reassurance alone is a valid reason for testing even when the actual risk is low. If you do so, two days might be a bit early for accurate gonorrhea testing. There are no precise data on this. Neisseria gonorrhoeae (the gonorrhea bacteria) grows rapidly and two days probably detects the large majority of newly acquired infections. However, it might take up to 4-5 days for 100% sensitive testing. A negative test result will be reassuring, however -- and you can also be on the alert for symptoms. If you have no penile discharge or painful urination by 5 days (presumably before you commit to sex with your girlfriend) that by itself will be nearly 100% assurance you weren't infected -- and the combination of negative test plus no symptoms could be considered conclusive.

2. The amount of HIV is no higher in blood than in vaginal fluid. And to my knowledge there has never been a reported case of HIV in which cunnilingus was the only possible exposure -- and of there must have been millions (or billions?) of cunnilingus events during menstruation. In any case, without obviously visible blood you needn't be at all worried. I would not advise HIV testing on account of the events you have described.

Thanks for the thanks. I hope these comments are helpful.

HHH, MD