[Question #13697] Hiv- Follow Up #13687

14 hours ago

Hi Doctor,

I am sorry to come back, however i have one small doubt which i think i missed earlier to have clarify.

From my last interaction #13687 , i would like to add one more point to my exposure.

Right before the protected sex, i did shave my genital area. I did creates razor burn, micro cuts and micro abrasions. Also for me i had a small pimple on pelvic area which i popped up, causing it to bled a little. This would he like 2 hours before sex.

Do you think, it can create a risk for me. If vaginal fluids which are outside condom, comes in contact with shaved area or popped pimple?

Appreciate your informative response on it. I can certainly feel myself spiraling into these thoughts and getting anxiety.

Thanks.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

12 hours ago

Welcome back. However, you continue to overthink the potential risks here. There are no known cases of HIV or other STI transmission on account of minor razor nicks, razor burn, or pimples. Because in theory they might raise the risk, they are often listed in HIV/STI prevention advice. But much of that advice goes back to the earliest days of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and were never proved by research or clinical experience. These factors do not alter the advice you had in your previous thread.

The bottom line: Without actual intercourse, you can always assume that sex does not transmit HIV or other STIs. Or at least the risk is low enough that it should be ignored.

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

HHH, MD

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11 hours ago

Doctor,

Your statement -

“ The bottom line: Without actual intercourse, you can always assume that sex does not transmit HIV or other STIs. Or at least the risk is low enough that it should be ignored.”

But in my case i had protected sex with the massage girl, and had shaved my genital area few hours back. So it counts as act of intercourse or not? I am confused with the last statement you made.

If it’s counted as intercourse, am i at risk then?

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

11 hours ago

Sorry, I should have specified unprotected intercourse. Even with a condom, there is always some small STI risk, but shaving or not makes no difference. Even with condom use, you should take care to choose partners with care and consider testing from time to time (after several such exposures) for common STDs like gonorrhea, chlamydia, HIV and syphilis.---