[Question #13716] Risk from breast penis contact

3 hours ago

Dear Doctors,

I would appreciate your opinion on a possible STI exposure.

I had a single non-penetrative sexual encounter with a csw. There was no vaginal, anal, or oral sex. The only contact was genital–skin contact: my uncovered penis and glans were in contact with her hand and breasts during a breast massage (Titjob) for approximately 10 minutes. No condom was used.

I did not observe any obvious sores, ulcers, or lesions on her breasts at the time, although lighting was limited and I did not examine so closely (also because I’m not a professional). I have no information suggesting that she has syphilis or HSV; this concern is hypothetical due to her activities.

Immediately after the encounter, I washed my penis and glans with soap and water.

I understand that this type of contact does not pose a risk for HIV, gonorrhea, or chlamydia. My questions are specifically about syphilis and HSV:

1) From a clinical standpoint, is transmission of syphilis or HSV realistically possible from this type of contact, especially in the absence of any clearly visible lesions?

2) Would this exposure normally be considered negligible, or would serologic testing (for syphilis and/or HSV) be recommended?

Thank you very much for your time and help

Edward W. Hook M.D.

2 hours ago

Welcome back to the Frum. This question contains elements of our interaction 4 months ago at which time I indicated that in the absence of an obvious lesion (even is lighting was limited), there is virtually no risk of acquiring an STI, including herpes and syphilis from the breast masturbation you describe. This is not an exposure I would be concerned about. In nearly 50 years of sexual health focused research and clinical activity, I have never seen a case of syphilis or herpes (or any other STI) acquired in this way. Thus. in response to your specific questions:

1) From a clinical standpoint, is transmission of syphilis or HSV realistically possible from this type of contact, especially in the absence of any clearly visible lesions?

No- see above.

2) Would this exposure normally be considered negligible, or would serologic testing (for syphilis and/or HSV) be recommended?

Unless you were to develop an obviously suspicious lesion, I would recommend against testing for syphilis or herpes.

I hope this information is helpful. Please don't worry. EWH

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28 minutes ago

Thank you very much for your clear and reassuring reply.

I would just like to clarify why I raised the question once more. Compared to the prior situation we discussed, this more recent contact lasted longer (approximately 10 minutes) and occurred in dim lighting. While I did not notice anything abnormal on her breasts, I cannot say with absolute certainty that there was nothing present, which is why I wondered whether duration and limited visibility could meaningfully change the risk.

I should also mention that this is a particularly sensitive period in my personal life, which has made me more cautious than usual about even very low-probability health concerns. After reading some medical articles describing rare cases of primary chancres developing on the breast and being initially subtle or mistaken for benign conditions (such as eczema), I found myself questioning my initial reassurance.

Given these additional details, I just wanted to confirm that, in your opinion, I can still be confident that I have not acquired syphilis, herpes, or any other STI from this encounter.

Thank you again for your time, experience, and reassurance.