Thank you for setting up this page. It is nice to be able to speak to an expert in the STI world. I hope that you can help.

I have just returned from a stag week in Bali for my future brother-in-law. At one of the beaches we visited, there were also a group of travelling females (not sure where they were from).

I stupidly ended up vigorously kissing one of the girls for a few minutes whilst heading back to the parking lot. She also kissed my neck and tried to put her hand down my shorts, and briefly touched the end of my penis (after which I said stop).

This lapse of judgment is very unlike me and naturally I thought about potential consequences given I knew nothing about this girl.

I live in Bahrain - which checks for HIV and Hep B. I was only vaccinated last year against Hep B, so I have no issues about this.

Before travelling back, I visited a local Doctor in Bali. She told me to forget about HIV from deep tongue kissing, regardless of the duration or intensity. She added that the only sexual activity that ever results in HIV is unprotected penetrative sex. If this doesn’t happen, there is no need to worry.

This has calmed me. Nonetheless, I would also appreciate your insights.

You did not have sex and therefore cannot have any STI. Your Bali doctor is exactly right. Kissing is risk free and so is hand-genital contact; even if your partner has HIV or another STI, you were not at risk. 

I hope this response is helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear.

HHH, MD