[Question #13846] Anxiety. Hoping to close this out

1 months ago

Hello, I was with an unknown woman and we engaged in Deep French Kissing for 15 minutes or so. Biggest issue is I had a tooth pulled that day and I also have noticeable bleeding gums. I was given a handjob and she had unwashed hands and after I seen a blood streak on her finger not from me. I also sucked her breasts (which may have caused more gum bleeding from suction). We were drinking beer and I don’t remember if anything else happened. She went and tested 9.5 weeks after we were together for HIV (4th gen), Hep B & Hep C all negative. She was with a few guys unprotected a week before we met she said. I’m not sure of her oral health, she could have had bleeding. I’m not vaccinated for hep b and I am very anxious about this exposure. Can you please shed some light on my situation please.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

1 months ago

Welcome to the forum. Thanks for your question.

Kissing is free of risk for HIV and other STIs. Despite worrisome advice present on non-professional online sources, a recent pulled tooth, bleeding gums, or other sores in the mouth do not significantly raise the risk of infection. Hand-genital contact also is risk free; and here too neither a possible "blood streak" on her finger or whether or not she washed her hands made no difference in risk. Her oral health doesn't matter, and even if you knew for sure she has HIV or other active transmissible STI, you were not at risk for anything -- including hepatitis B even if unvaccinated.

My advice is to move on from this event with no worry. There is no need to be tested for anything; and if you have a regular partner, you can continue your usual sexual practices without any chance of infecting her or him.

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

HHH, MD

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1 months ago

Appreciate the response. I was concerned most about hepatitis B and C. Her having the negative 4th gen HIV test at 9.5 weeks I’m assuming from reading other treads that would be conclusive and that she wasn’t infected at the time we were together? I was also hoping for anxiety purposes her negative Hepatitis B & C at the 9.5 weeks would be reassuring (I think she slept with someone 1 week before I met her) so test results may be closer to 10/10.5 weeks. I know you say hep c is not an STI and kissing with blood wouldn’t spread STIs, so would my situation possibly spread Hep C virus with the visible bleeding gums? Im also curious what would my risk of oral HPV be from this?

From this, there is no reason to worry or test for HIV, Hep B/C?

I do have a wife and don’t want to put her or anyone at risk

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

1 months ago

You were not at risk for the hepatitis B or C viruses (HBV, HCV). They are rare even with unprotected vaginal or anal intercourse; and no, your bleeding gums do not make a significant difference. In any case, you describe a partner exceedingly unlikely to have either of these infections. And yes, it is proved your partner did not have HIV at the time of this event -- but for your risk-free exposure it wouldn't matter if she did. Your wife is not at risk for anything. Suck it up and believe it!---

1 months ago

I appreciate your time and direct response. I know this is my last follow up. I will forget about this incident. Not sure if it’s allowed, if it is I have also been worrying about the following possibly being an infection risk to me. If you could please give it a quick rundown I’d appreciate it. Really just wondering if I was at risk and should test for HIV or Hep B or C

1. Cut my thumb fairly deep picking up an object at a home improvement store, a razor blade was sticking out of the side(assuming from a stocking employee) (Caused me to bleed)

2. Poked by a clothing alarm pin missing the one side (caused me to bleed)

3. Stepped on a shaving razor a couple hours at most after it was used by someone and cut my foot (causing bleeding).

Assuming others could have been injured before me.

I truly appreciate you and your professional advice.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

1 months ago

Follow-up comments are for the purpose of clarifying or finishing discussion of the original question. So technically not allowed, but these are quickies and in fact these questions may in fact be indirectly related to. your original question.

Nobody in the world has ever been known to acquire HIV by exposure to the virus or contaminated fluids in the environment, and probably not HBV or HCV either. All these are zero risk, even if previous persons had sustained injuries with the same objects. You will never be at risk for HIV other than by unprotected sex or by shared drug injection needles. No you should not be tested on account of such events.

These questions as well as your original one all suggest you may be obsessed with HIV and/or STIs and might the germophobia version of OCD. If thoughts like these are frequent and/or bothersome, you should consider professional counseling to address them. These really aren't normal worries. I suggest all this from compassion, not criticism.

That completes the two follow-up comments and replies included with each question and so ends this thread. I hope the discussion has been helpful. Best wishes and stay safe.

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