[Question #13940] HIV concern

1 months ago

Hi,

I am a bit concerned about an exposure at a strip club in Lagos, Nigeria. Had a lap dance with a stripper. She was fully naked with no pants while I had my trousers and boxers brief on. I am not sure if the zipper of my trouser on up on down but 100% sure my boxers brief was on. I was also a bit tipsy. During the lap dance, I felt a sensation like my penis was in her Vagina. I paused a but and checked only to notice there were vaginal secretion on my boxers. Do I have any HIV exposure in this case? Is it possible to have clothed pennis in a vagina? Really can't recall this encounter but do you think I'm safe from HIV. One thing I can surely remember is that my boxers brief was fully on.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

1 months ago

Welcome back. However, this question is very similar to the one you asked 2 years ago (no. 11259) and of course the reply is similar. And perhaps some similarity to your several other questions going back six years.

This time you clearly did not have close enough exposure to risk HIV infection. Clearly there was no unprotected penile penetration and I doubt a clothed penis could successfully enter a partner's vagina. But even if that happened there was no risk; HIV cannot be transmitted through fabric. Don't worry about it.

HHH, MD

---

1 months ago

Thanks for the reassurance. Just for educational purpose, can cloth be regarded as a functional barrier for HIV or HIV is just a super weak virus that becomes inactive once it cant have direct access to a membrance. In addition, the stripper also rubbed her vagina area and rubbed the vagina fluid on my skin (not broken) and her nipple (which I sucked). Am I at any risk with this

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

1 months ago

Few if any viruses can pass through fabric fibers; in other words yes, cloth can be regarded as a functional barrier. It has nothing to do with whether or not a virus or bacteria is "weak" or "strong". Those terms have little meaning in medical science. In addition, intact skin is itself a very effective barrier. Nobody gets HIV through skin anywhere on the body; vaginal fluid on skin and oral contact with skin, including nipples, is risk free.---

1 months ago

I’ve noticed many people (including myself) on this forum asking about dry humping while wearing pants or boxers brief. You’ve mentioned before that penetration through clothing is essentially impossible. Are these repeated questions mainly anxiety-driven, or does dry humping simply create a false sensation that makes people think penetration occurred? Sometimes I felt my case was false sensation and atimes, I felt penetration happened even with my boxers on. Can I continue regular sex with my wife without worry.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

1 months ago

Sorry, I can't devine the motivation of such questions. But clearly the large majority of questions on our forum that ask about exposures while clothes are very heavily influenced by irrational anxieties. My impression is that the vast majority of people who only had body rubbing or other sexual activities through clothing wouldn't even suspect any STI risk and wouldn't come to our forum (or to any other expert) to ask about it.

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.

---