Your website has been incredibly helpful in enhancing my knowledge of STI’s and how they are transmitted. I hope that you can provide me with medical reassurance regarding my own circumstances.

I am a straight male and have been single for 12 months. I last had an HIV test 6 months ago which was negative.

I have not had any sexual intercourse or engaged in oral sex with anyone since this latest test.

I have recently entered into the dating scene again. Specifically, I have seen 3 women in the last 6 months (each for 1 date). The extent of sexual activities has been:

Woman A - open mouth kissing, vaginal fingering & handjob (hand cream used)

Woman B - open mouth kissing

Woman C - brief lip kiss

My understanding from your website is that, even if any of these women were HIV positive, these activities did not put me at any risk of HIV since there was no vaginal (or anal) intercourse, BJ’s or cullingness.

I also do not partake in needle use.

Can I stop worrying about HIV and move on without any concerns?

Thank you

You are correct in your summary.  There is no scientific evidence that HIV is spread through kissing, including open mouth kissing in which oral secretions are exchange and even if either kisser had an oral sore or dental or gum disease- still no risk.  Similarly, there is no known risk for HIV from receiving masturbation by a person with untreated HIV, even if that person's genital secretions get on the person receiving masturbation- still no risk and no need for testing.  There is general agreement on this by experts such as ourselves, by the WHO and by the US CDC.  No risk and no need for testing

I encourage you to move forward without concern.  There is no need for testing.  EWH

Thank you for your very quick reply and for your reassurance.

Is it correct that:

1. Even if vaginal fluids / blood were on the hands of Woman A when she masterbated me (and my urethra was touched), still no HIV risk?

2. Even if I licked my lips after kissing (and if there were any vaginal fluids or blood on my lips that I did not notice and some went in my mouth after licking), still no HIV risk?

My understanding is that there must be penile penetration of a vagina or anus; or blood injected into tissue via a needle for there to be any risk of HIV - everything else that happens sexually is safe with nothing to worry about. 

Thank you