[Question #2079] Recieved oral sex and hand job with blood

89 months ago

Hello,

I am really concerned about a possible exposure that took place in Dallas, Texas last week. I received unprotected blowjob from a female stripper that lasted for about 10-15 minutes. She also masturbated me for several minutes. I understand that hand jobs are risk free for HIV but about 5-10 minutes before hand job she had cut one of her fingers. The cut was small but bleeding. She put a bandage on the cut before giving me hand job. My concern is that there may have been some residual blood around the bandage that may have come in contact with my penis. The stripper was a 23 years old Caucasian female. I am uncircumcised. I asked her if she has been tested for STD’s. She told me she was tested a couple of weeks ago and didn’t have any STD’s.

I will really appreciate it if you can answer the following question.

Is there any risk for HIV from getting blow job?
Is there any risk from getting a hand job with even with fresh blood on her hand and given that I am uncircumcised?
Do I need a HIV test?

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

89 months ago

Welcome to the forum. Thanks for your question.

Oral sex is safe sex in regard to HIV. There has never been a reported proved case of HIV transmission mouth-to-penis, very few penis to mouth, and none by oral-vaginal exposure (cunnilingus). One estimate of the risk of transmission in your situation is 1 in 20,000, which is equivalent to receiving BJs by infected people once daily for 55 years before transmission might be likely. And that's only if the oral partner is known to be infected -- and it is statistically unlikely the stripper had HIV anyway. As for hand-genital contact, that's also zero risk, regardless of possible cuts on the penis or elsewhere. Being uncircumcised raises the risk of catching HIV if truly sexually exposed (by intercourse), but not in this situation. So definitely no risk and no need for HIV testing.

The chance of other STDs is somewhat higher, although still low. The 3 STDs most commonly associated with receiving oral sex are gonorrhea, nongonococcal urethritis (NGU), and herpes due to the type 1 herpes simplex virus (HSV1). Syphilis would be a risk, except that syphilis is extremely rare in heterosexual women in most of the US. All of these usually cause obvious symptoms, so if you don't develop abnormal discharge from the penis, painful urination, or penile sores it will be good evidence you weren't infected. But if you want additional reassurance, you could visit a clinic for a urine gonorrhea test, examination for signs of NGU, and (after a few weeks) a syphilis blood test. Herpes blood testing isn't accurate enough to recommend in this situation, so I don't recommend that.

All in all, you shouldn't be worried -- especially not about HIV. I hope this information is helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear.

HHH, MD

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89 months ago

Thank you for your response Dr. Handsfield. That really put my mind at ease. I got tested for HIV in September last year. Since then I haven't really had any sexual encounter until now. From your response, it appears I don't need any further testing for HIV. However, I will get tested for gonorrhea. I believe it will be negative as it's been six days and I haven't really had any symptoms. Additionally, the women assured me that she didn't have any std. Once again, thank you for your help.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

89 months ago

Thanks for the thanks; I'm glad to have helped.

You are exactly right that absence of symptoms after 6 days is strong evidence against gonorrhea. If somehow I were in your situation, I would feel no need for testing and would continue unprotected sex with my wife without worry. But feel free to be tested if the negative result will add to your reassurance!

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