[Question #3442] HIV risk?

89 months ago

Hello, I’m Brazilian, 28 years old, straight and with a history of hypochondria. I treated my hypochondria with therapy for a long time. However, thinking that I had left behind my problems, I was involved in a situation that I would like you to evaluate.

I was in a strip club just watching the shows, until when I was leaving one of the dancers, who is a sex worker, asked me for a ride to another club. I took her to the other club and before she got out of my car she pulled her dress off and showed me her breast and I licked her nipple (not sucked) for a maximum of 3 seconds. The situation was so fast that I barely looked at her breast and did not know if there was any bruise or some possible blood. I have to say I did not taste blood, but I'm still worried that there was some little bruise. My concern is that although I brush my teeth 3 times a day and go to the dentist twice a year, my gums bleed quite easily on tooth brushing and also with no contact (in the latter case, very small bleeding). I know that in the club that we were in there rooms for clients to have sex with the dancers, so I worry that someone has bitten her nipple and I may have come in contact with some bleeding. In my favor I must say that she must have spent at least 30 minutes between a possible contact between her and a client and the contact she had with me.

Is it a reason for concern about HIV? Assuming that she’s positive, Do I need to be tested? Can I have unprotected relationships with my wife?

Edward W. Hook M.D.

89 months ago

Welcome to the forum. I will do my best to assure you that the encounter that you have describe represents no/zero risk for HIV or for any other STIs. I say this emphatically and with confidence. Let me list the reasons:

1. You assume that this dancer/commercial sex worker had HIV- I do not. Most CSWs do not have HIV.

2. Even if she was infected, there is no risk for HIV from licking or sucking her breast. No adult has ever gotten infected in this way, even if they ingested milk from that breast.

3. Your gum possible gum disease an bleeding tendency does not change this at all.

There is no medical reason for testing or for concern. This was a no risk event. I hope that these comments will be helpful to you. EWH

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89 months ago

Hello Doctor, thanks for the reply.

I know that you don't like the "what if" questions, but as I said earlier my main concern is if there was any bruising on the girl's nipple, does that change anything in relation to the risk? I imagine that the small bleeds that I have on the gums are not deep enough for the infection and also that a considerable amount of blood is needed for a infection in this way, am I correct?

I would like to remind you that the possible injury would not have been caused by me, but in some other way, and there were at least 30 minutes before. Please enlighten me as much as you can, I have arranged a consultation with my psychiatrist but I am sure it will be more effective if I am sure that this is just my hypochondria and not a real risk. Thank you!

Edward W. Hook M.D.

89 months ago

No bruising of her nipple in no way changes my assessment or recommendation. Still no risk.

As for your gum disease it makes no different how deep, how severe or how much bleeding- again, still NO RISK.

There have never been cases of HIV proven to have been acquired in adults from breast contact, including ingestion of breast milk. Bruising and rashes make no difference. Similarly, acquisition of HIV through the mouth is exceedingly rare. Direct performance of oral sex on an infected person leads to infection on average only once in every 10,000 exposures. There has NEVER been a case of HIV acquired from kissing, including deep, open mouth kissing. Once again, gum disease makes no difference.

Thus your description remains a NO RISK event, not requiring testing. there is no need to change your interactions with your wife. EWH

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89 months ago

Doctor, I'm sorry to bother you, but as I said I'm Brazilian and I think I made a translation mistake, when I said I was afraid of some possible bruising, I meant wound or something that might cause a little bleeding, as I said one possible bite from a previous client. Sorry for the persistence, but if you can answer me as the situation is in this case, thank you.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

89 months ago

Even if she had HIV and you broke her skin and some of Her blood got into your mouth or came into contact with the source of your gum bleeding this would be a no risk event. As I said before there is no need for concern, no reason for testing, and no reason to change your sexual activity with your regular sex partner. .

This is my third response to your questions and therefore, as per Forum guidelines, this thread will be closed shortly. There will be no further answers. Further, additional anxiety driven or repetitive questions may be deleted without an answer and without return of your posting fee. This policy is done with your best interest in mind. I wish you the best. Take care. EWH

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