[Question #5612] Massage question

21 months ago

Hello doctors, After reading through your many replies regarding erotic massages I think I already know the answer to my question. I actually tried to submit this question last week but had some technical issues preventing me from posting.

On Monday of last week I went and received a massage that included a "happy ending". The masseuse was fully clothed and there was only hand-penis contact. Nothing else. The massage included a lot of oil. Three days later, on Thursday night, I woke up in the middle of the night and noticed my penis and the area around my penis was itchy.

On Friday I noticed that the area where my scrotum meets my inner thigh on my left leg was itchy and red. Also, there was a patch of skin on my penis that was red and slightly inflamed. Th area around the base of my penis and in my pubic hair was also slightly inflamed and irritated/itchy.

On Saturday the itchiness persisted. The patch of skin on my penis was still inflamed and itchy and I could see that the skin along the left side of my penis was reddish and itchy. I applied hydrocortisone gel to my penis/base of penis/thigh area which helped to relieve some of the itching and redness.

On Sunday I could see that some of the redness and inflammation on my penis was reduced. In the areas that were red there were some tiny bumps (along the shaft of my penis, base of penis, and some on my thigh) which seems to have come and gone with the redness. They never turned into open sores or anything like that.

Today, Monday, I was able to stop in and see my dermatologist who said it's possibly dermatitis and/or a slight fungal infection due to sweatiness etc (I run and work out regularly, and it’s been quite hot here), and/or a reaction to a new product (maybe the oil from the massage?) and has prescribed me two types of topical ointments to help aid in healing. She said they did not seem like a STD.I guess I am just looking to confirm that the "happy ending" I received on Monday, three days before the itching occurred, was zero-chance to have given me some kind of STD.

1.) Was the happy ending massage a no-risk/zero risk event?

2.) The itchiness/rash I started to experience on Thursday is in no way related to a STD from this event? (and just bad timing?)

3.) Once the rash/itchiness heals, can I continue unprotected sex with my wife without worry?

4.) I should probably put the notion that the happy ending massage might have given me a STD out of my head, right?

I have been tested for all STDs (including HSV2) before getting married a few years ago and came up negative for everything. I have had no other sexual partners since being tested (other than my wife).

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

21 months ago

Welcome to the forum. Thaniks for your confidence in our services.

Sometimes there is almost enough information in the question title to respond accurately, which was my reaction when I saw "Massage question" before reading anything else. I'm pleased to see you already have the same perspective. As you already understnad -- perhaps objectively and intellectually, if not in your gut -- massage and hand-genital contact are risk free in regard to HIV. Although one can certainly understand a theoretical scenario with some risk -- e.g. using genital fluids for lubrication and massaging those fluids into a skin wound -- no such transmission has ever been reported to have occurred, or even to have been suspected, as far as I know.

I will also point out that the large majority of sexually active women, including sex workers, do not have HIV. The chance your masseuse had HIV therefore is very low.

As for your symptoms, neither HIV nor any other STD is a likely explanation for penile dermatitis or itching. And you'll also be happy to know that the large majority of penile or other genital rashes, dermatitis, and other skin symptoms are not STDs. And certainly not HIV. I can't otherwise comment on the cause, except to note that your dermatolgist and I obviously agree with one another about the low chance of any STD.

Those comments pretty well cover your four questions, but to assure no misunderstanding:

1,4) This indeed was a no-risk event in regard to HIV and other STDs.

2) This isn't an STD. If your penile dermatitis is related in some way to the massage, all I can think of is superficial physical trauma plus irritation from exercise, sweating, etc; or perhaps an allergic reaction to the lubricant used.

3) You needn't have stopped having sex with your wife, except perhaps for comfort (which you appear to have done). Certainly you can resume sex with her at this time.

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

HHH, MD

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21 months ago

Thank you doctor, your reply is crystal clear.

In fact, after typing this all out I went through a mental time travel and now recall a single lapse of judgement about three, maybe four years ago. After a few too many drinks I received a very brief (maybe a minute or two) blowjob from a coworker (a woman). I don't recall experiencing any kind of discharge/pain/burning in the subsequent days following the blowjob (I would have definitely remembered).

No need for worry about anything because of this event? Put it out of my mind and just continue on with my life without worry I exposed my wife to anything? Thank you and this is my final question.

Thanks again for all of the hard work you put in here.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

21 months ago

In absence of symptoms after 4 years, there is almost no chance you acquired any STD and for sure no chance of a persisting, treatable infection. That your wife has had no obvious health problems likely due to STDs also is reassuring. You needn't do anything.

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

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21 months ago

Thank you Dr Handsfield.

Just a second, and final follow-up question regarding the brief blowjob from my coworker from a few years ago. I remember that I did also finger her briefly. This (the blowjob + fingering) didn't put me at risk for HIV, correct?

Looking back at it I regret what I did, my wife was breastfeeding our child at the time, and I just want to make sure I didn't put them at risk because of this stupid incident. Also- I do know that my coworker is/was promiscuous.

Thank you and you can consider this my final question.

21 months ago

Ahhh, haha, after reading through similar "did receiving a blowjob" and "did fingering a woman" posts about HIV and STDs; it sounds like the answer is: "no- getting a blowjob AND fingering a woman is not a risk for HIV" and that after receiving a blowjob, with the absence of obvious symptoms such as pus/discharge/pain/burning/ulcers you don't recommend testing and men can resume unprotected sex with their wives/partners without worry. Also- fingering a woman is a no risk event.

Haha, funny how I (and others) think my situation is different than the hundreds, if not thousands of similar questions you've received over the years. Ok, now I feel dumb. Haha.

21 months ago

That said, your confirmation on my reading/understanding would be much appreciated :)

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

21 months ago

I've read your follow-up comments carefully. You correctly understand. All is well -- no worries either about the recent or distant past events described.

That completes the two follow-up replies included with each question and so ends this thread. I'm glad the discussion has been helpful.

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