[Question #6301] Hiv risk

15 months ago

Hi,

I recently started a new job and got along from the get go with my coworker, a gay guy. We would go for coffee together, out for smokes and just talk non stop. Yesterday he told me he tested positive for HIV. I felt really sorry for him and tried my best to console him, but today I have been thinking about all the times I would take a sip out of his coffee or we would share a smoke fsometimes I don’t feel like having a whole one so we would just share it).

I looked up on your forum and from your responses I see there is no risk from sharing beverages or smokes, which is quite reassuring.

My remaining worry is in case of a small blood stain left on the smoke or on the coffee lid ( it started being super cold for about 2 weeks here in northern Ontario and we both have cracked lips.

The equation:

Blood from his cracker lip+smoke/coffee lid+my cracked lips? Is that a risk? I am in a relationship, can I continue sex with my partner?

Edward W. Hook M.D.

15 months ago

Welcome to our forum and thanks for your question. Thanks as well for looking at previous posts. We intend for those replies to be read and provide information to others.

I understand how finding out that your colleague has HIV might give you pause and cause you to reflect on whether any past interactions represented a risk to you. I'm pleased to confirm to you that, even with one or both of you having cracked lips, and even a small amount of blood contact there is no risk for HIV from the activities you describe. You have. Toning to worry about. I hope that you will be able to support your friend in what I imagine was a difficult time. Please don't worry. EWH

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15 months ago

Thank you so much for your prompt reply! I would like to stay friends with him because he is a lot of fun and a great guy, so especially now I’d like to be there for him.

So just to make sure I understood your answer, contact between :

- a small amount of his blood on the cigarette/glass/cup and

- a small red crack or cut/sore on my lip

is NO RISK? (i do tend to chew my lips sometimes while eating and we smoke after meals)

I understand that if only one of us has a cut or cracked lip there is no risk, my question pertains to the scenario where BOTH OF US do and there is a small amount of blood TRANSFERRED on the cigarette. If you could just confirm this phrase, that’ll relieve all my worries. sorry for using caps just wanted to make sure you understand my question, as you probably are bombarded with questions from other users.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

15 months ago

Your summary of my statements is correct. Even if both of you had cracked lips and there was a small amount of blood on the cigarette butt or edge of the cup, you would not be at risk for HIV. No reason for testing, no reason for concern. EWH---

15 months ago

Thank you so much! So the only thing to avoid would be large quantities of blood if he were to be in an accident or sharing drug injection needles, but contact between a small quantity of his blood and my small superficial cut or sore is no risk. Thanks so much for educating the public and reducing the stigma around HIV positive people.

15 months ago

And also, your assessment is assuming that he is not in medication yet and the cigarette or cup sharing happens immediately ( he takes a drag and passes it to me and I take a drag)?

Edward W. Hook M.D.

15 months ago

You are overthinking this. "What if" scenarios serve no purpose. My assessment holds even if he is not yet on therapy and irrespective of timing. ( in fact I presumed that.). As I've already said, no risk.

As per forum guidelines, thus 3rd response completes this thread which will be closed shortly without further replies. Take care. Please don't worry. EWH

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