[Question #6422] Follow up to question 6355

16 months ago

Hello Doctors,

I took my 6 week (43 days actually) 4th gen test after my Nov. 3 receptive oral sex episode and it came back negative as you said it would.

I wanted to write again to confirm that the second episode of me fingering a male masseuse on Nov. 30 does not require additional testing.m and it is safe to continue regular sexual relations with my significant other.

Finally, I had a Thai massage on Dec. 13 which is normally clothed. To quickly beyond details, I would up taking off my pants to where I was nude as he worked on me. We struck up conversation and he (the masseuse) shared a bit about himself and that he was indeed HIV positive and told me how he became infected about 10 years ago from an unprotected anal sexual event and Is now on medication and undetectable.

So here I am with my obvious fear of of HIV being worked on skin to skin with someone who is HIV positive. Needless to say this has me paranoid now. There was no oral or penetrative sex whatsoever, and no fingering, but he did touch my genitals a few times with his hands and I also touched his scrotum with my hand once for a few seconds. That was all that happened from a genital interaction standpoint period.

Do I need to test for these two events or am I ok to move on?

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

16 months ago

Welcome back, but sorry you found it necessary. The answers to these questions were covered in your previous two threads, or at least were obvious with a little bit of thought about those discussions. These events are not materially different than the ones previously addressed. Fingering is always a zero risk event -- why would that response change for the more recent event versus the last one you asked about? And other skin to skin contact, such as massage or frottage (body rubbing) also is zero risk.

Here is the bottom line: There is never risk of HIV transmission sexually except by penile penetration into another person's vagina or rectum. Even oral sex (unprotected) is zero risk or close to it. There is never a good reaason for testing for persons who have not had such exposures, even if they have good reason to believe their partners have HIV. On top of that, being on HIV meds with undetectable virus in the blood makes HIV infected people non-infectious: even unprotected anal sex with the second partner would have been zero risk.

So for sure no need to test on account of these events. Also no need for you to ever ask our opinion again unless/until you have unprotected penetrative sex, either giving or receiving. OK?

Best wishes and stay safe (as you have been up to now). Let me know if anything isn't clear.

HHH, MD

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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

16 months ago

And yes, if you had actually been exposed, the negative test at 43 days was conclusive.---

15 months ago

Thanks for setting me straight, Dr. Handsfield. I think I am confusing feelings of guilt for the science even though I really know better.

Use condoms for penetrative anal or vaginal sex and I’ll stay HIV free (from a sexual risk standpoint). Fingering and touching then body with hands do not transmit HIV and I don’t even need to test for them. Got it.

Thank you again and Happy Holidays to you and yours.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

15 months ago

That's an excellent, succinct summary of the scientific perspective on preventing sexual transmission of HIV -- and my advice. I'm also glad you are coming to recognize the difference between risk of transmission and emotional reactions to regretted sexual experiences.

That completes the two follow-up exchanges included with each question and so ends this thread. Please note the forum does not permit repeated questions on the same topic or exposure. This will have to be your last one; future new questions about this exposure and HIV riska nd esting will be deleted without reply and without refund of the posting fee. This policy is based on compassion, not criticism, and is designed to reduce temptations to keep paying for questions with obvious answers; because experience shows that continued answers tend to prolong users' anxieties; and because such questions have little educational value for other users, one of the forum's main purposes. I trust you will understand.

I do hope the discussions have been helpful. Best wishes and happy holidays!

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