Hi there

Welcome to the forum. Thanks for your question.---

Thank you Dr Handsfield for your comments. Can I just be clear that had any vaginal fluid on my hands contained HIV or other viruses, that these would have been destroyed when my hand was exposed to the air and any fluid had dried up? I noticed when I woke up the next stay that I had a small scratch on one of my eyelids that had bled a little - no idea where it came from. I also noticed that I must have picked at some blister type skin on my toe at some point when I got back to my hotel some time later from the club and it had bled. A little worried that I had in a bit of a drunken state done this with the same hand as I had used to finger the stripper and some virus could remain under my nails or on hands. I'm sure you rule all this out with what you say below but i would welcome the re-assurance.

I can't say whether HIV or other infectious agents "would have been destroyed" if exposed to air. Probably. But the important fact is that even the busiest HIV and STD clinics never see patients whose only exposures were like yours. We know infection doesn't occur from such events. The biological reasons don't matter. And for the same reasons, little nicks and cuts on the hand make no difference. You were not at risk, period -- truly nothing to worry about.---

So to be clear and so that i can put this to bed for good, there could have been HIV or other STDs from her vaginal secretions on my fingers that could have still been 'alive' and whilst I may have somehow scratched my eyelid some time after the event and an hour or so later picked at a blister on my toe that bled quite a bit before bed (I believe with the same fingers that I used on the woman), there is no chance of these viruses having infected me and I should stop worrying about having HIV and STD tests and move on?

Sorry I meant to  add HIV or STD viruses not just being on my fingers but active under my nails when I must have scratched my eyelid and picked at my toe an hour or so after the finger event. There was quite a bit of blood released from the picking of my toe. I understand I might be sounding a tad over anxious. I'm looking forward to starting a family soon and whilst I could live with the consequences of my foolish actions I could not bear passing a thing on to my wife. Hence the anxiety over whether to take an HIV and general STD test.

You came here for professional advice and, presumably, reassurance. I've done my best, but you seem to be working hard to convince me that you are at risk anyway. But this isn't a debate. If you already decided you are at risk, why did you ask the question in the first place? Feel free to get tested if it will make you feel better. But there is no additonal information you can provide that would change my opinion or advice, and I can genuinely tell you that if somehow I were in your situation, I would not get tested and would continue unprotected sex with my wfie without worry.---