[Question #8349] Pep Needed? Sex Toy Encounter

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45 months ago
Hello,

I believe I have an account here, but I have not been able to reset the password, I would have waited but felt the question was urgent in nature. I do apologize. 

My only concern is hiv risk. 

I met up with a guy, I am also a male, he was fully clothed the whole time, we kissed and he licked my penis, but never inserted it fully into his mouth. 

My main concern is with the use of a fleshlight, this sex toy was his, and it was a short tube type thing that was open on both ends, allowing the penis head to exit, so in this type sexual fluid cannot accumulate at the end, only in the recesses in between the two ends of the tube. He used it to masturbate my penis, he also used lube. I am circumcised. 

I have just read that this could be a risk for HIV, if the fleshlight was used before. I am not sure if it was, I know that for at least 10 to maybe 15 minutes it was not used because this is the amount of time I was with him before he used it on me. 

I have also read that HIV is ineffective once exposed to to the environment, would that apply here? 

When I brought it up after, he claimed to have washed it in hot water before, but let’s say he didn’t. 

Should I seek PEP post exposure prophylaxis ? I can probably access it at around the 24-36 hour mark, obviously I’d rather not, but if this is a risk should I? 

Thank you
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45 months ago
Also, just to clarify the fleshlight is a toy that one can use to masturbate their penis, it is a cylinder type thing that almost acts like a hand held vagina, but this one was small and open on both sides of the cylinder. I never inserted anything anally. 

I apologize for the graphic description. 

Thank you 
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
45 months ago
Welcome to our Forum and thanks for your questions.  I’ll be glad to comment.  Most important responses first.  I see no need to pursue PEP following the events you describe.  For that matter, I see no need for testing of any sort.  My assessment is based on the following facts:

1.  There was no penetration of any sort.  HIV is sexually transmitted only through penetrative sexual contact.
2.  Masturbation ( receipt or giving) is a no risk activity.  This is true even with mutual masturbation in which partners get each other’s genital secretions on each other- still no risk.
3.  HIV is not transmitted through transfer on contaminated inanimate objects, including sex toys.  As you have pointed out, HIV becomes non-infectious upon contact with the environment.

I would not worry about any risk for HIV or other STIs related to this exposure.  In the future, I would also suggest that you ask partners about their HIV status.  Most people are truthful. EWH 
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45 months ago
Thank you! 

That is reassuring about the sex toy. 

There was one more thing we did that I just thought about. He was into dominant play, and had me lay on my back and massaged my body with oil, but he also did something he called scratch play, where he somewhat roughly scratched different parts of my back, back of legs with his fingernails multiple times, I could definitely feel the scratches afterwards, but checking this morning I do not notice any  marks, so I don’t think I bled, but i do have back acne that may have bled, or slight surface level bleeding I did not notice on the scratches. 

I did not really consent to scratching and he never told me it was going to happen, so now I just feel weird about it. 

Now my mind is thinking of things that probably didn’t happen, like what if he was bleeding in his hands or nails and that blood touched the scratched parts of my body. 

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Edward W. Hook M.D.
45 months ago
Even if your partner had scratched you, and even if he was HIV-infected, the scratch play that you described would still not put you at risk for HIV. Still no need for PEP.  EWH---
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45 months ago
Thank you so much for the answers. 

Just wanted to use the last question to clear up something I’ve thought about before. 

I always try to minimize risky sexual contact, so stick to masturbation.. 

This can include fingering, mostly my question is if I am fingered anally by someone who has a cut maybe like a paper cut or even a bleeding hangnail on the fingers they use. Could that be a risk to me for hiv? I have read that this is only a risk if there is very large amounts of blood, and has never been proven to transmit hiv, is this true? 

Thank you for the great service, and this concludes my questions. 
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
45 months ago
The term masturbation includes hand to genital contact, body rubbing/sliding "frottage"), and anal fingering.  All are considered no risk activities..

The presence of cuts and abrasions on a partner's hands does not change this consideration.  

Hope this helps.  EWH 
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