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HIV Prevention (Expert Forum)
Chafing/HIV Risk
Answered by
University of Washington
Seattle - WA
This forum is limited to prevention of HIV and to safe sex in general. If you believe you might have been exposed to HIV and want help to judge your risk, would like advice about HIV testing, or have questions about the effectiveness of condoms or the risks associated with specific sexual practices, this is the site for you.
IMPORTANT
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If you have not done so, please review other threads in our archives for questions similar to yours and Dr. Handsfield's replies. Questions that duplicate other frequent ones, for which abundant replies exist, and that have little educational value for other forum users, will be DELETED WITHOUT RESPONSE. YOUR PAYMENT WILL NOT BE REFUNDED. The most common examples of such questions are those about low risk exposures to HIV, such as oral sex, condom- protected intercourse hand-to-genital exposure, and nonsexual contact with possibly infected blood or body fluids as well as symptoms of early HIV infection.
No questions will be accepted on the treatment of HIV/AIDS or its complications, viral load, and similar topics. If you have questions about a specific STD other than HIV/AIDS, please visit the STD Forum. Questions that do not pertain to the above topics will be removed from the forum.
If you have not done so, please review other threads in our archives for questions similar to yours and Dr. Handsfield's replies. Questions that duplicate other frequent ones, for which abundant replies exist, and that have little educational value for other forum users, will be DELETED WITHOUT RESPONSE. YOUR PAYMENT WILL NOT BE REFUNDED. The most common examples of such questions are those about low risk exposures to HIV, such as oral sex, condom- protected intercourse hand-to-genital exposure, and nonsexual contact with possibly infected blood or body fluids as well as symptoms of early HIV infection.
Chafing/HIV Risk
by thinstar, Mar 30, 2007 12:00AM
Morning,
This site is wonderful. I did review other postings and I still felt my question was relevant, I hope you agree. I will preface this by stating I test for HIV twice per year and have never placed myself in this situation before. I tested negative in November 06. I have not been placed at risk since that time or even before. I am a gay male. Several days ago I stupidly had a one night stand with someone of unknown status. It started out safe (with condom and alot of lube) and was a rather lengthy session. I was the insertive male. No other sexual activity occured. At some point the rubber came off, however, I dont know if it went inside him totally while I continued to top or if it slipped off of my penis when I pulled out. I know when I pulled out I didn't "notice" any blood on my penis or anywhere else, also, I didn't seem to notice any other "residue" from him on me anywhere just prior to showering. The next morning there was minor chafing at the base up to about a third of my penis and slightly on the right side of my testicles. My question: Assuming this guy was HIV+, have I placed myself at an extremely high HIV risk due to probably topping without a condom and the chaffing? I will be getting tested for all other STD's either if symptoms occur or after an appropriate time lapses. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this post.
This site is wonderful. I did review other postings and I still felt my question was relevant, I hope you agree. I will preface this by stating I test for HIV twice per year and have never placed myself in this situation before. I tested negative in November 06. I have not been placed at risk since that time or even before. I am a gay male. Several days ago I stupidly had a one night stand with someone of unknown status. It started out safe (with condom and alot of lube) and was a rather lengthy session. I was the insertive male. No other sexual activity occured. At some point the rubber came off, however, I dont know if it went inside him totally while I continued to top or if it slipped off of my penis when I pulled out. I know when I pulled out I didn't "notice" any blood on my penis or anywhere else, also, I didn't seem to notice any other "residue" from him on me anywhere just prior to showering. The next morning there was minor chafing at the base up to about a third of my penis and slightly on the right side of my testicles. My question: Assuming this guy was HIV+, have I placed myself at an extremely high HIV risk due to probably topping without a condom and the chaffing? I will be getting tested for all other STD's either if symptoms occur or after an appropriate time lapses. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this post.
Doctor's Answer
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Mar 30, 2007 12:00AM
, Mar 30, 2007 12:00AM
It really is impossible to accurately predict the actual risk for any particular exposure. I believe the ballpark figure cited for topping a known-infected bottom is 1 in 500. But such data do not take into account such things as ejaculation/no ejaculation, duration of sex, vigor of sex (which might cause chafing), circumcisions status, or the presence of other STDs in either partner--all of which can shift the risk up and down. They also don't take the infected person's viral load into account. And I certainly cannot judge your risk in relation to whether or not you saw blood or secretions on yourself when sex was done.
Putting your risks all together, some experts would recommend PEP, but it's too late--no known value more than 72 hours after exposure. Certainly you should be HIV tested--although that really is optional if you can locate your partner and learn he is HIV negative.
Which brings me to your big mistake: No man should ever have sex with another man without mutual sharing of HIV status. Always, always, always ask!, even when safe sex is planned. Asking and sharing HIV status is equally important as safe sex in preveting HIV. You are an excellent illustration why: safe sex sometimes doesn't work, and other times just gets forgotten in the heat of the moment.
That said, don't panic. Statistically, the odds are strongly in your favor that you don't have HIV. Assuming testing shows you dodged the bullet, though, please take this event as a lesson learned and keep safe in the future.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
Putting your risks all together, some experts would recommend PEP, but it's too late--no known value more than 72 hours after exposure. Certainly you should be HIV tested--although that really is optional if you can locate your partner and learn he is HIV negative.
Which brings me to your big mistake: No man should ever have sex with another man without mutual sharing of HIV status. Always, always, always ask!, even when safe sex is planned. Asking and sharing HIV status is equally important as safe sex in preveting HIV. You are an excellent illustration why: safe sex sometimes doesn't work, and other times just gets forgotten in the heat of the moment.
That said, don't panic. Statistically, the odds are strongly in your favor that you don't have HIV. Assuming testing shows you dodged the bullet, though, please take this event as a lesson learned and keep safe in the future.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
Through embarrassment or fear of condemnation, most people, gay or straight, are uncomfortable contacting the other person in such situations. When they do, the experience is usually like yours: the other person was just as frightened and truly appreciates the opportunity to talk it through. I am aware of situations in which people became close friends, and at least one case that blossomed into a long-term partnership.
I hope others will take a lesson from your experiences, both the parts you now regret and those that worked out OK.
I wanted to tell you and anyone that read this that I went for my STD full screen today and everything on that aspect was negative. This is 22 days (almost four weeks) after intercourse. Also, I went ahead and had a RAPID test done with the finger *****, it too came out negative. I know it is a tad early but since I was there I thought it couldn't hurt to get it done. I will of course follow up.