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HIV through sores on the pubic area
I am a 28 year male who had protected vaginal sex (using condoms) with a sex worker woman with unknown HIV status on 04 April 2010 . I have sores (pink in color) in the pubic area about an inch away from the penis which have been existing since much before this encounter. I have no visible sores, bumps, lesion, etc. on the penis or scrotum.
1) What are the chances of me contracting HIV if the vaginal secretion of the woman came in contact with these sores on the pubic region?
2) Do the chances go up if the woman was in her periods?
3) Do you recommend me going for the early detection test?
Your response will be much appreciated since I have been in a lot of stress over this!!
Thanks !
1) What are the chances of me contracting HIV if the vaginal secretion of the woman came in contact with these sores on the pubic region?
2) Do the chances go up if the woman was in her periods?
3) Do you recommend me going for the early detection test?
Your response will be much appreciated since I have been in a lot of stress over this!!
Thanks !
l also have the same prob though mine are painful whn they appear and become itchy as they dissapear.they recure now and again.am so worried abt it .l end up taking antibiotics to speed up the healing.l am 34 and female
Thank you very much for the comment. I will surely get the rash checked from a doctor.
Your advice has really helped me feel relaxed.
Your advice has really helped me feel relaxed.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I still don't have a clear picture, but it sounds like you have a spotty skin rash. The word "sore" usually means something is open and raw, but from what you say, it sounds like the skin is intact. If so, there is no risk of HIV.
Regardless of HIV risk, you should get this checked out by a health professional. Being sweaty certainly is not the explanation. Maybe you have psoriasis, eczema, or a fungal skin infection. Probably it could be easily trated. (And by the way, it definitely isn't herpes.)
But don't worry about HIV in this situation. You don't need testing.
Regardless of HIV risk, you should get this checked out by a health professional. Being sweaty certainly is not the explanation. Maybe you have psoriasis, eczema, or a fungal skin infection. Probably it could be easily trated. (And by the way, it definitely isn't herpes.)
But don't worry about HIV in this situation. You don't need testing.
Thanks for the comments.
The sores as i said have been existing for a long time (atleast a year). They do not come and go but have been there consistently. These sores are itchy but do not hold pus and do not bleed unless I scratch in the area.
When I apply water (as in just after shower) they appear pink in color and soft, but over the day they turn dark brownish and dry.
They are not really painful unless pressed at hard and one really recent thing (actually just today) that I observed is that they burn a bit when in contact with urine or semen, though with water they do not burn.
I have always thought of them to be there as I sweat a lot in that region.
The sores as i said have been existing for a long time (atleast a year). They do not come and go but have been there consistently. These sores are itchy but do not hold pus and do not bleed unless I scratch in the area.
When I apply water (as in just after shower) they appear pink in color and soft, but over the day they turn dark brownish and dry.
They are not really painful unless pressed at hard and one really recent thing (actually just today) that I observed is that they burn a bit when in contact with urine or semen, though with water they do not burn.
I have always thought of them to be there as I sweat a lot in that region.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum.
First, assuming you are in the US or other industrialized country, it is unlikely your partner had HIV. Among most sex workers in such countries, fewer than 1 in 1,000 have HIV. Second, HIV is rarely if ever transmitted by the sort of exposure you describe. Third, you don't describe the "sores" enough to allow any judgment about the risk. Are they open sores? Bleeding? What is the cause? Do they come and go (e.g., herpes)?
To your specific questions:
1) Probably under 1 chance in a million, even if she had HIV. Unless the sores are open, bleeding wounds -- then 1 chance in a few thousand maybe. That's if she has HIV, which she probably does not.
2) In theory, the risk might go up a bit if menstrual blood were present. But even doubling a risk of 1 in a million is pretty meaningless. Would you really panic if it were 1 chance in 500 thousand instead?
3) I don't recommend HIV testing at all in this situation, except for anxiety relief. If the negative result will help you sleep better, just have a standard antibody test after 6-8 weeks.
Let me know a bit more about the sores and perhaps I'll have another brief comment. In the meantime, I hope this helps.
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
First, assuming you are in the US or other industrialized country, it is unlikely your partner had HIV. Among most sex workers in such countries, fewer than 1 in 1,000 have HIV. Second, HIV is rarely if ever transmitted by the sort of exposure you describe. Third, you don't describe the "sores" enough to allow any judgment about the risk. Are they open sores? Bleeding? What is the cause? Do they come and go (e.g., herpes)?
To your specific questions:
1) Probably under 1 chance in a million, even if she had HIV. Unless the sores are open, bleeding wounds -- then 1 chance in a few thousand maybe. That's if she has HIV, which she probably does not.
2) In theory, the risk might go up a bit if menstrual blood were present. But even doubling a risk of 1 in a million is pretty meaningless. Would you really panic if it were 1 chance in 500 thousand instead?
3) I don't recommend HIV testing at all in this situation, except for anxiety relief. If the negative result will help you sleep better, just have a standard antibody test after 6-8 weeks.
Let me know a bit more about the sores and perhaps I'll have another brief comment. In the meantime, I hope this helps.
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
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