Question

[ndhlp3]

Dr. EWH / HHH,

While having a protected sexual intercourse with my girlfriend my penis accidentally and very quickly came out of her vagina and some of her vaginal fluid sort of splashed out of her vagina with a few drops ending up on my face and I think my eye (she was on top of me and it just happened this way). I don't know her status but if she is HIV positive - would that put me at risk? Would it be possible for the virus to transmit if vaginal fluid got into my eye? I washed my eyes with water right away but I'm still very worried! Am I at risk? I'm really worried about this incident.

Thank you.

[ndhlp3]

Thank you so much for your answers, Dr. EWH!

[Edward W Hook, MD]

FYI, the blinnk is a reflex which is just about impossible to not do and happens so fast most peole are unaware that they've done it.



Irrespective, still no risk.  EWH

[ndhlp3]

Thank you very much for your answer, Dr. EWH! What a relief - I was really worried about this. She is not a drug user or anything but I'm just concerned about HIV in general and would like to ensure that I don't engage in risky behaviors.

So even if I didn't blink before the splash and the fluid did get into my eye - there's still no reason for concern as this is not a way for the virus to transmit? When this happened I kept my eye closed for about a minute until I went to the bathroom to wash it with water. Maybe that was a wrong thing to do and it would be better if I kept my eye open to expose it to air? There is still no concern and risk? Safe to forget about the incident and move on?

Thank you very much, Dr. EWH!

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to the Forum.  This is not an exposure to be concerned about.  For starters, do you really think your GF might have HIV?  I realize one can never know but I suspect you will agree with me that it is unlikely since HIV is really a rather rare disease and you did not tell me that she had any of the typical risk factors for HIV such as IV drug use.

Even if, by some weird chance, she did have HIV, transmission through entry of vaginal secretions as a splash in the eye is not a route of infection. The eye has its own defense mechanisms, starting with the blink which effectively prevent introduction of foreign bodies and infectious materials into the eye.  HIV is not transmitted this way despite the fact that there are plenty of persons who have been splashed in the eye with infected blood, genital secretions, etc.  I would not worry and you do not need testing related to this exposure although if this is an ongoing relationship, perhaps there is some value to both of you getting tested together for HIV and other STDs so that you know the relationship is going forth with a "clean slate".

I hope my comments are helpful. EWH.