Thank You in advance

[Scared22207]

Hi
In the last 4 years, I,ve been with about 80 strippers. I've kiss all of them and fingered 40 to 60 of them in 08 I went oral with maybe 2 or 3 of them (short time as Im not in to it), also lick a inserted finger of a couple of them. I've just stopped going in aug 2010. in March of 2010 had really bad flu. 4-5 days the middle 2 days I had really bad body ache, on the last day the flu symptons went away, but had severe head pain, then went away.Ive never been kick down like that before. Now after freaking out since mid aug. stressing and no appetite. Im down 5-7 pounds. Should I worry, I'm trying to rekindle my relationship with my wife, but am afraid to have sex with her. Would I be putting her in any danger? We love each other but have had issues and have not had sex in that time. I HAD NO PENETRATION SEX WITH ANY OF THEM. Two of them did take out my penis, and while holding the top of it they rubbed there virgina lip on it. I had a couple of questoins for knowledge.
1 How does the virus tranmit with anal sex? Is it through skin breakage
2 How does it tranmit with vaginal sex? I was assuming through the hole in the penis.
3 Every one on here says a cut finger does not matter when fingering. I'm wondering why? I know one time I had a small tear behind the cuticle and when I enter her vagina it stung a little.As soon as I realized this I switched fingers. Thank you.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Despite the fact that they both are "skin" the skin covering the fingers is quite different thatn the skin covering the penis.  It is thicker, has a different structure below the surface and has differenct quantities of cells susceptible to the virus.

I have already told you that you do not need to worry.  I should not need to repeat it. EWH

[Scared22207]

Thank you for your response. I am alittle curious, if hiv is spread through small tears in penis with intercourse,then why not through torn or exposed skin on finger? I have read alot of your post on this and I'm baffled. You think I can have sex with my wife with out worry? Thank you.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to the Forum.  I want to reinforce what you have already been told on the HIV Prevention.  The exposures you describe do not put you at risk for HIV.  HIV is spread by penetrative sex or injection of infected material deep into tissue, particularly mucosal tissue.  It is not spread by kissing, masturbation (fingering) and there is no good evidence that it is spread through oral sex.  

1.  It is thought that anal sex is a bit more traumatic than genital sex, resulting in small breaks in the skin into which the virus is worked in through repetitive motion.
2.  See above. A bit less traumatic.  Some virus is probably introduced through the opening in the penis, called the urethral meatus.  There is less penile mucosal tissue than in the rectum.
3.  Surface contamination does not lead to transmission.  

In summary, your post and your questions indicate that you are very nervous about these exposures.  In cases such as this, no amount of logical explanation is helpful.  I suggest you get 1 HIV test at this time.  It will be negative,  Then believe the result and move forward without worry.  EWH