hiv risk from shaving pubic hair

[raj237]

Dear Dr. Handsfield and Dr. Hook

I am sorry to ask you a question which you may find really silly. But I am quite scared afer reading all the contradictory views on the internet. Let me describe to you my situation.

I shaved my pubic area yesterday with a razor and later had protected sex with an escort. I had a protected sex with her and the condom was fully intact throughout. However since I had shaved the pubic area with razor blade, I am scared to death now reading all the contradictory material posted on the net. I did not find any cuts/bruises on the shaved area and the skin seems to be intact as far as I can see with my naked eyes. I never noticed any blood too after shaving. I am just having the tingling sensation which you have after shaving the region. I am scared because this shaved region might have come into contact with the precum and other fluids during the protected intercourse that I had. I also washed off the region with soap after the sexual encounter, even then I did not notice any cut/bruise on the skin only a little pepppry sensation that one may have after shaving.

Does that put me at any risk of having contracted HIV through any micro pores which may have resulted due to my shaving activity before having sex? Please help me I am a married man and quite shaken by the incident. Do you recommend HIV test for me?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome back to our Forum.  I see that you have continued your pattern of asking the same question on our community site, this Forum and the International Forum.  I am confident that once again you will get the same answer at each site.

There is no risk for HIV form shaving your pubic hair shortly before you have sex with a potentially HIV infected partner, and this is the case even if you nicked yourself during shaving and/or you got your partner's genital secretions on the recently shaved area.  HIV is a fragile virus that is only transmitted through direct, unprotected sexual contact or through introduction of the virus deep into tissue.  it is not transmitted though surface contamination and once cuts have stopped bleeding they are not an effective entry-way for HIV.

There is no need for you to worry about the situation that you have described.

One further piece of advice- stay off the internet.  By now you should have realized that there will be as much incorrect information on it as correct information.  EWH

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Glad to help. Take care.  EWH

[raj237]

Thanks a lot Dr. Hook for the explanation, was really worried hence posted the question on different channels.

Thank you once again!