dry humping

[worrier78]

dear doctors

i occasionally engage in this activity with a pre-op transexual prostitute - avoiding any anal/oral sex, in view of STD risks.

on one occasion, 7 weeks + ago, as usual i was clothed, but was wearing briefs (rather than my normal tracksuit) and humped over her butt crack. she was wearing her underwear. i ejaculated in my underwear as normal.

i would have thought that this activity was safe, particularly as regards hiv.

however, i am now down with something...it started with diarrhoea a couple of days ago, which stopped after a night after taking a couple of pills, but i am now feverish (fever went up to 38.5 degrees w/o pills, less with pills). i am also coughing, seem to have a blocked nose and occasionally sneeze. throat seems ok...maybe a bit red, but not really painful.no rash.

is there any chance that this illness could be due to the described incident?

thank you in advance

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Without penetration there is no risk for HIV from frottage/dry humping- even if there is skin to skin contact or genital secretions cget on the surface of your genitals. EWH

[worrier78]

thanks - my GP in fact diagnosed a cold, which has descended into the chest, and i am better now.

.may i kindly ask whether there is any risk of HIV in this kind of activity(I call it humping, but it seems that it is also called frottage, or grinding/rubbing or "intergluteal sex")? I consider it safe (at least from HIV) because to my mind it avoids penetration.

for example, would there be any risk, if i am wearing boxers and my penis happens to accidentally "slip out" during the movement? as i said, the other person would be wearing her underwear, although these are usually a mere G string!

thanks once again for your time.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to our Forum and congratulations to you for your commitment to safe sex.  Your. Urgent illness and the activities you describe are coincidence and not related.  HIV is transmitted in adults only through penetrative sexual contact or injection of infected material deep into tissue.  It is not transmitted through frottage (dry humping) or through clothing, even if the clothing is wet.

Your current symptoms are not related to your recent contact.  I hope you feel better soon.  In the meantime, please do not worry that your current illness is related to HIV from the encounter you have described.  EWH