Bleeding Nipple

[Lost36]

Dr. H,

I have not been able to sleep or eat all weekend.  Please help.

I went to a massage parlor that I thought 'was on the level'.  

Here is what happened, the girl was from China and barely spoke a word of English.

1. I worked out about 3 hours before the massage.
2. When I worked out, my sweaty shirt irritated my left nipple.
3. She rubbed me very hard, more so than ever before.  I told her to stop, but she wouldn't listen and kept rubbing very hard.  I told her my chest was sore, but she simply said "that is what this is for" and kept rubbing.  She didn't understand because she didn't speak English.
4. She rubbed my chest, including my nipples with her open hand for about 10 minutes very hard
5. She rubbed each nipple with her open hand (in a massage fasion) at least 30 times each side
6.  As a result, she irritated the left nipple to the point that it bled (only one drop of blood), but there was a small opening in the nipple.
7.  The nipple hurt the rest of the day and the next day.

Here is my concern.  At the end, she tried to take the towel off and wanted to give me a 'happy ending'.  I denied this (as I went down this road before and had a fight with my wife in the past) and was somewhat surprised as I didn't think it was 'that kind of place' (I have been to those before and most of them have body scrubs, etc. and this one didn't and the lobby was nice and had nice magazines and a leather couch.)

What also concerned me is she said she needed to leave the room and wash her hands because she wanted to give me a face and head massage.  It sounds kind of fishy to me.  

What if she was washing her hands because she created a cut or sore from rubbing me so hard?

I know she didn't have anything on her hands from the guy before (sperm or blood) as I made her wash her hands with Alcohol and soap before my massage, but I am concerned about the following:

1. She obviously created a small bleeding cut from rubbing my chest.
2. She may have had a cut or sore on her hands from rubbing me so hard with her hands.  I didn't look, but I can't be sure.
3. Could I have been infected with HIV if she had a bleeding sore or cut on her hand and rubbed it through my nipple?
4. Can I have sex with my wife or do I need to test first?
5. Can I let this go?

I can't do anything, focus, eat, sleep, anything, please help.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I believe you are over-interpreting your massage partner's movements, motivations, and so on.  In any case, there is no way she could have transmitted HIV to you by the mechanisms you describe, bleeding nipples or note.

You describe a disabling level of anxiety and should seek professional care for it.  I'm not a mental health professional, but it seems clear you are transferring your guilt about your behavior to fear of HIV.

Bottom line: Yes, you can "let this go".  Good luck--

HHH, MD

[monkeyflower]

Re: washing before the head/face massage. If she'd worked on other body parts first, some (most, probably) prefer facial massages with clean or especially non-oily hands. That doesn't sound at all sketchy to me.

In any case, while you wait for Dr. Handsfield's reply, I can assure you that you are literally at zero risk. There is absolutely no way whatsoever you could have contracted anything, regardless of your irritated/bleeding nipple or anything else.

[Lost36]

Thank you so much for your quick response.

Just to be safe,

1.  There is no way she could have given it to me, EVEN if she had an open cut and rubbed my bleeding nipple?

2. Wife is safe to have sex with?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Re-read my response:  "...there is no way she could have transmitted HIV to you by the mechanisms you describe".  If you couldn't have acquired HIV, how could you transmit it to your wife?  How could my response have have been more clear?

HHH, MD

[Lost36]

Thank you, you are right.

Just a bit nervous.  I apologize for bothering you again.

Just a worried wort