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HIV Prevention  (Expert Forum)
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Eczema and vaginal fluids
Answered by
University of Washington Seattle - WA
This forum is limited to prevention of HIV and to safe sex in general. All questions will be answered by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D. or Edward W Hook, MD.

Eczema and vaginal fluids

by nascar001, Jun 26, 2009 10:58AM
Dear Doctor

I read many answers to questions very similar to mine, I see every time the answer is that this is a no risk situation, so I will keep my question simple as posible because i have only one doubt.

I was with a woman, she was married for more than 10 years, she has been divorced for 6 month, we kissed for a while and had mutual masturbation, now I read many times in your answers this are both safe sex no risk situations, my only concern is that I have eczema on the shaft of my penis, right under the head, and she masturbated her self for a while and then she used the same hand to masturbate me, so I am sure the was some vaginal fluids on her hand,

She masturbated me for no more than 30 seconds and I am not really sure if the fluids touched the eczema, but of course it is posible.

My question is will the eczema change the situation from risk free to some risk?  I had no visible openings or sores at the moment, but it was red and looked like irritated, I also want to know about this because I want to know if my eczema increses risks for future events.

She tells me she was tested 3 months ago and has not had sex for 6 months , I think I beleive her but of course I can`t be sure.

Thank you

by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Jun 26, 2009 12:52PM
Welccome to the forum.

You have correctly learned there is no plausible risk of HIV transmission in this sort of event, but I am happy to confirm it.  First, you describe a partner who almost certainly did not have HIV; that would have been pretty certain even without the HIV tests, but those prove it. Second, hand-genital contact has never been known to transmit HIV, regardless of inflamatory lesions, cuts, etc on the hands.

If you were ever to have sexual exposure with a person known to have HIV, I would recommend protecting any eczema-affected body parts from direct exposure to blood or body fluids.  Otherwise, you have no worries about this.

Regards--  HHH, MD
Member Comments (9)

by nascar001, Jun 26, 2009 02:19PM
To: Dr. HHH
Thank you for your reasuring answer, just one more thing so I get this out of my mind
No problem even if she did have vaginal fluids on her hand that might have been in contact with my eczema?  will the skin protect even with the eczema? or is it simply that there wont be enough vaginal fluid on her hand?

Thank you again, no more what ifs after this.

by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Jun 26, 2009 04:48PM
Both explanations make sense.  Because such transmssion has never been suspected, nobody has done any research on this and they never will. Common sense says it isn't a problem.

by nascar001, Jun 26, 2009 04:50PM
To: Dr.HHH
Sorry doctor, the questions I did on my second post are just because in your answer you specify there has never been known to be a transmition regardes of lesions ,cuts etc on the hands.

I just wanted to clarify the eczema is on my penis, and her fluids on her hand, is your answer the same? the skin on my penis will protect against the posible fluids on her hand?

I know I said no more what if questions, Its just that I reread my question and I thnk I didnt explain I wasnt sure if the answer was for exzema (eczema) on the penis , not on the hand.

Thank you again, really appreciate it,

by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Jun 27, 2009 02:45AM
Oh, come on.  Use just a little common sense.  It makes no difference where the eczema is.  See paragraph 3 of my original reply.  Any more of this silliness and I will delete the entire thread.

by nascar001, Jun 30, 2009 10:54AM
To: Dr. HHH
Sorry Doctor, your second answer came right after i wrote my third question, you are right I was making silly questions.

So for what i understand no need for testing, no problem with unprotected sex with my regular partner?

Thank you Doctor

by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Jun 30, 2009 01:08PM
If you cannot have been infected, I see no reason for you to avoid sex with your regular partner.  Of course I can't guarantee anything, but if I were in your situation, I would continue unprotected sex with my wife.

by nascar001, Jun 30, 2009 05:40PM
To: Dr. HHH
Dear Doctor,

As I just finished reading your last answer, I saw in the square below, the one with the related descussions a question titled Eczema on back of shaft,etc,  to which dr. Edward answered there has been cases related to extreme eczema.

I have 2 questions I hope you can still answer as I might have already asked to much.

1. my eczema looks a little red a little irritated maybe a small part a little swallen , but to me it doesnt look that much, it does not have any visible openings or sores, so I would think it is certanly a mild case, but I putted some perfume of course with alcohol, an it did feel hot  and didnt sting much or right away but it did sting a little and felt hot,  does this mean it had to be open or have open wounds or be risky?

2 I would think Dr. Edward was refering to a risk with extreme eczema with vaginal sex, am I right? not just as I told you maybe some vaginal fluids on the hands , am I right?

Thank you dorctor, promise not to bother you again with this, and hope not to have to bother you again!!

by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Jul 01, 2009 01:45AM
Extreme eczema with overt cracking, and especially with bleeding, would be a different story.  Even so, the transmission risk through non-insertive sexual contact would be low.

That should end this thread.  Take care.
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