Extremely Worried: Question About Risk from Mutual Masturbation

Hi Doctor,

Thank you so much for your insightful posts on this forum. I have learned a lot from reading through them, but I felt it would be best to ask this question directly to you. About 4 weeks ago, I had the first sexual encounter of my life (I am 21). I met a guy who I did not know before that night (although he repeatedly told me he was HIV negative, I have no way to know), and we proceeded to mutually masturbate each other. He did not ejaculate, but I did. He touched my penis with the same hand that he had used to masturbate himself. I can't remember whether or not he had pre-ejaculate on his hand or not, which really worries me. To make matters worse, the next day I noticed I had the smallest pink spot on my penis from shaving the night before, making me think I had a vulnerable spot. Also, I washed my penis immediately after the encounter. Was that a mistake? All this has made me extremely worried and I can't seem to sleep or focus on anything else but this. That being said, my questions are:

1)  How risky was this encounter? Could I have acquired HIV from this? I am worried sick.

2) Should I get tested? If so, when?

3) I just came down with what seems like a cold. Should I be worried about this?

Thank you so much for all your service through this forum, I'm sure I speak for many when I say I really appreciate it.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to our forum. I'll be pleased to help. Even if your partner had HIV and it is unlikely that he did since most people do tell the truth about their status. there is no risk whatsoever of acquiring HIV from mutual masturbation, even if you had a nick on your penis from shaving. The fact is that in the course of mutual masturbation it is quite typical for participants to get each others' genital secretions on one another yet, as I've already said, no one has ever gotten HIV through mutual masturbation.  There is no medical need to get tested related to this encounter.

Sorry to hear that you have a cold.  This is a coincidence and nothing more.  I hope it passes quickly. EWH

[scaredwithquestions]

Thank you thank you! I also have a canker sore, is this also something that I am worrying too much about? Reading your post has already helped put my mind at ease. I really appreciate it.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

No, your canker sore is not something to be worried about. EWH

[scaredwithquestions]

Thanks again! You have really helped put my mind at ease. Take care.

[scaredwithquestions]

Hi Dr. Hook, I promise this is my last question. After doing more reading on this site, it seems like some of the symptoms I have been experiencing may be consistent with ARS (I had a sore throat, have been tired, may have swollen nodes, and have that canker sore), not to mention most of them occurred just under 4 weeks after the encounter. Any last advice? Or am I just too worried?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

You are entirely too worried.  You have a plain old, every day sore throat.  You engaged in mutual masturbation.There is no risk for HIV from mutual masturbation. EWH

[scaredwithquestions]

Well that certainly is reassuring! Just as a backup, I got a UniGold antibody test today and it came back negative (4 weeks post). Is there a need for further confirmatory testing in a few weeks/months?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

No, no need to confirm a negative test following a no risk exposure.

It is time for this thread to end.  Take care.EWH