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Can HIV be contracted this way?
Unfortunately I'm a very paranoid person, so you reading this may make you think I'm mad to think i could have contracted HIV.
Anyway, I am 21, male and have had sexual contact with numerous other guys, around my age. If I have ever had sex, which is a few times, it has been with a condom (and a slightly thicker condom). If anyone has had with sex with me, which was twice, then one time they used a condom and did not ejaculate inside me, and the second person used a condom (well 2 actually I'm so paranoid...I know that's not the best idea but they did not fall off whatsoever) and most likely ejaculated as they were pulling out or after they did.
I read today that HIV can be contracted through mucous membranes, including the head of the penis. I am circumcised if that makes any difference (apparently it may slightly reduce the risk?). So, from this, if someone ejaculates and some semen comes into contact with the head of my penis, does that have a risk? I always try to even prevent that happening, but perhaps in the past semen may have come into contact there and this therefore worries me. I understand HIV is most commonly transferred by unprotected anal sex, which I know never to do, however I only read today that the penis head is a mucous membrane so if infected semen comes into contact with that, does it pose a risk? Or am I just being paranoid?
Anyway, I am 21, male and have had sexual contact with numerous other guys, around my age. If I have ever had sex, which is a few times, it has been with a condom (and a slightly thicker condom). If anyone has had with sex with me, which was twice, then one time they used a condom and did not ejaculate inside me, and the second person used a condom (well 2 actually I'm so paranoid...I know that's not the best idea but they did not fall off whatsoever) and most likely ejaculated as they were pulling out or after they did.
I read today that HIV can be contracted through mucous membranes, including the head of the penis. I am circumcised if that makes any difference (apparently it may slightly reduce the risk?). So, from this, if someone ejaculates and some semen comes into contact with the head of my penis, does that have a risk? I always try to even prevent that happening, but perhaps in the past semen may have come into contact there and this therefore worries me. I understand HIV is most commonly transferred by unprotected anal sex, which I know never to do, however I only read today that the penis head is a mucous membrane so if infected semen comes into contact with that, does it pose a risk? Or am I just being paranoid?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Sorry about the typo. Indeed I meant foreskin, not forum.
I will have no further coments on this thread.
I will have no further coments on this thread.
he meant foreskin.
Also, he already told you that you have nothing to worry about.
Also, he already told you that you have nothing to worry about.
Dr H has answered your question more than once i suggest you seek some help for that OCD attack that your having
I'm sorry to ask for further information (though I did pay so I feel I should fully understand your answer) but what do you mean by the skin inside the 'forum'? At the end of the day, if someones semen did come into contact with my penis head, which I've always been conscious of, I find it hard to believe that those secretions would then seep down into the urethra. And if any semen did come into contact, it would be a very small amount.
I know I'm only trying to reassure myself...but as long as I do not partake in anything known to be risky, such as unprotected anal sex or oral sex, I assume I have nothing to worry about. Am I right in saying that worrying this much about contracting HIV by mutual masturbation, where their semen may possibly come into contact with my penis head by chance, is really not worth panicking over?
I know I'm only trying to reassure myself...but as long as I do not partake in anything known to be risky, such as unprotected anal sex or oral sex, I assume I have nothing to worry about. Am I right in saying that worrying this much about contracting HIV by mutual masturbation, where their semen may possibly come into contact with my penis head by chance, is really not worth panicking over?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Infected secretions can get into the urethra, which is lined with mucous membrane. And the skin inside the forum is susceptible even though it's not a mucous membrane.
You need to stop thinking about the biology of HIV transmission. It is extremely complex and even the world's top experts do not fully understand it. Just believe the epidemiologic data about what kinds of sexual practices are or are not risky, and forget the biological explanations. For practical purposes, they don't matter.
The risk figures of 1 in 10,000 or whatever are very broad estimates. The sort of exposure you described above undoubtedly is less than that associated with most sexual exposures. But nobody can say more.
You need to stop thinking about the biology of HIV transmission. It is extremely complex and even the world's top experts do not fully understand it. Just believe the epidemiologic data about what kinds of sexual practices are or are not risky, and forget the biological explanations. For practical purposes, they don't matter.
The risk figures of 1 in 10,000 or whatever are very broad estimates. The sort of exposure you described above undoubtedly is less than that associated with most sexual exposures. But nobody can say more.
Thanks for your reply. If the penis head is not a mucous membrane I don't understand how HIV can be transmitted if semen comes into contact with it. However, from your answer I presume there's very little need to worry. I have seen statistics quoted such as you have a 1 in 10,000 chance of contracting HIV from oral sex for example with a positive person, is the incident/s I described ones which have a similarly minute risk?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
As you suggest yourself, you are over-thinking the risk situation. HIV is pretty hard to transmit. Is it conceivable a person could be infected by brief exposure of semen to the head of his penis, especially if uncircumcised? Yes. Is it likely? No.
The penis head is not a mucous membrane. That term refers only to the linings of various body openings, like the mouth, rectum, since the female genital tract, inside the penis.
As I implied, stop over-thinking the risks. The basic safe sex rules for men who have sex with men are: 1) Always ask and share HIV status with potential partners before having sex, even if safe sex is planned. (That's because condoms sometimes fail, and intentions to remain safe sometimes are forgotten at the peak of passion.) 2) Always use condoms for anal sex with other than mutually monogamous partners.
If you consistently do both those things, you can expect a full lifetime of rewarding sex and rewarding personal relationships, without ever getting HIV. Some would advise also using condoms for oral sex. The risk of transmission by oral sex is low enough that it probably makes little difference, but that would remove whatever minor risk would persist without such condom use.
But truly, you don't need to worry about the minor, incidental sorts of exposures you describe. HIV isn't so easily transmitted.
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
The penis head is not a mucous membrane. That term refers only to the linings of various body openings, like the mouth, rectum, since the female genital tract, inside the penis.
As I implied, stop over-thinking the risks. The basic safe sex rules for men who have sex with men are: 1) Always ask and share HIV status with potential partners before having sex, even if safe sex is planned. (That's because condoms sometimes fail, and intentions to remain safe sometimes are forgotten at the peak of passion.) 2) Always use condoms for anal sex with other than mutually monogamous partners.
If you consistently do both those things, you can expect a full lifetime of rewarding sex and rewarding personal relationships, without ever getting HIV. Some would advise also using condoms for oral sex. The risk of transmission by oral sex is low enough that it probably makes little difference, but that would remove whatever minor risk would persist without such condom use.
But truly, you don't need to worry about the minor, incidental sorts of exposures you describe. HIV isn't so easily transmitted.
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
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