Hiv exposure and risk?

Dear Doctor,

12 days ago I met an escort. I performed oral sex on her for about two minutes. In addition we spent along time kissing mouth to mouth. I inserted my finger into her vagina several times. About a week ago I met the same escort and had protected oral sex with a condom and  vaginal sex with her and again had inserted my fingers into her vagina. Upon completion I found out she was in the last day of her period and when I removed my penis I saw blood on the condom and some blood on my shirt that I still was wearing and also some drops of blood had gotten onto my legs and stomach. I went into the shower about an hour later and washed down with soap. I am afraid that when I performed oral sex on her the week before she was in the beginning stages of her period. I do have gum disease and am afraid if I had an opening in my mouth that any blood I did not see coud have entered an opening in my mouth. I did not taste or see any blood at that point and she did not mention anything to me either. Could you please let me know what risk I have with the above mentioned activities? Thank You.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Relax; you have no worries about catching HIV from this sort of exposure.  Nobody has ever been reported to catch HIV by performing oral sex on a woman.  That doesn't mean the risk is zero, but it's certainly very low.  Most likely it makes little difference whether you have gum disease or your partner was menstruating, but most women's periods last 4-5 days, so it is unlikely.  In any case, exposure to so little blood that you can't see it is the same as no blood exposure at all.  HIV is not transmitted by fingering, so there's no risk there.  The only potentially risk exposure you describe is vaginal sex and you used a condom for that, so this isn't an issue either.

So even if your partner had HIV, there was no signficant transmission risk.  On top of all that, as discussed very frequently on this forum, most commercial sex workers don't have HIV, especially in industrialized countries; and among CSWs the risk probably is lowest in the more expensive ones like escorts.  Finally, when an escort asks her clients to use condoms, it's a good sign she isn't infected and intends to stay that way.  In general, CSWs are at higher STD/HIV risk from their clients than vice versa.

Bottom line:  No appreciable risk and no need for HIV testing.  And although you don't ask about sex with your regular partner, if you have one, it might be on your mind.  I never guarantee someone isn't infected, but if I were in your situation, I would be comfortable continuing unprotected sex with my wife.

I hope this helps.  Best wishes--  HHH, MD

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

True, but this isn't anything scientific.  It's soft evidence at best.