Masturbation and scratching

Hi Doctor –

I am re-posting this question from the general forum. I accidentally mis-posted. I want a pro opinion, since the answer impacts not only me, but my fiance. I understand you have tackled similar questions, but need to know that I am not missing anything relevant.

Thank-you for taking the time to help so many people. Unfortunately, the I wasn't raised with great education on sex.

I went to a massage parlor for an erotic massage (Asian if that matters). I am uncircumsized, and I do not know if she touched herself - but let's assume she did at some point and she gave me a handjob with lotion. So – that is part one. Part two is more interesting I think (and by interesting, I mean weird) – near the end of the massage we unleashed two sets of nails down my chest like a masseuse Wolverine leaving scratches.

I discussed with my local GP who said that “testing for HIV would be a waste of money” – but when it became aware he didn’t know what RapidTest or OraQuick was I questioned his credibility.

So, I would like your expert opinion:

1) The handjob – my understanding is zero risk and I do not require testing. Do you agree? Do fluids on her hands make a difference?
2) The cat scratch – I haven’t the foggiest. I would think that if HIV "dies" in the air, that a scratch would be harmless as anything on her hands would have went "inert"  --- but hey, I’ve never been a 5th grade chalkboard before. Thoughts?

Your help would be very much appreciated. I have left out “symptoms” since I know they are not a good indicator of risk - if they are relevant, let me know. I am particularly worried since my long-distance girlfriend (fiance) will be visiting in 3 weeks and I would like to know whether there are/are not risks. She will wonder why we won't be having sex after having not seen each other for 6 months!

I should note that this incident was a month ago and that I had an OraQuick negative 2 months ago.

Thank-you.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to the Forum.  I will be glad to address your concerns.  You have actually, in large part answered your own questions and thus my efforts will be aimed more at validating the conclusions you have already come to than anything else.  The long and the short of things is that the exposures that you describe are no risk situation.

Certainly there is absolutely no risk from receipt of masturbation and thus statement is in no way modifiable by variables such as whether or not your masseuse had touched her genital ares during the process, use of lotions, etc.  This remains a totally no risk activity.

As for the scratching, although this is a less common question, this too does not put you at risk, even in the unlikely circumstance that your partner had HIV. HIV is really a rather fragile virus which dies quickly on exposure to the environment and scratching would not effectively introduce HIV into your body in such a way that you would be at any risk for infection.  Skin has many layers and the scratching your received is unlikely to have been full thickness. Further, mechanistically, please understand that when HIV is introduce non-sexually it is typically injected, not scratched into place.

Bottom line, this were no risk activities.  You do not need to be concerned, nor do you need testing.  Thus, there is also no reason related to the exposure you describe for you to abstain from sex with your GF.

I hope this comment is helpful.  EWH

[Chicago_Charlie]

Dr. Hook -


Thank-you for your quick response. It makes sense and was helpful. I will try to push behind me, and will not ask any follow-up "what-ifs".

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Glad to help.  Take care.  EWH

[Chicago_Charlie]

Dr. Hook -

A quick follow-up and a question (I can pay for a new thread if necessary) - I understand this may be unrelated.

As HHH recommends often in his posts, since it was on my mind, during my bi-annual physical - I got an OraSure test at 4.5 weeks post exposure. It was negative. I suppose this aligns with your no-risk comment.

I have had a sore throat for 3 weeks. My GP said that might be a concern. I took this with a grain of salt. I think it is due to anxiety and stress. Can anxiety cause a sore throat?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

I respectfully disagree with your GP.  Your exposure was zero risk.  Your test results confirm that you have nothing to worry about.  It is likely that your symptoms reflect  a community acquired viral infection (like the flu).  EWH