Oil Lube

Hello recently I had sex with a latex condom with a woman of unknown HIV status and engaged in unprotected oral sex both as the giver and reciever. Prior to engaging in this portected sex I had used a massage oil on her breats back and buttocks. I also used it on a dildo i inserted in her vagina. My questions are does this oil lube although not placed directly on my penis or her vagina put he at higher risk, from it im assuming still being in her vagina and on my hands when i put the condom on in trace amounts. Also if the condom did not burst or tear from this exposure it is safe to assume it provided adequate protection?  Dr HHH whats my chances on contraction of HIV for this night of passion, theres a lot of confilicting info on oil based lube on wiether the condom needs to noticably break to become infected or if the oil breaks down the latex to the point of uselessness.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Oil based lubricants weaken latex and can cause condom breakage.  However, oil is not a problem if the condom doesn't break.  It doesn't increase "leakage" of secretions or viruses through the latex.  I don't know what "conflicting information" exists -- I doubt there are many professionally run websites or other information sources that say anything different than this.  If there are, you can be sure the information was written by educators, not scientists, who simply don't know the facts.

Even if you hadn't used a condom, any particular episode of vaginal sex is sufficiently low risk that testing is usually not necessary, unless a partner is definitely known to have HIV.  And oral sex is almost zero risk.  So you definitely don't need testing on account of this exposure.

However, all people who are sexually active outside mutually monogamous relationships should have routine STD/HIV testing from time to time, like once every 1-2 years. If you haven't been tested recently, this seems a good time, since it's on your mind.  But not because of this particular event.

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

[Harlo]

I forgot to ask do you reccomend testing in my case?

[Harlo]

Thank you very much, you put me almost a total ease, yes as you stated it was educators and PH.D's that wrote about the leakage not Medical doctors.  I just worry about everything, and the more you read on this damn internet the scarrier it gets. Everytime I have sex with a new partner I freak out for weeks after. But a sincere thank you

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Almost nobody with your sexual lifestyle ever gets HIV.  The vast majority of heterosexually transmitted HIV cases in the US are in the regular partners of infected persons.  That's not to say that casual, one-time exposure carries no risk.  But if you are a consistent condom user, you could continue your current pattern for your entire life and never expect to get HIV.

[Harlo]

Man you are a god send, thank you for the great work and info you give "real life" answers rather than other "experts" i posed this questions to whom suggested testing because of "theoretical" risks.  Thank you Dr you really lifted a weight off me