Pep-finger cut

Dear Dr Handsfield.

I went to Tijuana last night. Had protected sex and I fingered a csw.  I mostly fingered her with my middle finger on the right hand.  But I think also fingered her with my thumb for a few seconds (10-15). I was drinking a bit. 12 hours before the fingering I cut my nail on my thumb and I cut the nail too close to the skin and noticed slight pain but I did not see blood. This morning I look carefully at my thumb and noticed some dried blood very closed to the nail area and some slight pain as well. Do I need PEP. I asked the csw if she is clean and she said yes and showed me her health card. Please help me. Going crazy.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

There is no risk for HIV, which is never transmitted by fingering, regardless of cuts or nicks on the fingers.  And most sex workers, including those in Tijuana, don't have HIV; and you provide evidence that suggests your partner did not have HIV.  You don't even need HIV testing on account of this event and for sure not PEP.

Your thread just 2 weeks ago ended with this advice:  "'If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen'.  In other words, stop your commercial exposures.  But if you continue them, just use condoms consistently.  Then stop worrying about HIV and avoid the temptation to repeatedly seek advice about every sexual exposure or every minor symptom."

MedHelp allows a maximum of 2 questions every 6 months on the professionally moderated forums.  Any new ones before next summer will be deleted without reply (and without refund of the posting fee).

HHH, MD

[snoopyqtie]

Dear Dr. Handsfield;

Thank you for your prompt advice. I feel a bit better now. Would it make a difference if the small cut was "open" near the nail? What happen if there were small amount of blood present? I also changed condom several times would that increase the risk for protected sex?

You are right I will not do this kind of things anymore. Its not worth the anguish I am going through.


MH

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

No, this makes no difference.  I don't see why frequent condom changes would make any difference, as long as there was no penetration without condom.

There isn't any information you can provide that is likely to change my opinion or advice.  Please accept the reassurance and move on.

[snoopyqtie]

Dear Dr. Handsfield;

Thank you for all your help this year. You have been a tremendous help to me and all the people that needed professional advice from an expert. Have a wonderful holiday with your loved ones.

MH

[snoopyqtie]

Dear Dr Handsfield;

The condom I used last time with csw was a Tojan  latex condom with Nonoxynol-9. I remember reading on this site that it doesn't protect against hiv. Please help.  Am I at risk if the condom did not break? I thought that as long as the condom is latex than it is protection against hiv. I am petrified and I need clarification.


MH

[snoopyqtie]

I am pretty sure that I did not use Nonoxynol-9 condom in the past because I have many of the old condom boxes and I didn't see any Nonoxynol-9 boxes.

The Nonoxynol-9 is in both sides of the condom. Would using  Nonoxynol-9  condoms damage the urethral open and the layers of foreskin hence increase HIV risk? Now would this increase HIV risk from several condom changes?  

Thank you
MH

[snoopyqtie]

Clarification: I did used Nonoxynol-9 condom with the last csw but I am pretty sure not before this.

MH

[Vance2335]

Just to jump in N-9 does not protect against HIV but the condom does. It was said years ago that N-9 might help prevent STD and HIV transmission during a condom break but after a couple of studies it was concluded that it did not. It's use is for the male ejaculatory, basically to help "kill" sperm to prevent pregnancy.

You have no worries as Dr.HHH has said.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

As I said above, "There isn't any information you can provide that is likely to change my opinion or advice.  Please accept the reassurance and move on."  One more anxiety-driven comment and the entire thread will be deleted.