confused about data

Hello doctor, I wrote on here a while ago asking about my two exposures and you just deleted without response so I am going to take that as I had nothing to worry about and I didnt have a risk.  But since then I have developed some questions and I think they have good educational value as I cant find the answers anywhere. In case your wondering I wrote about getting blood on my arm and jersey and I cant remember if I was cut and the other was me getting cut and then also finding somebody elses blood on me.  Well upon reading on other sites it says that transmission can occur if you get blood in an open cut or sore or mucos membrane.  But yet on that same site also says that once HIV is outside it host it looses it ability to reproduce and thus it looses its ability to infect someone. So according to that once blood is outside of the body it cant infect someone but yet they always say watch out for open cuts or sores.  Is it really just a case of probable risk vs. actual risk.  Also what is the chance a guy can tranmsit hiv to a girl after 1 episode of unprotected sex. Im asking cause I wasnt going to have unprotected sex with my girlfriend until I was tested and I knew I was fine just in case I did get it from those two exposures but the other day we did and im terrified.  Im just really confused about the mixed data thats out there.                                                                                            

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Sigh.  You need to pay ZERO ATTENTION to statements about theoretical risks of transmission, whether it survives outside the body and how long, what 'can occcur', and all that sort of stuff.  Focus only on what DOES occur.  The fact is that nobody has ever been known to be infected by the kind of exposure you describe.  All other facts are irrelevant to your seriously irrational fears.

There are no 'mixed data out there'.  There is only variable advice, not data; and much of that from nonprofessional sites.  Stop looking on the internet for bad news that you know you won't like.

You can search for a hundred threads to learn the risk of transmission by vaginal sex.  Use the search function to look for 'HIV transmission risk' and/or 'vaginal sex'.  But since you could not have been infected by the blood contact you describe, it doesn't matter.

When someone says 'I'm terrified' despite all known evidence--it suggests an emotional disorder, whether OCD, anxiety, or other problem.  Consider counseling.  I suggest it out of compassion, not criticism.

No follow-up questions, please.  I won't have anything more to say.

HHH, MD

[pecha]

Thanks for the advice doc. Im going to take your advice and get some counseling.  So you wouldnt recomend testing for me?        

[nowherechild]

What part of his answer didn't you understand?  If he says your fears are irrational to the point of needing intensive counseling, do you really think he believes you need testing?

[monkeyflower]

I'll just add that you should see your doctor about medication for your anxiety. The combination of meds and counseling is generally far more effective than either one alone.