worried about possible exposure and unsure of risk

[tamora84]

Hi,

This is my first post, so take it easy on me.

Well, my situation goes as follows: approx five weeks ago, I had an 'encounter' with a guy (I'm a girl, by the way). We had protected vaginal sex, but for a few moments, without warning me, he rested his penis against my genital region. I freaked at this point, and made him put on a condom. We had already mutually masturbated each other, and I'm sure that we had genital to genital contact for only a very brief moment - I'd say well under a minute.

Anyway, as we went on to use protection, I never thought any more about this incident . . . until, about 2 weeks later, I got a MASSIVELY sore throat. I could hardly talk. My neck was killing me, to the point where I couldn't turn my head to the side. The thought about the encounter did come into my mind, but, as we had not had unprotected penetrative sex, I dismissed it. The sore thoat and sore neck resolved themselves - but almost as soon as they were gone, I got a rash on my stomach. It affected the lower part of my torso, just under my breasts and around my belly-button. It consists of lots of tiny red dots, all raised, some like pin-pricks, and others like really small pimples. At first, it was itchy. This developed about week 4 after the encounter. I started to get a little worried at this point, but still tried to rationalise it to myself as heat rash. The itch has gone; however, the bumps are still there. I am now moving into week 6 since the incident, and I've had, in addition to my rash, an ulcer on the inside of my left cheek, and at the outer side of my tongue (also on the left).

Basically, I'm a lot worried now. I've recently learned that this guy (despite having told me otherwise) has had an enormous amount of sexual partners (he also told me he had been HIV tested negative - but that could easily have been a lie). So, I thought I'd post here to ask a doc (yes, I'm too embarrassed to go to my own doc in case they think I'm being ridiculous and over-reacting) two things:

a) I've read a lot of contradictory advice about what risk such brief genital to genital contact carries (and most from the female to male, and not the male to female perspective), so I'd like to know what the actualy risk for that is for a woman.

and

b) if this were primary HIV infection, would my symptoms stagger like this - i.e. rash and ulcers only apprearing once sore throat and neck have gone?

Thank you in advance.

'Very worried'

[joggen]

a) As you did not have unprotected penetrative sex, you had no risk. HIV is only transmitted inside the body. Rubbing of genitals is no risk whatsoever.

b) No, symptoms come on as a cluster and yours do not resemble ARS. Your sore throat, etc. were just a coincidence due to causes much more common than HIV.

BTW...there are no doctors on this forum.

[Teak]

At no time were you ever at risk of contracting HIV. Your symptoms have nothing to do with ARS. If you are concerned about symptoms see your doctor.

[tamora84]

Well, First I'd like to thank you for taking the time to answer my post. I've booked in for a test next week, as my rash has spread. It now covers the top part of my back. The spots look bigger, and yesterday, it moved down my arms. Just the top part of my arms and shoulders. It seems to itch at first, but then stops after a day or so. The lesions are quite raised. Some of them are pin-pricks, others are the size of an acne pimple (the really sore kind that come under the skin)

I've become a little confused, I must admit, about what advisors mean when they say 'vaginal' sex. One website said that HIV can be transmitted via any genital contact that is unprotected, as pre-ejaculate fluid can contain the virus, and this if this comes in contact with the outer area of the vagina, it can be passed. I have to say, I'm sick with worry, as this is exactly what happened in my case, although only briefly. There was NO rubbing of genitals: he placed himself against me for a moment. If it were not for this rash, I'm sure I'd dismiss the whole thing. It is spreading, but slowly. It started week 4, and it is now week 7.

I'd appreciate any follow up you could give me on transmission risks for women if any pre-ejaculate fluid comes in contact with their genital area, as I understand transmission works differently in women due to larger surface area.

I don't wish to apprear a 'chronic poster', but I felt I had to write in to clarify that you definitely don't think that a man (of uknown status, so possibly HIV +) is a risk to a woman if he places his erect, unprotected penis against her vulvar area - even if only for a moment? Is it a definite no risk situation, or a theoretical risk situation?

Thank you for reading,

Very worried

[LIZZIE LOU]

it is a definite NO RISK situation.   transmission requires penetration.

[joggen]

"One website said that HIV can be transmitted via any genital contact that is unprotected, as pre-ejaculate fluid can contain the virus, and this if this comes in contact with the outer area of the vagina, it can be passed."

That website is incorrect.

"There was NO rubbing of genitals: he placed himself against me for a moment."

Whatever the contact was, he never penetrated you; therefore, you could not have been infected.


"If it were not for this rash, I'm sure I'd dismiss the whole thing. It is spreading, but slowly. It started week 4, and it is now week 7."

Again, that cannot be an ARS rash, it appeared too late and symptoms coincide with each other, not stagger.

"I'd appreciate any follow up you could give me on transmission risks for women if any pre-ejaculate fluid comes in contact with their genital area, as I understand transmission works differently in women due to larger surface area."

The outer genital area is NOT a site of infection, it only happens in the interior of the vagina.

"I don't wish to apprear a 'chronic poster', but I felt I had to write in to clarify that you definitely don't think that a man (of uknown status, so possibly HIV +) is a risk to a woman if he places his erect, unprotected penis against her vulvar area - even if only for a moment? Is it a definite no risk situation, or a theoretical risk situation?"

As Lizzie said, it is a definite no risk situation. Vaginal sex as an HIV risk means penetration into the vaginal canal, which has both the susceptible cells and correct environment/physiological conditions for transmission to occur. The exterior of a woman's body lacks these, even in the vulvar area.

HIV is called a sexually transmitted disease for a reason- you have to actually 'do it' to contact it.

[joggen]

....you have to actually 'do it' to CONTRACT it. (sorry)

[tamora84]

Thanks again for your reply. It does help me stop worrying a little before my test. Hopefully, the test will prove you to be 100% correct, and I'll be able to put this behind me.

I just wanted to post you the passage that I refered to in my other post:

Dear Dinah,

Can HIV be transmitted in the case of male pre-*** & vaginal discharge coming in contact on the tip of vagina, with out penetration?

Dinah answers: I'm not sure if by the tip of the vagina you mean the labia or the clitoris or elsewhere. In any case, the closer it is to the vaginal entrance, the more chance there is of HIV (or any other STD) being spread. Although pre-*** contains very small amounts of the virus, if the status of your sexual partner is not known, then even this is to be considered potential risk behaviour. To be more clear – yes, genital contact without penetration CAN spread HIV and STDs when fluids are involved.

The vaginal discharge contains cervical mucus which is slightly stretchy in texture, because it is meant to guide the semen into the vagina and up towards the cervix. Wherever there is vaginal discharge, there is the chance of coming in contact with this mucus and therefore HIV can enter the vagina. There is more mucus around the time of ovulation, but this is not to say that you are completely safe at other times.

Of course, the vaginal discharge will also contain HIV if the woman is a carrier, and this will endanger the male if his penis or genitalia come in contact with it.

Thanks aagain,

'Worried'

[Teak]

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[joggen]

Yikes....I looked at the website where your excerpt originated from. All I can say that it is fall of gross exaggerations and completely false statements such as the excerpt that you posted.

If you want to educate yourself, then I encourage you to read Medhelp's resident doctors' answers to situations similar to the one you posted. If you search the Expert Forum on frottage (grinding) or mutual masturbation, you'll see that these activities are of no risk for HIV whatsoever despite contact of the vulvar area with precum. Both doctor's credentials are impeccable; "Dinah" apparently does not disclose her's.

If in the odd chance that you test positive, it will NOT be from the incident that you have described.

I have nothing more to say about this.