HIV and CUPPING

[Knowimcrazy]

Hi Dr. H,

I wrote you a while back regarding a massage parlor incident.

Well I did it again.  I am impulsive and don't do things before I think sometimes.

1.  Went to the massage parlor
2. The girl tried to masturbate me with the top part of her arm this only lasted about 15 seconds and then I stopped her.  I did not ***.
3. I then realized she had several large Blood Splotches (like giant hicky marks) right where she rubbed my penis.
4. She told me she got them from cupping the day before (Acupuncture where you put cups on the skin and it brings the BLOOD to the surface for circulation.  I guess she did it because she was sore the day before)

I am concerned that there may have been trace amounts of blood from the day before still on her arm that could have touched my urethera during her masturbating me with the splotches.  Or possibly that the masturbating could have reaggrivated the splotches and then bled onto my penis.  

I am married and trying to have kids and am terrified about infecting my wife.

Did I have a risk?
Do I need to test?
Can I have sex with my wife or do I have to wait the 3 month waiting period?
Is PEP in Order?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I doubt there are data on the practice of cupping and HIV transmission risk, but my best guess/judgement is that it does not increase the risk and that you were at zero risk from the exposure you describe.  You do not need testing.  You can have sex with your wife.  Anybody who recommends PEP in this setting should be shot (symbolically if not literally)--or at least disbarred from his or her practice organization.

HHH, MD

[Knowimcrazy]

Just one more question and I will leave for awhile, there is a type of cupping where a small ***** is made and 3-4 drops of blood are let out of the area (called wet cupping).

I am not sure if she did this type, but if she did, there would still be no risk if she had pricked herself the day before and by urethera touched the area correct? This would be because the pricks would have healed by the night before.

Still NO risk?
No need to test?
sex with wife?

[monkeyflower]

Cupping does draw blood to the surface of the skin, but the skin itself remains intact. There's no way this would be any kind of risk whatsoever.

[monkeyflower]

I doubt if she had wet cupping, but even if she did, it's irrelevant. Even if she had HIV, which I doubt, any incision would have healed enough that HIV transmission would be impossible. You are seriously freaking over nothing.

[Knowimcrazy]

Are you a Doctor Monkeyflower?

Dr. Hansfield, do you agree with this?

[Knowimcrazy]

Good Morning, Dr. Hansfield,

Do you agree with Monkey Flower?  No risk, even if there was Wet cupping the day before?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I already said you are at zero risk from the exposure you describe and I agree with monkeyflower.

HHH, MD

[htsu1]

stay out of massage parlors

[Knowimcrazy]

Dr. Hansfield,

One more thing I forgot to ask, She also placed one of the acupuncture cups on my back for about 5 minutes. She didn't ***** my skin, but the area turned really red and I am not sure if it broke the skin.  I am not sure how long before me the plastic cupping cup was used on someone else (Probably more than 5 minutes)

I am concerned she didn't clean the inside of the cup (where there was a small box that touches your skin) or the edges that touch the skin.  If there was a few small drops of wet blood on the cup and then the cup pulled my skin and created a break, could I have gotten HIV?

I didn't see a break (It seemed more like a mild hicky), but I did see some blood around the area and I am not sure if it broke the skin.  The blood looked like it was under the skin.(Like a hicky.

Am I at risk?
Need to test?
Is my wife safe?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Come on.  I already said this sort of exposure is zero risk.  And you may not post a new thread instead of continuing dialog in a previous one, especially for a zero risk event; I deleted it.  I will have no further responses.

HHH, MD

[Knowimcrazy]

I understand, however, I wanted to make another donation if I was going to ask another question because I appreciate your time.

Additionally, my last question was different than my first on this thread because of the time period.

The cup was only used 5 minutes before me by someone else and I was just concerned because it was much lower of a time period. Also the cup was actually used on me and and I wasn't sure if it broke my skin or if there was anything on it.

No risk still?
Still safe wife?

Then I will let this go.

[Knowimcrazy]

Did you mean NO RISK,to my last question (the cup on my back?) or the one before that (her cupping marks).

Bascially, no risk to all questions above?

I appreciate your help.  Just need clarification.

I will then go on my way, thank you.

[monkeyflower]

There is literally zero risk to both events. You couldn't possibly contract HIV or any other STD from what you describe. No way, no how.

I think counseling and possibly medication are in order to help you deal with your anxiety.