Risk for any STD : syphilis, herpes

[thierry94]

Dear Dr
I went in an massage parlor (an independent lady receiving at home). She is italian-french, 23 years-old, and looking healthy and very clean. We were both completely nude, She had a perfect skin and vulvar and pubis area cleanely shaved. However it is impossible to know if she had any problem inside her vulva and vagina. We were both lying on her bed. She masturbated me with her hand (apparently looking very clean) without touching herself. I touched her vulva and probably her inner lips with my fingers but I did not penetrate deaply inside her vagina because she did not want. Her vulva was not wet. I am afraid of a risk of any vulva-to-finger contamination with herpes and particularly syphilis because I read that treponema could cross intact skin (thus my finger) and could induce some king of whitlow. I contacted her after and she was amazed when I ask her if she could have syphilis or herpes. She ensured  that she never had any problem with herpes or syphilis.
So my question are :
1- Do you think that there is any risk of STD in this "bad" experience ?
2- Is there a risk of syphilis or herpes in my case ?
3- Should I take antibiotics and blood testing ?
4- I am married and should I avoid sex with my wife ?
Sincerely and sorry for the inconvenience.

[thierry94]

Thank you very much, indeed. I am going to be very careful and watch carefully to the satellites until now !

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Theoretically you could be hit in the head and struck by a satellite falling from the sky while reading this but it is not something to worry about. I would characterize your risk as about the same.  Please do not worry. EWH

[thierry94]

Thank you very much for your very clear and quick answer.
I add that,in my case, there was no exchange of any fluid, and that I did not penetrate the vagina, just touching the labia majora and probably minora also during a few seconds. Do you think that a theoretical risk remains ?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome back to the Forum. the exposure you describe is very low risk for any STD. The sorts of contact you describe fall into the broad category of masturbation and while transmission of infection such as herpes or syphilis are, at least in theory, transmissible through masturbation, in our combined over 70 years of practice focused on STDs and HIV diagnosis, neither of us has ever seen, or heard of at scientific meetings, of a single case in which STDs were transmitted by masturbation- even when genital secretions are transferred on a person's hands from one person to another.  I would not worry  at all about the contact you describe.

In answer to your specific questions:

1- Do you think that there is any risk of STD in this "bad" experience ?
No I do not.

2- Is there a risk of syphilis or herpes in my case ?
See above- no.

3- Should I take antibiotics and blood testing ?
I see no need for concern, for testing or for antibiotics of any sort.

4- I am married and should I avoid sex with my wife ?
No, I see no need for abstinence following the activities you describe.

I hope my comments are helpful.   I would not worry. EWH