Strip Club Question

[BJS3143]

Dear Doctor,

Earlier this evening I visited a strip club and had a private dance with stripper.  During the dance the stripper was nude and I was wearing only my boxer shorts.  For the most part, she rubbed her vagina on my penis through my boxer shorts until I ejaculated.  

A couple of times during the dance, however, she exposed my penis and touched it with her hand, and it I think it may be possible that my exposed penis touched the external part of her vagina briefly.  When I returned home, I realized that I a small abrasion near the tip of my penis, possibly from earlier lap dances I had received.  

Could her vaginal fluids have soaked through my shorts or could the tip of my penis or abrasion on my penis touching her vagina, or any other aspects of this exposure put me at risk for acquiring any STDs, including HIV?  Thank you.    

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to the Forum.  Without penetration there is really no risk of contraction of HIV or other STDs with the possible theoretical exception of infections characterized by lesions such as syphilis (which is very, very rare) or herpes (which is unlikely).  The abrasions you describe do not change this and, as you point out, are likely a consequence of the friction caused between your skin and hers by your undershorts.  

STDs (including HIV) are not transmitted through clothing, not matter how soaked with secretions they are.  

AT this time there is no need for testing.  If you are concerned about HSV, simply watch for the appearance of lesions over the next 14 days.  If they do not occur, you did not get HSV.  If lesions occur (again, VERY unlikely), you should have them tested by PCR or culture for HSV.  Even if exposed in the manner you describe, I would judge your risk to be very, very low but felt the need to mention it for completeness sake.  

I hope these comments are helpful.  EWH

[Edward W Hook, MD]

When people without lesions or other risks for herpes get tested they are more likely to have a false positve result than find that they were infected and those who are infected typically have been infected for a long time but did not know it.  

Following exposure which does transmit herpes, about half of people have positve tests at two weeks, while in the remainder the positvity rate goes up slowly.  Just about everyone who will have a positive test will be positve by 3-4 months following acquisition of infection.  EWH

[BJS3143]

Hi Dr. Hook,

Thanks very much for your advice.  I haven't noticed any lesions, but I'm curious, if I wanted to get tested and I was positive, how long would it take before my test came up as positive?  Thanks.