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STDs (Expert Forum)
Syphilis from handjob, clarification
Answered by
Edward W Hook, MD - HIV Prevention, stds
Welcome to the STD Forum, which is intended only for questions and support pertaining to sexually transmitted diseases other than HIV/AIDS, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, human papillomavirus, genital warts, trichomonas, other vaginal infections, nongonoccal urethritis (NGU), cervicitis, molluscum contagiosum, chancroid, and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). All questions will be answered by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D. or Edward W Hook, MD.
Syphilis from handjob, clarification
by fixarn2008, Oct 14, 2009 01:03AM
Hello, I was at a massage parlor a little time ago.
When she gave me the massage they touched my penis severel time (it was thai massage from a thai women, could have been more exposed to/contracted syphilis in her job). when she was almost done she gave me a handjob and now I'm wondering at what risk I am. I could'nt see any rashes or sores on her hands but the ligthning wasn't so good. I didn't have any scratcehs or wounds on my penis before or after. She had her clothes on and only, to my knowlegde, touched me and not herself so we didn't exchange body fluids. she only, to my knownledge, only touched the foreskin and not the tip of the penis. I have read you earlier answers that says it is almost impossible to contract a std of any sort by this activity but I have som questions I would like to have clarified:
1. If the women are in second stage syphilis could a non easely vissible rach on the hand transmit the disease?
2. Some talk about cuts and wounds that isn't vissible could let the virus in, is this also unlikely?
3. Also, sores that is not vissible to the eye transmitting the virus.
4. If the woman has a sore on the hand, vouldn't that be possible to transmit the virus?
5. Is it not possible to have HPV and/or Herpes infections on your hands (however unlikely)
6. Is it possible that transmission of secretion from penis to vagina and the other way around with the hands could cause the infection?
7. If it is as some claims that syphilis can be transmitted from the hands through any cut in the skin, wouldn't that mean that the massage itself could transfer the virus from the hands to a wound in a leg or the chest..?
I just ask these question to get them answered once and for all, you seem to bee a very qulified expert on the topic but since there is sites out there claiming all these things (with different agendas) I thougth it would be good to hear what you think about them.
Thank you for a splendid service
When she gave me the massage they touched my penis severel time (it was thai massage from a thai women, could have been more exposed to/contracted syphilis in her job). when she was almost done she gave me a handjob and now I'm wondering at what risk I am. I could'nt see any rashes or sores on her hands but the ligthning wasn't so good. I didn't have any scratcehs or wounds on my penis before or after. She had her clothes on and only, to my knowlegde, touched me and not herself so we didn't exchange body fluids. she only, to my knownledge, only touched the foreskin and not the tip of the penis. I have read you earlier answers that says it is almost impossible to contract a std of any sort by this activity but I have som questions I would like to have clarified:
1. If the women are in second stage syphilis could a non easely vissible rach on the hand transmit the disease?
2. Some talk about cuts and wounds that isn't vissible could let the virus in, is this also unlikely?
3. Also, sores that is not vissible to the eye transmitting the virus.
4. If the woman has a sore on the hand, vouldn't that be possible to transmit the virus?
5. Is it not possible to have HPV and/or Herpes infections on your hands (however unlikely)
6. Is it possible that transmission of secretion from penis to vagina and the other way around with the hands could cause the infection?
7. If it is as some claims that syphilis can be transmitted from the hands through any cut in the skin, wouldn't that mean that the massage itself could transfer the virus from the hands to a wound in a leg or the chest..?
I just ask these question to get them answered once and for all, you seem to bee a very qulified expert on the topic but since there is sites out there claiming all these things (with different agendas) I thougth it would be good to hear what you think about them.
Thank you for a splendid service
Doctor's Answer
by Edward W Hook, MD, Oct 14, 2009 05:21AM
, Oct 14, 2009 05:21AM
Welcome to the Forum. We get many questions of this sort. The fact is that acquiring an STD from receipt of masturbation is simple not a realistic concern. The STDs you mention, syphilis, herpes and gonorrhea are each spread through direct lesion contact. The skin of the hand is very resistant to any of these infections because this skin is thicker than on other parts of the body. As a result, the occurrence of any of these STDs on the hands is very, very rare and when lesions are present, they tend to be obvious, even in low light situations such as the ones you mention. Thus while there is a theoretical possibility that transmission of one of these STDs could have been transmitted to you in the way you describe, its probability is in the same range (or lower) that you will be hit by an airplane falling from the sky while reading this. It is just not a big enough concern to worry about. Further, should something like this happen, a lesion would form on your penis. Thus if it occurred, you would know it.
In answer to your specific questions:
1. Not typically. Syphilis is transmitted by wet lesions. When people have secondary syphilis lesions on the hand, they tend to be dry and non-infectious.
2. Very, very unlikely
3. Invisible sores and lesions are not a concern
4. Theoretically perhaps but see my comment above about how likely this is (not very likely).
5. Possible. Common enough to be a realistic concern- no.
6. See comments above. The skin of the hand is VERY resistant to infection.
7. No, this is not a realistic concern.
I hope these answers help you. You really have nothing to realistically worry about. EWH
In answer to your specific questions:
1. Not typically. Syphilis is transmitted by wet lesions. When people have secondary syphilis lesions on the hand, they tend to be dry and non-infectious.
2. Very, very unlikely
3. Invisible sores and lesions are not a concern
4. Theoretically perhaps but see my comment above about how likely this is (not very likely).
5. Possible. Common enough to be a realistic concern- no.
6. See comments above. The skin of the hand is VERY resistant to infection.
7. No, this is not a realistic concern.
I hope these answers help you. You really have nothing to realistically worry about. EWH
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