Very Scared, HIV

Got a bath from a massage girl.  Didn't do any Anal, Vaginal or Oral Sex whatsoever.  Also, didn't get 'happy ending' or anything of the sort.

While the girl was washing me before the massage, she rubbed too hard in between my testicles and Leg area (left groin area) and created 5 or 6 long (2inches long) scrapes that bled afterwards. The next day I have a huge red rash in the area and the scrapes are still tender (I put Lotion on them and they haven't healed 100%). There wasn't hardly any water on the brush when she used it.

I am concerned that if the brillo brush was used on the person before me (about 3-4 minutes before me), and they got SPERM or BLOOD on it and then scratched my inner groin area with it that I could become infected with HIV. Could I get Hep B or C?  Could I get any other STDs?

This is my only exposure.

Could I get HIV Hepb or hepc or any other STDs through this mode of transmission?

Can I safely have sex with wife with no condom?  She does not have STDs.  

Small risk?  No risk?  Anyone ever get anything through this route?

Thanking you for your help in advance

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Under the cirumcstances you describe--almost immediately using the same brush on two people, with brushing equally vigorous (with breaking of skin) on the first person as on you, if that person happened to have a blood-borne infection, and if the brush were not washed between uses--there probably is some small risk of transmission of a blood-borne infection.  However, every one of the elements of that sequence would have to occur, and the cumulative odds surely are miniscule to zero.  To the extent there is risk at all, it is for hepatitis B and C, which are much more infectious than HIV; the amount of possible blood exposure undoubtedly would be much to low to transmit HIV.

On balance, the risk is too low to worry about and I do not recommend you be tested for any of the infections you mention, and I see no reason you cannot safely continue unprotected sex with your wife.

Having said that, the massage business has an obligation to keep such risks to zero.  They should be using different brushes on individual customers and/or should disinfect the brushes between customers.  (In most states, even barbarshops are required to disinfect combs between customers--even though the risk of disease transmission via combs is about zero.)  If you think the massage parlor is not following these guidelines, you might want to call the local health department and describe the situation to them.

But I reiterate that the actual risk seems too low for you to lose sleep over it.

Good luck--  HHH, MD

[Sophia62]

Thank you for your comment Dr. H.  I very much appreciate it.

so I have it straight:

1. HIV = No risk whatsoever

2. HEP B and HEP C = very small risk, close to zero.  You would not test in this instance

3. Safe to have sex with wife with this exposure.

Do I have this right?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

You've got it right.

HHH, MD

[Sophia62]

Just one other concern,

I now realized that about 15 minutes after she massaged someone else, she massaged these open bleeding cuts from the bath that she gave me.

Like I said she didn't use much water when she bathed me, and therefore, didn't really wash her hands well.  I am now concerned that if she had SPERM or BLOOD on her hands that she got it into these cuts.

In your opinion, does this change your answers?

1. Still small risk for HEP B and HEP C, no test?
2. NO RISK WHATSOEVER FOR HIV, NO TEST?

[Sophia62]

Dr. HHH,

Can you just please let me know if your answers change at all based upon my new information (The massage portion)?

I have already spent 100.00 in donations on this site for this question.

Please, all I need is a 'Same Answer given new info'

Thank you!!!

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I replied in your own original thread (3/26/06).

HHH, MD

[Sophia62]

I am completely confused now.

What was your answer to the following post?  Please, I can't sleep.

"Just one other concern,

I now realized that about 15 minutes after she massaged someone else, she massaged these open bleeding cuts from the bath that she gave me.

Like I said she didn't use much water when she bathed me, and therefore, didn't really wash her hands well. I am now concerned that if she had SPERM or BLOOD on her hands that she got it into these cuts.

In your opinion, does this change your answers?

1. Still small risk for HEP B and HEP C, no test?
2. NO RISK WHATSOEVER FOR HIV, NO TEST?"

Are one and two the same, even with the added massage info?

I am confused?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

DO NOT KEEP POSTING YOUR CONCERNS/QUESTIONS IN ANOTHER PERSON'S THREAD!  See your own, the one you started 3/26.

HHH, MD

[tarangas]

Hi Dr. i am writing to ask your for opinion. my situation was that, i was with a friends drinking, i was not drunk, but still i had been drinking. one of them call a sexualworker and what happen was that i stick two of my fingers in to her vagina but i was using a condom in my fingers. i could feel the liquid of her at the very end of the condom. like two minutes later she make oral sex, off course with condom like only for two minutos cuz she told me that tha condom had a hole. than i washed my hands with soup and a minute later i saw a very tiny frees cut in one of my fingers fron the other hand(not the one that i used with her).

my question is i could touch my penes when i was putting the condom with the liquid of her or the liquid that was in my hand could go into the cut. you think i was in risk.

i went i got tested after 18 days in the clinic of my school and i did not got anything. one Dr told me that i was in not risk, but other told me that i should wait 3 or 6 months if i am inffected.

plase i need you opinion. thank very much for what you do. i will never again do this. i am vey sad o could not even consentrate in school.