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STDs (Expert Forum)
Worried Well - HIV/HCV
Answered by
University of Washington
Seattle - WA
This forum does not cover AIDS/HIV issues. This forum is for questions and support regarding STD issues such as: Chlamydia, Crabs (pubic lice scabies), Gonorrhea, Hepatitis (viral), Herpes, HPV, Molluscum Contagiosum, PID, Rectal Infections, Syphilis, Trichomonas, Warts, Yeast Infection.
IMPORTANT
This forum is limited to questions about STDs other than HIV/AIDS. For questions about HIV prevention, or if you have general questions about safe sex (e.g., condoms, how to protect yourself from HIV and STDs), please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum
Some of the most common types of questions concern the risk of HIV or STD after a particular sexual exposure, and about symptoms that might or might not be due to HIV. If your question is along these lines, please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum.
This forum is limited to questions about STDs other than HIV/AIDS. For questions about HIV prevention, or if you have general questions about safe sex (e.g., condoms, how to protect yourself from HIV and STDs), please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum
Some of the most common types of questions concern the risk of HIV or STD after a particular sexual exposure, and about symptoms that might or might not be due to HIV. If your question is along these lines, please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum.
Worried Well - HIV/HCV
by worriedwell360, Mar 16, 2008 08:35PM
Dear Doctors,
I am writing due to an accidental exposure that occured to me twice in the matter of a couple of days.
Firstly, I am in a long term and stable relationship with a partner who does not suffer from STDs.
My main concern is Hep C and HIV, in regards to incidental contact, such as touching a toilet seat with blood on it accidently with a hand with a cut on it, or a similar situation with Semen.
On two different days, I touched a toilet seat and another bathroom amenity with a finger that had a cut on it (part of my nail is missing and i have a cut because of this which is sore when alcohol, etc is put on it, thus it is open??).
On these two days i touched:
1. Fresh blood;
2. Fresh semen (what looked like semen).
I say fresh, because both substances were still wet and went onto my finger with the cut on it (where the cut is)...
I have no idea of the identity of the person / people? Know idea if these people had any such disease.
I am located in Australia, and whilst I don't think Australia has a relatively high proportions of people infected with either disease, it is something that is causing me anxiety.
Can you please advise the relative risk of such an incidental/accidential exposure, whether there is need for future testing and provide more information on accidential/incidental exposure??
Thanks in advance.
I am writing due to an accidental exposure that occured to me twice in the matter of a couple of days.
Firstly, I am in a long term and stable relationship with a partner who does not suffer from STDs.
My main concern is Hep C and HIV, in regards to incidental contact, such as touching a toilet seat with blood on it accidently with a hand with a cut on it, or a similar situation with Semen.
On two different days, I touched a toilet seat and another bathroom amenity with a finger that had a cut on it (part of my nail is missing and i have a cut because of this which is sore when alcohol, etc is put on it, thus it is open??).
On these two days i touched:
1. Fresh blood;
2. Fresh semen (what looked like semen).
I say fresh, because both substances were still wet and went onto my finger with the cut on it (where the cut is)...
I have no idea of the identity of the person / people? Know idea if these people had any such disease.
I am located in Australia, and whilst I don't think Australia has a relatively high proportions of people infected with either disease, it is something that is causing me anxiety.
Can you please advise the relative risk of such an incidental/accidential exposure, whether there is need for future testing and provide more information on accidential/incidental exposure??
Thanks in advance.
Doctor's Answer
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Mar 17, 2008 04:48AM
, Mar 17, 2008 04:48AM
Relax. You cannot catch either HIV or HCV by touching an infected toilet seat, even with a cut on the hand. They call them STDs because you have to have sex to transmit them. (And HCV isn't known to be transmitted through semen anyway, and isn't even considered an STD.)
Australia's network of STD clinics, called Sexual Health Centres, is the best in the world. If you need more reassurance, call or visit your nearest SHC. Don't bother to re-post in the HIV forum. It will be a waste of $15.00, since the reply will be the same. And no further "yes but" or "what if" questions on this forum either. This is too low risk to warrant your energies or mine.
HHH, MD
Australia's network of STD clinics, called Sexual Health Centres, is the best in the world. If you need more reassurance, call or visit your nearest SHC. Don't bother to re-post in the HIV forum. It will be a waste of $15.00, since the reply will be the same. And no further "yes but" or "what if" questions on this forum either. This is too low risk to warrant your energies or mine.
HHH, MD
If you think it is appropriate please move this question to a more appropriate forum.
Thanks,
Worriedwell360