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Is this an HIV exposure risk?
Dear Doctor,
Last week, I went to a strip club for a friend's party. I had a lap dance and the stripper was rubbing her fingers all over her vagina, putting them in her mouth, etc. All of a sudden, she put her fingers on my lips. I had a split/cracked lip. I'm not sure if my lip was actually bleeding, but it was definitely not healed. I have been experiencing incredible anxiety worrying about this and whether this could be a possible HIV exposure, especially if my lip happened to be bleeding. Thank you very much for any info.
Last week, I went to a strip club for a friend's party. I had a lap dance and the stripper was rubbing her fingers all over her vagina, putting them in her mouth, etc. All of a sudden, she put her fingers on my lips. I had a split/cracked lip. I'm not sure if my lip was actually bleeding, but it was definitely not healed. I have been experiencing incredible anxiety worrying about this and whether this could be a possible HIV exposure, especially if my lip happened to be bleeding. Thank you very much for any info.
Yes, Thank you for your help!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
HIV is not easily transmitted. Even if an infected man ejaculates semen with HIV into a woman't vagina, there is only an average 1 chance in 1,000 she will be infected. Transmission requires lots of virus to have direct access to susceptible cells, which for the most part are deep inside the body. The amount of virus that could be involved in the scenario you describe is just too small. Is the risk zero? Maybe not -- but nobody in the world ever shows up with a new HIV infection without having had the risk factors I have listed, and yet there are obviously billions of fingering episodes involving infected partners every year. So the risk can be considered zero for practical purposes.
Does that help?
Does that help?
Thank you Doctor...
What a strange virus. I can't understand why putting penis inside would be a clear risk, but her touching her vagina, and then almost instantly touching a cut on me, would not be a risk at all. I'm sorry to take your time, and I really appreciate you being available for these questions.
What a strange virus. I can't understand why putting penis inside would be a clear risk, but her touching her vagina, and then almost instantly touching a cut on me, would not be a risk at all. I'm sorry to take your time, and I really appreciate you being available for these questions.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum.
HIV is not transmitted except by unprotected intercourse -- i.e. a bare penis (no condom) inside another person's vagina, rectum or (rarely) mouth -- or overt blood exposure, like sharing injection equipment; or from mother to infant. Even if your lip were cut or blood was otherwise involved in the events you describe, there is definitely no risk of HIV. On top of all that, it is statistically unlikely the stripper had HIV; the vast majority of sex workers in the US are not infected.
Therefore, you shouldn't be at all worried and do not need testing on account of this event.
I hope this has helped. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
HIV is not transmitted except by unprotected intercourse -- i.e. a bare penis (no condom) inside another person's vagina, rectum or (rarely) mouth -- or overt blood exposure, like sharing injection equipment; or from mother to infant. Even if your lip were cut or blood was otherwise involved in the events you describe, there is definitely no risk of HIV. On top of all that, it is statistically unlikely the stripper had HIV; the vast majority of sex workers in the US are not infected.
Therefore, you shouldn't be at all worried and do not need testing on account of this event.
I hope this has helped. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
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