HIV transition from cuts on genital area

[terma]

Dear Docs

Although I received a clear answer in the free forum, I would like your opinion

I am seeing a woman (she a child from her marriage)-Her HIV is "unknown" to me although she is telling me that she never took an HIV test, I tend to assume that probably her doctor during her pregnancy had ordered it, even if she does not remember it-Ingeneral,I do not consider her as  high-risk person , but..

We had protected vaginal-sex and unprotected oral sex (we both of us).A few hours before, I shaved my "man" area and had a 1-2 small cuts near the basis on my penis in an area that is not covered by the condom, which bled a bit for a while. When I put on the condom there was no bleeding just some small dried blood drops on the spot - When I removed the condom, there was no visible blood -

- Is it possible  to get infected from her vagina fluids that they reach my cuts?The transition requires ONLY open and actively bleeding cuts? Is there possibility of "osmosis" effect? Also due to the "moisture" from vagina secretions, could my cuts have been re-opened while having sex ?I didn't notice any blood, but maybe I missed it.How much time it takes to a cut like this to become not "accessible" to outside viruses?

- Is it possible  infection through "thinner" skin ?Though no visible bleeding at the time, I am just worrying if the virus can enter from this exact spot where the skin is less thinner due to the "removed" layer from the cut.

I know that unprot oral sex even w or w/o active bleeding/gums is practically low-risk, as there are no recorded cases like this, but why then you say "rarely penis-to-mouth is a risk"? Also, what about if one swallows vagina-fluids ? this can happen while on the "passion"..Is it dangerous fluids traveling down-to the "digestive" system?

Do I need to get tested ?Since now I am having a parallel affair with my girlfriend, I am also worried if I can have unprotected sex with her-Eventually, I will level with her...

Thanks a lot for your time

[Dr. Jose Gonzalez-Garcia, MD, MRCGP, PhD]

Hello,
Apologies for the delay in replying to your questions, but we are extremely busy in clinic.
After carefully reading the description of events, I do not beleive that you have put yourself at any significant risk of HIV infection.  For someone to be infected through a cut or a wound, large amounts of infected vaginal fluid would need to come into contact with the cut or wound, which would need to be fresh and bleeding.  It is not really possible for the virus to go through thinner skin and penetrate into the blood stream; it is more a theoretical risk than a real one.  The same applies more or less to oral sex.  No risk from receiving at all, and a theoretical, negligible risk when performing it.  The reason for this is that saliva kills the virus, and if you swallow fluids, the gastric juices would do the same.  becuase the risk of these is so low, practically zero, I do not beleive that you need to worry too much about your sexual encounter.  The only justification for a test would be for your peace of mind.
Best wishes,
Dr José

[terma]

Dear Doc

Thanks a lot for your clear answers.

I understand that the transmission is not that simple as many people think.. So, recap what you said

1-The cuts need to be opened and actively bleeding so that to provide access to the virus

2-Oral sex is practically zero -- I have read a lot for these the last days in this and other forum, so, I wont spam further for this in here --

3-Thinner skin or not, does not change the risk if there is not an open actively bleeding wound/cut etc

I guess, I got the idea, no ?

Keep up the good work

Regards

[terma]

Hello...any reply for me ?

thanks in advance

[terma]

Just a clarification for the oral part -- I received and also gave oral to the woman if this was not clear