Different symptoms after possible exposure

[want2know391]

Hi Doctor!  I would appreciate your help with my concern.  About 3 months ago, I had an encounter with a woman(status unknown) I've known off and on for about two years.  She performed oral(protected) on me during which time, I anally fingered her with my right hand. I performed it on her(not protected). We then had vaginal(protected) for about 3-4 minutes.  Afterwards, on removing the condom there was some blood on the condom near the tip of it. She went to her doctor and was told the sex may have been too rough since she hasn't had sex(she claims) it in about 4 years. I am not 100% sure I didn't come into contact with the blood as I was removing the condom.

Here is my issue of concern:  within about a week or 2 afterwards, I had a strange stinging pain(never had before)on the palm of my right hand which lasted about a week or so. I also noticed that my hands got splotchy(red and whitish). Before this encounter I don't recall having this.  I still have this condition now.  Also on some of my fingers, mainly the index fingers on both hands I get these small white circles that peel after several days then return and repeat the same after about a week or so. I also get it one at the bottom of my right palm.  Next to it there has been a very small red dot in the same hand that appeared since the encounter.

By the way, my hands are not extremely red but if I hold my hands up the redness tends to fade since the blood leaves the hand. I do notice that I now at times get these red marks on my fingers that stay for days after my finger presses on something.  I have one now that I got this past Sunday that is still there.

I am concerned because these conditions have appeared since the encounter. I would not be so concerned were it not for the blood and the anal fingering.  Should I be concerned and do you recommend testing?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to the Forum.  The sexual encounter you describe was no risk for HIV and low risk for all other STDs as well.  

Your partner was low risk for HIV and other STDs.  Most heterosexual women do not have STDs and the rate of HIV in such women is less than 1 in 10,000.  If anything, if your partner had not had sex with another partner for more than 4 years, your partner was lower than average risk.  As I also understand it, you received condom-protected oral sex, performed anal masturbation on your partner, performed unprotected oral sex on her and had protected intercourse.   The presence of blood on the condom following sex could have been from any of a number of causes and does not raise concerns about HIV or STD.  Even if you were to get some of her blood on your hand, it should not put you at risk for infection.

The redness you describe on your hands sounds to be due to increased blood flow and again is not a symptom we associate with STDs of any sort, including HIV.  The small white circles are not suggestive of an STD or HIV either. they could be due to a fungal infection which may or may not be related to your encounter or, more likely, are due to another dermatological process.  My advice would that if this continues to trouble you, it would be worthwhile to seek the advice of a dermatologist but, in the interim, I would not worry about HIV or other STDs.  Nothing you have describes suggests such problems, your partner was low risk and you had safe sex.

I hope these comments are helpful and provide some direction. EWH

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Glad we could help. Take care. EWH

[want2know391]

Thank you Dr. Hook for your response.  Your understanding of the encounter was correct- I made a little typographical error in my original post- sorry.  

Maybe it was stress-related because this whole thing has been on my mind everyday since it happened.  Since I posted my question and read your response my hands look better - maybe it was the stress.  

I will take your advice thank you especially about the dermatologist. You have helped me greatly - Your are doing a great work!  Have a wonderful day!