Semen and blood

[jhanson13]

Hello, doctor.

I'm a young male who performed fellatio on another male whom I met on the Internet. He was a young man of Asian descent. When I asked him of his HIV status, he responded that he was negative and maintained safe sexual behaviors. Although he had a boyfriend at the time, I had no specific reason to disbelieve him.

When he reached climax, I had him ejaculate onto my face rather than in my mouth, since I believe that this reduces an already small risk into an even smaller one. However, when he began rubbing the secretions into my chin with the head of his penis, he apparently re-opened a shaving cut, which then began to bleed. I did not notice the blood until I wiped away the semen, at which point I discovered that the semen and blood had mixed. I wiped it away gently and then air-dried the area with the heater of my car, knowing that HIV cannot survive in dryness.

There wasn't a lot of blood, and the cut was a superficial one. However, it was actively bleeding, and the semen was massaged lightly against my face.

*If* this person was infected, what are the odds that I was infected through this route? I do not believe that this young man was infected, but I would like to know what my chances are in the unlikely event that he was.

Thank you for your time.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

The SF Department of Health likely has those figures but I do not.  Sorry.  EWH

[jhanson13]

Thanks, doctor. A related question: what, if anything, do you know about the infection rates among openly gay young men of Asian or Caucasian ethnicity in the Bay Area? I always ask about my partner's status, but I am just curious if there's any data available.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to our Forum.  As you may know, on this Forum we indicate that the risk of HIV from giving or receiving oral sex is so small that there is no meaningful risk for becoming infected in this way.  The risk of infection from mutual masturbation is even lower if that is possible  That during your activities a previous cut on your face may have opened up does not change this.  Your risk for infection, IF your partner ha HIV (doubtful) is still effectively zero an, as a result, I would urge you not to worry.  I see no need for testing relate to the events you have described.  Your risk of getting HIV from this exposure is far lower than your risk of getting hit by lightening.

I hope my comments are helpful.  EWH