open wound

[haier]

Dear doctors

I have gone through this web site but i am unclear about my particular situation. I recently visited a sex worker , on the way to the room my i fell and hurt the back of my arm it was bleeding. During sex i touched the condom to see if it was broken. immediately after touching the condom i touched my wound her vaginal fluid would have touched my wound.  Am i at risk of contracting hiv????????  

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I don't understand "aircon", but you can safely assume that there is no information you could provide that would change my opinion and advice.  Don't worry about the reasons HIV is not transmitted in such circumstances; it doesn't happen, that's really all you need to know.  Just forget this incident and move on.

[haier]

this was in malasiya , and does the aircon come into the equation in any way????????

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

You need to distinguish between theoretical risks, like this one, and realistic ones, which it was not.  The only blood exposure events that are known to have led to HIV transmission involved direct sharing of injection equipment and, in health care settings, sharp instrument injuries with instruments contaminated with visible blood.  And in any case, statistically it is very unlikely your commercial partner has HIV; in the US and other industrialized countries, the large majority do not.

[haier]

thank you doctor but the wound was bleeding and i read an earlier case where  a gay  man was being pierced and blood got on the man doing the piercing and the doctors here said that there could be risk. sorry to take some more of your time just need a bit of clarity. thank you

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Relax; there is no risk at all.  Even in households, if someone in the home has HIV, and even if that person  or others get various cuts and nicks, and if they share bathrooms, kitchens, and eating utensils, HIV is never transmitted except between sex partners or those who share injection equipment.  This situation is similar.  HIV simply isn't transmitted by such sorts of minor, indirect contact.  You sed a condom, which was smart.  It protected you against HIV with virtually 100% reliability.  The other events you describe are not risky at all. You don't need testing for HIV or other STDs, and you can safely continue unprotected sex if you have a regular partner.

I hope this helps.  Regards--  HHH, MD