Risk from Erotic massage event

[tommyot]

Hi,
I hope this is a silly question but I have a worry.

10 days after this "exposure" I had a small rash on my chest, probably about the size of a coin, in the centre of my rib  cage above the stomach (red and a couple of pimples). I was worrying it could be ARS after the following exposure.

Stupidly after several drinks, I went for an "erotic massage" which involved having a naked massage from a lady who would rub her body against you before masturbating you. I began to sober up when it got to that stage and I stopped her after she touched my penis.

What worries me, as I see with many people, is what bodily fluids (semen/vaginal secretions) she may have had on her hands. I know it has been written here that cuts on your body don't represent a risk, I didn't have "cuts" but I had 2 insect bites. One was relatively new, on my neck, which I had been scratching shortly earlier that evening. The other was on my arm, a few days old, but even now today if I squeeze it blood and puss would come out.
Finally, I fear that the lady had used the towel I had used to dry myself after my shower.

Would any of these represent a risk of HIV infection? I know cuts don't necessarily, due to contacting the relevant cells. What worries me (I hope stupidly) is that when insect bites create lumps in the skin and easy bleeding that access to cells is enhanced.
I would really value your feedback.
Thanks.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

ARS rashes are body-wide; it would involve your chest, abdomen, arms, legs, etc.  And it would last for 1-2 weeks.   And the minimal sore throat also doesn't sound like ARS.

Really, there is absolutely no basis for worry about HIV in this circumstance.

[tommyot]

Sorry, to add to that the 'rash' lasted about 48 hours and was about 1.5cm sq in one place.  is that even consistent with ARS? My throat is slightly sore, the rash is gone

[tommyot]

Hi,
Thanks for the reassurance. Probably silly to add this but my throat is slightly sore at the moment too. Also, would a rash be more widespread than an area of about 1.5cm squared on my chest?

Thanks, I won't bother this again!

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Welcome to the forum.

Your hope has come true!  Well, not literally; as they say, there are no silly questions if there is a genuine concern.  But in the spirit you intende -- i.e. your self-analysis that you don't have ARS and that your exposure carried no risk of HIV infection -- there is nothing to worry about.

First, it is staistically unlikely a woman like you describe has HIV.  Even among overt commercial sex workers, under 1% have HIV; and the chance a stripper has it probably is lower.  Second, it is simply impossible to catch HIV from the sort of contact you describe, even if she were infected.  Hand-genital contact never transmits HIV, even if the hands are wet with HIV infected secretions, and regardless of contact with pimples or other open lesions, or by towels.  If HIV could be so transmitted, it would be a hundred times more common than it is; many infected people would have had no high risk sexual exposures; and it wouldn't be classified as an STD.  Third, ARS never causes a rash alone, without other symptoms, usually fever and sore throat.

So there is definitiely no risk; you do not need HIV testing on account of this event; and if you have a regular sex partner, you can safely continue unprotected sex without worrying about transmitting HIV.

I hope this helps.  Best wishes--  HHH, MD