Mutual Masturbation

[adlowery]

Hi Doc

Hope you can help me here. I am gay and I practice safe sex and perform mutual masturbation when having sex only. I have a problem though, last week I performed mutual masturbation on a man and there was no ejaculate involved except precum. Today I have 2 to 3 spots on the top of my right hand. The spots are very very small, pink and dont hurt.

From reading the archives it advises that there is

1) Zero risk from mutual masturbation - please confirm this is right after thinking this for all these years.
2) It is difficult to transmit other STDS via mutual masturbation - However do you think I could have an STD from this which is why I have these 2-3 small spots on my right hand. The worry is if it is I use contact lenses which I am thinking could have infected my eyes although no symptoms at this time.

Thanks for your advice

Cheers

Ali

[adlowery]

Hi

Thanks for the reply. Guess I will just put this behind me as was just over reacting i think. Like the above threads say there is a lot of confusion about how mutual masturbation is so safe guess because it is outside of the body and I am presuming this is why noone gets HIV this way. Thanks again. Ali

[stupididiot]

and why is oral different than masturbation with saliva (in male receivingoral) can't saliva enter the top of the penis in either case? please clarify

[Edward W Hook, MD]

You are correct that mutual masterbation is very safe with almost no risk of STDs.  The skin on the hands is very thick and not susceptible to infection.  The presence of 2-3 small red spots on your hand (where on your hand, back, front?) without other symptoms is not suggestive of STD.  I would not worry about putting your contact lenses in--just wash your hands well before you do, as is recommended for all who use contact lenses.
EWH

[Scooby2007]

I am not trying to bootstrap onto Ali's tread, but the questions below are what I have been waiting for a chance to post here.  Since the issues appear to be very similar, I thought you might "kill two birds with one stone".  Also, is there a FAQ that answers common questions or is searching past posts the only way to avoid asking duplicative questions?  

Many of the posts that I have read seem to have at their root a lack of understanding of how easy it is to transmit various STDs.  I count myself among those who, until reading posts on this site, felt that it was much easier to catch STDs than it apparently is.  My questions are:
1.  Why are deep kissing, mutual masterbation and similar activities so low risk?  For example, a man touches a woman's genitals and then touch his own.  Why is that more safe than having unprotected sex?  Is it that the various viruses cannot live long enough on your hand to be a risk of transmission?  Or there another reason?
2.  What STD's, if any, are an exception to the explantion to Question 1.  In other words, which STDs carry a higher risk of transmission without actual penetration?
3.  Is a male receiving oral sex from a woman at any higher risk than he would be deep kissing the same woman?  It seems to me that the risk from kissing should be just as high, if not higher.