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Hands, sweat, precum, fingers...
Hi,
I'm a bisexual male and have had a few (4 or 5) encounters in gay bath houses. I'm really worried because I have a girlfriend, I don't wanna infect her... So, in those encounters, the following happened :
1) I got a massage (thighs, butt, torso) ;
2) An erect penis rubbed against my back and butt ;
3) I masturbated men (but not until ejaculation) ;
4) I got masturbated (some men even touched their genitals just before touching mine, hence possibly carrying their own precum on their hands) ;
5) I carressed thighs and butts which might have been in contact with secretions ;
6) I had a finger inserted in my anus (the finger had been in contact with the man's genitals and precum just before).
So my questions are :
• What are my risks for any STD's ?
• If I'm at risk for any STD, what would the incubation period for that STD be (how long before symtoms show up) ?
• Does the heat and humidity of a bath house help STD spread ?
• Should I get tested ?
I understand this is a grey area and not everybody agrees on what counts as safe sex, so I feel your answer could help others. Thank you in advance fo your precious help.
I'm a bisexual male and have had a few (4 or 5) encounters in gay bath houses. I'm really worried because I have a girlfriend, I don't wanna infect her... So, in those encounters, the following happened :
1) I got a massage (thighs, butt, torso) ;
2) An erect penis rubbed against my back and butt ;
3) I masturbated men (but not until ejaculation) ;
4) I got masturbated (some men even touched their genitals just before touching mine, hence possibly carrying their own precum on their hands) ;
5) I carressed thighs and butts which might have been in contact with secretions ;
6) I had a finger inserted in my anus (the finger had been in contact with the man's genitals and precum just before).
So my questions are :
• What are my risks for any STD's ?
• If I'm at risk for any STD, what would the incubation period for that STD be (how long before symtoms show up) ?
• Does the heat and humidity of a bath house help STD spread ?
• Should I get tested ?
I understand this is a grey area and not everybody agrees on what counts as safe sex, so I feel your answer could help others. Thank you in advance fo your precious help.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
What you "should make of that" is nothing. HSV simply is not transmitted by the sorts of exposure you describe, at least not with measurable frequency. The risk may not be zero, but it's close enough. Although recurrent herpes outbreaks can appear anywhere in the boxer shorts area, asymptomatic viral shedding is pretty much limited to the genitals or anus.
This website takes into account probabilities, whereas many others -- certainly most of those run by health departments and many other agencies take an absolutist position at the advice of their attorneys; if there is any risk at all, mention it, typically without context.
The theoretical some-risk STDs in this situation are HSV and HPV.
This website takes into account probabilities, whereas many others -- certainly most of those run by health departments and many other agencies take an absolutist position at the advice of their attorneys; if there is any risk at all, mention it, typically without context.
The theoretical some-risk STDs in this situation are HSV and HPV.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the STD forum, and congratulations for following safe sex practices and for being concerned about your girlfriend's health. (Of course your concern for a regular partner's STD risks should be just as great whether the steady partner is male or female.)
They call them STDs because you have to have sex to transmit them -- and for disease transmission purposes you did not. With only various kinds of skin-to-skin contact and fingering, and no unproted penile insertion into rectum or mouth, there is little potential for transmission. These activities may not be truly zero risk, but the chance of transmission is low enough to be disregarded. To the specific questions:
1) STD risk? Near zero.
2) Usually 2-3 days for gonorrhea, 7-14 days for chlamydia, 3-10 days for herpes, 2-3 weeks for syphilis, 6+ weeks for HPV/warts.
3) Warmth and humidity contribute to spread of staph and other skin bacteria in bath houses, but there is no evidence such environments enhance STD/HIV trasnmission.
4) "Should I get tested?" is a social issue, not a medical one. From a risk assessment perspective, people whose sexual practices are limited in the way you describe don't need routine testing at all, unless symptoms develop. But if this reassurance doesn't completely settle your fears, you could be tested. It's up to you.
This is not a relationship counseling service. However, if you have not informed your girlfriend of your bisexuality, it might be appropriate for you to do so. For most men who have sex with men, it is difficult to limit sex to non-insertive practices. If and when you get tempted to have anal or oral sex with other men, your partner will be at risk -- and which point she has the right to know the risk exists.
Regards-- HHH, MD
They call them STDs because you have to have sex to transmit them -- and for disease transmission purposes you did not. With only various kinds of skin-to-skin contact and fingering, and no unproted penile insertion into rectum or mouth, there is little potential for transmission. These activities may not be truly zero risk, but the chance of transmission is low enough to be disregarded. To the specific questions:
1) STD risk? Near zero.
2) Usually 2-3 days for gonorrhea, 7-14 days for chlamydia, 3-10 days for herpes, 2-3 weeks for syphilis, 6+ weeks for HPV/warts.
3) Warmth and humidity contribute to spread of staph and other skin bacteria in bath houses, but there is no evidence such environments enhance STD/HIV trasnmission.
4) "Should I get tested?" is a social issue, not a medical one. From a risk assessment perspective, people whose sexual practices are limited in the way you describe don't need routine testing at all, unless symptoms develop. But if this reassurance doesn't completely settle your fears, you could be tested. It's up to you.
This is not a relationship counseling service. However, if you have not informed your girlfriend of your bisexuality, it might be appropriate for you to do so. For most men who have sex with men, it is difficult to limit sex to non-insertive practices. If and when you get tempted to have anal or oral sex with other men, your partner will be at risk -- and which point she has the right to know the risk exists.
Regards-- HHH, MD
A related discussion, Transmission of Lymphogranuloma Venereum was started.
Wow ! Thank you for answering so fast !
I'm still puzzled by the fact I saw ads about herpes prevention mentionning the fact that :
1) People may be contagious even when they do not have an outbreak ;
2) The contagious region is whatever can be covered by boxer shorts.
What should I make of that ?
I also regularly read stuff about hand-to-genital transmission. How come this web site is the only so radical about it being a no-risk activity ?
Finally, for the benefit of everyone reading your answer, if the risk is near zero, which STDs make it not zero ?
You are absolutely right about my relationship with my girlfiend. My «secret» gets in the way of a true relationship, and healthy lifetsyle. I am working on this side of the equation.
Thank you very much.
I'm still puzzled by the fact I saw ads about herpes prevention mentionning the fact that :
1) People may be contagious even when they do not have an outbreak ;
2) The contagious region is whatever can be covered by boxer shorts.
What should I make of that ?
I also regularly read stuff about hand-to-genital transmission. How come this web site is the only so radical about it being a no-risk activity ?
Finally, for the benefit of everyone reading your answer, if the risk is near zero, which STDs make it not zero ?
You are absolutely right about my relationship with my girlfiend. My «secret» gets in the way of a true relationship, and healthy lifetsyle. I am working on this side of the equation.
Thank you very much.
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
