Query

[TDW95659]

Dear Doctor,

I am a 25 year old male from the UK, and have a question following a night out three days ago.  Whilst walking home, I met a woman and stupidly had an encounter with her.  We deep kissed, she touched my penis, and I touched her breasts.  Before things went any further, she explained that she was an occasional sex worker, and at that point I left.

I had a reasonably large mouth ulcer on the inside of my lower lip, which I got after biting it accidentally a few days earlier.  I was drunk, and obviously did not use my best judgement in this.  I don't recall seeing any visible sores or marks on her hands or mouth, but my memory is not particularly reliable.

My question is this: since I have had this contact with a woman whose sexual history is completely unknown to me, what sort of std risk have I exposed myself to?  I understand that HIV is statistically not a concern, but I am particularly worried about syphilis and hepatitis b.

Thank you in advance

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to our Forum.  You have virtually nothing to worry about.  Your only contact was kissing and hand-genital contact.  STDs are not spread by receipt of masturbation (hand-genital contact) and, as you point out, HIV is not transmitted in this way.  There are no reports of hepatitis being spread by kissing either.  That leaves syphilis.  While there is, I suppose, a theoretical possibility of syphilis, in reality the risk is so very low as to be non-existent.  Syphilis is a rather uncommon STD and over half of cases occur among men who have sex with other men.  Your partner did not have a lesion that you remember.  Finally, I have to say, that while I have seen syphilis transmitted through oral sex, I have NEVER seen or heard of a case of syphilis transmitted by either eep kissing or by hand genital contact.  If I were you I really would not worry an I see no reason for testing.  EWH

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Glad to help. Take care. EWH

[TDW95659]

Thank you for your prompt reply.

I'd like to add that having found this forum, I think the frank, expert and impartial advice you provide to many people is a great asset and a huge help.