STD Risks from vaginal bleeding?

[jimmyb215]

Hi, Yesterday I had protected sex with a woman and after a couple of minutes I noticed she was bleeding. There was a small amount of blood on the condom and some of it had made it down to the base of my penis where the condom did not cover and it was touching my skin. As soon as I noticed, I immediately went to the bathroom and washed my genital area with warm soap and water. The amount of blood wasn't too great and most of it was on the condom but I worried about the bit that touched my skin. That was the end of that sexual encounter.

The girl was a bit surprised and embarrassed as she said she wasn't expecting her period for a while and that had never happened to her before. I advised her to call her gynecologist in the morning and she said she would. She claims that she always using condoms and that she doesn't have any STDs but I'm not exactly sure when she was last tested or who she was with since.

Am I at risk from STDs from this experience? Which STDs are possible? Is there anything I can do in the meantime? I realize I won't test positive for a while if I was exposed so do I just sit back and wait? Hopefully she will get herself tested in the meantime and I can at least tell if I was exposed to something.

Thanks

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to our Forum. You questions raise several important issues.  I'll be happy to comment.

First things first.  There is a widespread misperception that exposure to blood, and particularly menstrual blood, changes during sexual the risk for infection.  That is not the case.  While several STIs are also transmitted in blood (HIV and hepatitis B in particular) in general, the amount of infectious microorganisms in blood is no higher and sometimes lower than the amount of organisms found in genital secretions.  Further, just as is the case with genital secretions, surface contact with skin does not lead to infection.  For these reasons, the blood exposure you describe does not change the risk for infection.

Secondly however, if your partner was not beginning her period, vaginal bleed during or immediately after intercourse is sometimes a sign of the presence of an STD such as chlamydia and may be a good reason to get checked for STIs. that your partner is seeking evaluation is a good idea.

As for your risk, as implied above, your exposure was condom protected and that means that there is no meaningful risk for infection from the exposure you describe, nor any reason for testing.  

I hope these comments are helpful.  EWH

[Edward W Hook, MD]

correct, this is not unusual.  You need to not worry.  EWH

[jimmyb215]

Thank you for your informative reply.

To follow up, I spoke to the girl again today and indeed it looks like it was her period. She was surprised as she is usually very regular and didn't expect it to come so early (it was a week early), but it appears her period is what it was.

Am I correct in assuming that a early or late period in a woman who is normally very regualr is not that unusual? Thanks again.