Aa
STD scare from vaginal fluids
Hello, about two nights ago I went to a strip club. The stripper began stimulating/masturbating herself, and then immediately proceeded to unbutton my pants and give me a "handjob." Her fingers were wet with vaginal secretions, and as this was on the bare skin of my penis, I am now experiencing an extreme amount of anxiety. From reading the HIV/AIDS forum, it appears transmission through this route is fairly difficult, so I am not as concerned about this. However, I am worried about which other STDs I could have contracted from this? I am planning to try to get into the doctor's office this week, but would like to know which other STDs I need to be tested for.
My primary concern at this point is Herpes. I woke up the following day to discover a solitary small almost pimple-like lesion on the shaft of my penis, which had a whitish outline (almost as if it had crusted). It was mildly painful when palpated. In herpes, could a lesion appear and crust in less than 24 hours after exposure? Would it be solitary? And would it be accompanied by generalized symptoms (as I have tested negative for antibodies in the past, and I have had so far had a backache and fatigue, but nothing else)? If this is not a herpetic lesion (and perhaps just something from irritation of the skin), how long do I need to continue to monitor symptoms to be in "the clear?" Would it be with antibody testing at 3 months (or could I assume after two weeks if no additional symptoms appear that I likely don't have it)? Would starting acyclovir proactively have any effect at preventing possible transmission? Thank you!
My primary concern at this point is Herpes. I woke up the following day to discover a solitary small almost pimple-like lesion on the shaft of my penis, which had a whitish outline (almost as if it had crusted). It was mildly painful when palpated. In herpes, could a lesion appear and crust in less than 24 hours after exposure? Would it be solitary? And would it be accompanied by generalized symptoms (as I have tested negative for antibodies in the past, and I have had so far had a backache and fatigue, but nothing else)? If this is not a herpetic lesion (and perhaps just something from irritation of the skin), how long do I need to continue to monitor symptoms to be in "the clear?" Would it be with antibody testing at 3 months (or could I assume after two weeks if no additional symptoms appear that I likely don't have it)? Would starting acyclovir proactively have any effect at preventing possible transmission? Thank you!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
If you are asking me whether it is possible that HSV could be transmitted by hand-job, and if theat risk would be incresed by more vigorous or prolonged contact, the answer is obviously yes. It's also possible you'll be killed by lightning someday. The latter probably is a higher risk. In 30+ years in the STD business, I have never seen a case of genital herpes in a patient whose only exposure was hand-genital contact.
You are correct that many herpes education sites over-emphasize the low risk of auto-inoculation (i.e. self-transfer of HSV to a new body site). That almost never happens in people with recurrent herpes, who are immune to new infections with the same virus type, anywhere on the body. Occurrence of auto-inoculation occurs almost entirely during a person's initial HSV infection. And even then it is rare.
Please try to move on and put this non-risky event behind you. And in the future, the classic advice comes to mind: "If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen." If you're going to react this way when you go to a strip club, stop going to strip clubs.
You are correct that many herpes education sites over-emphasize the low risk of auto-inoculation (i.e. self-transfer of HSV to a new body site). That almost never happens in people with recurrent herpes, who are immune to new infections with the same virus type, anywhere on the body. Occurrence of auto-inoculation occurs almost entirely during a person's initial HSV infection. And even then it is rare.
Please try to move on and put this non-risky event behind you. And in the future, the classic advice comes to mind: "If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen." If you're going to react this way when you go to a strip club, stop going to strip clubs.
Thanks very much for your response Dr. Handsfield. I did read your thread as well as another one of your chats, and though I suspect you'll have the same response, I just had to clarify a couple of things. From your thread:
"Because large amounts of the causative bacteria or viruses must have direct access to susceptible tissues, which typically are deep inside (gonorrhea, chlamydia, HIV, HBV, etc); or they must be massaged vigorously into susceptible tissues, often with microscopic trauma (syphilis, HSV, HPV)."
Would a several minute handjob be considered vigorous massage? Does it make any difference if there may have been cuts on the genitals or being uncircumsized (which you mentioned in the chat may make one more susceptible)? Lastly, I guess I am confused why are there so many warnings about self-transmission of HSV (spreading from an actively infected part of the body to another area on the body) if transmission requires this type of micro-trauma. Thank you once again.
"Because large amounts of the causative bacteria or viruses must have direct access to susceptible tissues, which typically are deep inside (gonorrhea, chlamydia, HIV, HBV, etc); or they must be massaged vigorously into susceptible tissues, often with microscopic trauma (syphilis, HSV, HPV)."
Would a several minute handjob be considered vigorous massage? Does it make any difference if there may have been cuts on the genitals or being uncircumsized (which you mentioned in the chat may make one more susceptible)? Lastly, I guess I am confused why are there so many warnings about self-transmission of HSV (spreading from an actively infected part of the body to another area on the body) if transmission requires this type of micro-trauma. Thank you once again.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the STD forum.
You are overreacting in a major way. They call them STDs because you have to have sex to transmit them! What you learned on the HIV forum applies to all STDs: they are not transmitted by hand-genital contact, even when genital secretions are used as lubricant. Your are at no appreciable risk for herpes or any other STD. And no, a herpes lesion absolutely could not appear within 24 hours; 2 days is the minimum and most cases require 3 days. You don't need to monitory herpes symptoms at all "to be in the clear". You can safely just disregard this event, move on, and continue to have sex with your regular partner with no risk to her health. You don't need testing for herpes. (Feel free to do it if you wish. But if positive, you'll have to go back to other sexual exposures to explain it. So what's the point?)
Here is the link to another thread that explains the reasons for the low risk of STD transmission in this situation. Start reading with the follow-up comment dated December 14: http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/1119533
Regards--- HHH, MD
You are overreacting in a major way. They call them STDs because you have to have sex to transmit them! What you learned on the HIV forum applies to all STDs: they are not transmitted by hand-genital contact, even when genital secretions are used as lubricant. Your are at no appreciable risk for herpes or any other STD. And no, a herpes lesion absolutely could not appear within 24 hours; 2 days is the minimum and most cases require 3 days. You don't need to monitory herpes symptoms at all "to be in the clear". You can safely just disregard this event, move on, and continue to have sex with your regular partner with no risk to her health. You don't need testing for herpes. (Feel free to do it if you wish. But if positive, you'll have to go back to other sexual exposures to explain it. So what's the point?)
Here is the link to another thread that explains the reasons for the low risk of STD transmission in this situation. Start reading with the follow-up comment dated December 14: http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/1119533
Regards--- HHH, MD
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.
