Expert: Terry B - 1/14/2008

Question
few days ago i bought a masturbator from a stag shop. as i bought it i noticed it was open before so i asked the worker over there tat has it been used before. but she said no, all of there items are new and they dont accept return all of their sales are final
this wat she said to me. so i took it home and just rinse it inside and out with some warm water not with soap just warm water. as the hole was really small i just put some water inside and shook it and threw rinse it out. then i used it, but now after an hour or two. my mind played games at me tat i have aid now and i am about to die, so i start having this funny feeling on my left side and i am sleeping a lot i feel fatigue. and so unhappy feel like crying always, i cant do nothing just think about hiv gives me the shivers. i threw tat masturbator. please tell me wat is wrong with me. is it my subconscious or i have caught it?? and yes before masturbating i used a stud spray on my penis.

Answer
Dear Abi:

Peace.  Sharing of sex toys that exposes you to the fluids of another person could put you at HIV risk (such as passing the item between two people); any item purchased in a store would hopefully have been there long enough for such fluids to dry (and thus pose no HIV risk).  This leads to a simple answer:  you did not contract HIV from the sex toy in the situation you described.  

I hope that helps you with that part of your question; please go to www.thebody.com or www.avert.org for broader information on risk reduction, and to your doctor if your symptoms persist - they are not HIV from this incident - but it sounds as though you are uncomfortable.

The best to you and yours,

Terry