Expert: Kristen Brannock, MPH - 2/22/2008

Question
Hi, i've been researching but am still unsure. the other night, i allowed someone to ejaculate onto my stomach. i stayed lying on my back and none of it got into my pubic hair or reached my vagina. after a minute or two, he returned with a warm washcloth and i wiped off all the ejaculate with it. then, without thinking, i used the same cloth to dab and wipe my vaginal area (to clean off the K-Y jelly). i know for sure that where i wiped, there were microscopic tears from recent underlubricated fingering/sex play (no penile penetration though). also, my vagina was "turned out" from the thrusting motion, exposing thinner, seemingly more susceptible skin. i might have folded the washcloth to a clean, semen-free side before i wiped, but i'm not sure. if he had HIV, did i put myself at risk? thanks very much for your service.

Answer
It is possible- whenever infected semen enters the body (through the vagina, in this case), infection is possible. The vagina is a mucous membrane which allows the virus to pass through the skin (it cannot pass through skin on the outside of the body because its not a mucous membrane).

I would consider this very low risk but obviously I cannot say that its impossible.