Expert: Terry B - 3/28/2008

Question
I am a virgin but 2 weeks ago had an unusual experience. I was walking along a beach which has a tidal lagoon frequented by homosexuals.I watched two men masturbate each other under water - I was in the shallows of the lagoon up to my mid-calf and they were in deeper water up to thier abdomens. I started to masturbate watching this for some reason and at one point noticed what appeared to be semen (not mine) sticking to my leg in the water.I am not certain it was but it freaked me out and I tried to wash it off.I used wet sand as an abrasive to remove it.

I am very worried - if it was semen that had floated in the water ( I was 5m away from the men) and  it stuck to my leg what are the oads of being infected ? My skin was unbroken and I never cut myself with the sand.I am also concerned that I touched my penis after having touched the substance. I did wash my hand in the water first.

Please help, thanks.

Answer
Dear James:

Peace.  Possible semen in the water for an undetermined amount of time poses an undertimable risk of infection.  By all factors, however, it would seem to me probable that this presents no HIV transmission risk at all for the following reasons:
1) The liquid is unknown;
2) If semen, the HIV status of the donor is unknown;
3) Assuming donor as HIV+, it is probable that the cells containing HIV would be disrupted by time and/or dilution in the water;
4) If cells containing HIV retained sufficient integrity to be infectious, the route of possible entry (on your intact skin) would be of low risk, and;
5) Washing the fluid off immediately reduced your risk, but using abrasive might have increased it - keep this in mind if you ever have a significant exposure.

Bottom line, no significant risk.

Hope this helps,

Terry