Expert: Terry B - 4/23/2009

Question
Hello,

A few years ago, (yes suddenly I'm re-evaluating my past)I made a stupid decision. I guess it was 5 years ago. I accepted an offer from a sketchy women off the streets that I certainly consider to be "high-risk" to give me a hand job. I was drunk, but I remember the hand job was rough, it must have been her callous hands, but after a while I felt pain and asked her to stop.

The next day, I had a scab on my penis. My guess is that the friction from her rough hands wore my skin down and it scabed overnight.

I have been celebite since then, so other than that I have nothing to worry about it. I've always been so cautious when it comes to these things, but I slipped up that one time.

Is it possible that if she had a slight sore on her hand that she may have not even noticed had contact with the area of my penis that she rawed up with her rough hands could have transmitted hiv? Is there any risk at all?

Thanks.

Answer
Dear Zach:

Peace.  I doubt that you could have contracted HIV this way, as it requires exposure to the blood, semen, or vaginal secretions of an infected person.  How drunk you were might have impact on how much awareness you had of the situation and to what fluids she might have exposed you - but I don't see strong likelyhood of HIV risk.  There are other diseases that can be more easily transmitted, and a scab might indicate another, but I'd really recommend a couple things:

1) Go to your doctor and explain that you might have been exposed to something years ago, that you wondered if he might give you a full STI/STD panel.  That should cover your possible infections.
2) If not part of the STI/STD panel (and it should be) consider finding an HIV counseling and testing site and being tested there.  This will provide you solid information instead of conjecture.
3) Go to www.thebody.com or www.avert.org and read up a little more on HIV transmission as well as other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI).

I wish you and yours the best.  Thanks for your question.

Terry