Expert: Kristen Brannock, MPH - 4/16/2007

Question
Dear Doc - a query for you please:

I recently had protected sex with a woman of unknown HIV status. She was from sub saharan africa so i am assuming the worst. My concern is that i had some very small cuts at the base of my penis from shaving (with an electric razor). I am not sure if these cuts were protected by the condom or not. The cuts were very small, about 2mm long and about the same thickness as a paper cut. how deep they were I am not sure and they were new. It has since been 5 weeks since the exposure. I had a sore throat about 3 weeks ago, but after a night of excessive drinking and smoking (which i do not usually do). I have also recently started getting headaches. I am not sure if this is from all the worry I am having as this is contantly on my mind. If she was HIV positive, what are the risks to me?

Many thanks for your time.

Answer
Whenever infected semen, blood, vaginal fluid and/or breast milk enters another person's body, transmission is possible. Whether that happened during your encounter or not, I have no way of knowing...

I would say it is unlikely simply because of the mechanics of enough vaginal fluid entering the body through small cuts- not likely.