Expert: Kristen Brannock, MPH - 4/21/2005

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A girl masturbated me (man) until I ejaculated as I was fingering her and may have had some of her vaginal fluids on my fingers. when I did ejaculate she gave me some tissue to wipe myself if I grabbed the tissue with the fingers that may of had the vaginal fluids on and wiped myself e.g. the urethra (opening of Penis) What are the likely chances of getting HIV, if low how low? Could it be transmitted in this way? Or you do you need alot of flluids to get into the opening of the penis? There was no cuts on my hands but if i got some vaginal fluids from tissue in the Urethra can i get anything? Or does it need to be through full sexual intercours?There was no penetration or oral sex please somebody help me i have no one else to turn to for advice
Answer -
If infected vaginal fluid entered your body, then yes, transmission is possible. However, it is unlikely in the way you describe. There are a lot of factors that determine how risky a situation is, but this beyond what I can do, so I cannot say how unlikely it is-just that its less likely than if unprotected sex had occurred.

Also I would like to say thank you for answering my question.  However i have a few more that i would like your opinion on!  The tissue may of had some vaginal body fluids on from two of my fingers when i touched the tissue to wipe of my genitals so if that part of the tissue came into contact with the urethra are you saying that transmission is likely?  I just thought that you may need alot of these vaginal fluids to get into the urethra also has it may of only been a few seconds from touching her and wiping myself with the tissue , i thought that if she had the virus it cannot live outside the human body?  Finally what do you think the likely chances are of me contracting hiv, if she may of had hiv and is a test needed in this situation?  could you please get back to me as soon as possible you have been of great help.  Thank you
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HIV lives outside of the body when contained in a transmitting fluid. Once again, if enough infected vaginal fluid entered your body then transmission is possible. Since the virus does not flow uniformly throughout the body, different amounts of fluid are necessary to transmit at different times. However, the way in which you describe isnt an efficient means of transmission, however, obviously I cannot say it is impossible since you came in contact with vaginal fluid. Use this information to decide whether or not you feel you should be tested, I cant tell you that.

What did you mean when you said that the virus does not flow uniformly throughout the body different amounts of fluid are needed to transmit at different times.  Also there was no visible fluid on the tissue it may have been on my fingers from masturbating the girl so you think there is a chance just from wiping my sperm of the genitals and (urethra)from a tissue with possible vaginal fluids on?  I just thought that actual fluid would have to go inside the urethra to cause transmission!1  All this information that i have given is the truth and from all this information would you recommend a test?  Do you also think i am high risk?  Could you please get back to me Kristen! You are of great help!

Answer
No, you are not at high risk-people at high risk are those who have had unprotected sex, or have shared needles.

The virus does not flow throughout the body in equal amounts, so vaginal fluid at one time may have a lot of virus, while vaginal fluid at a different time may not have much at all. That is what I meant when I said it does not flow uniformly.

The fluid does have to enter the body in order for transmission to occur, as I said before.