Expert: Terry B - 11/1/2006

Question
hello , does sucking the nipple of an infected woman can transmitt the  aids or other way if she suck my nipple can i catch it and does hot water with soup enought to remove a contiminated blood of hiv person on my hands and does a sores which is not bleeding can transmitt the diesease;thanx in adavance foryour help

Answer
Dear Samer:

Peace and all good things to you.  The fluids that have been known to transmit HIV include semen (the fluid produced by the penis before and throughout ejaculation), blood and blood products, vaginal secretions, and breast milk.  The amount of these fluids to which you are exposed and the duration of the exposure both contribute to your risk of infection.  Thus:

1) Sucking a nipple may be of some risk if the nipple of the person being sucked is lactating, raw, or irritated, which would produce breastmilk, blood, or blood products;
2) Having YOUR nipple sucked by an infected person seems a lower risk as long as YOUR nipple is not exposed to blood, semen, vaginal secretions, or breast milk;
3) Hot water with soap (preferably a disinfectant) should be sufficient to remove blood from your hands;
4) A sore which is not bleeding may still be producing pus or drainage (blood product) which can transmit HIV.

Note that the amount of the fluids - how much or how little to which you are exposed - is a factor in transmission; the relatively small amount of blood (or breastmilk - if a woman is producing breastmilk or "lactating") you may be exposed to in sucking the nipple of an infected person would seem small.  

Also, handwashing is important in preventing disease transmission, but it should be done under running water and preferably with a disinfectant soap (or 10 percent bleach solution) to be most effective.

I hope this is of help.

Sincerely,

Terry