assistance

[Requiredadvice]

Hello Doc,

I have very very foolishly put myself into a situation where my extreme anxiety towards HIV has been given the opportunity to surface.

I received some anal rimming (no insertion and no real direct contact with actual anus but in general area) from a female CSW in the UAE. This lasted about 30-40 sec until i panicked. She said she was from Vietnam. did not see any blood in her mouth or gums.

I spoke with her afterwards and she said that she always practices safe sex but i now find myself fearful and anxious about possible contraction of HIV as a result of this action. I have read through some posts and you have stated previously that there is some risk with regards to rimming. How much risk?

I completed an HIV test approximately 6 weeks prior to this incident as routine..all fine.

Do i need testing as a result of this incident?

Is there any medical reasoning for HIV testing as a result of this incident?

regards

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

There's no need to apologize for brief follow-up questions.  However, your symptoms do not change my opinion or advice.  New HIV infections do not cause nasal congesion, sinus symptoms, etc.  You have a cold.  Feel free to be tested for HIV if you wish; you are correct that it "would only be for reassurance and not medically needed".

[Requiredadvice]

Thanks for your reply. Three weeks on and i have one follow up. I have what appears to be a cold, congestion (sinus) slight sore throat and feeling malaise...Just to be sure of your response you are saying there is zero risk from the activity i described. Any testing would only be for reassurance and not medically needed.

Apologies for the follow up.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Welcome back to the forum.

As Dr. Hook informed in your thread last August, sexual transmission of HIV requires insertive sex, i.e. a bare penis (no condom) inside another person's vagina, rectum or (rarely) mouth.  You apparently misunderstood something else you read on the forum; rimming (oral-anal contact) has never been reported to result in HIV transmission.  Perhaps in some past thread Dr. Hook and I have talked about theoretical risks for oral-anal exposure, but I stress that no such transmission has ever been known to occur.  Further, you describe a partner who probably doesn't have HIV.

Therefore, there is no need for HIV testing on account of this event, and you can safely continue unprotected sex with your regular partner(s).

I hope this helps.  Best wishes and happy new year--  HHH, MD