Question

[needhlp1]

Dr. EWH / HHH,

Maybe it's a silly question but it got stuck in my head and keeps me worried so I decided to ask. My girlfriend is away for an extended period of time now so I decided to buy myself a male masturbator. It's basically a reproduction of female vagina that is hollow inside for penis. I used it yesterday and after that thought to myself - what if someone used it before me then returned it and what if some fluid was left inside and now I used it? The return policy on the website that I purchased it from states that only unopened items can be returned but the packaging is such that it can easily be packaged back as it was packaged initially. I washed it after using it and left it overnight but it's still not dry inside which indicates that the air circulation is bad inside because the hollow space inside is pretty tight. I also flashed it with water a little before using it first time. It was also delivered by ups ground so it took about 5 days - I don't know if timing matters here. But the thought that it might have been used doesn't go away and keeps me really worried. If it was used and some infected fluid was left inside - would that be a risk for hiv transmission? I'm really worried.

Thank you very much.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Yes, this would still be considered exposure to the environment. There is just no way that you could have gotten HIV or any other STD in the manner you outline.  EWH

[needhlp1]

Thank you very much for you answer Dr. EWH! What a relief! This thought got me really worried! Just a little thing to clarify, if the air circulation is really poor inside because the hollow space inside is pretty tight - is that still considered exposure to the environment and the virus dies? It couldn't live inside like it does in a hollow needle for example because it wasn't exposed to the environment?

Thank you so much again for your answer!

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Your fears are groundless.  First, it would be just entirely too wierd for someone to sell as used device of this sort.  Second and even more important is that HIV dies within minutes (at most) of exposure to the environment. Thus there is absolutely no way that live HIV could be present in the device you used.  You have no reason for concern and no need for testing related to the concerns you have expressed here.  EWH