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HIV transmission--justifiably concerned or unnecessarily worried?
Hello Doctors,
This is not something I'm proud of or that I like to talk about, but around eight months ago, I made out with and was fingered (in my vagina) by a guy, and I was not aware of his sexual history or STD status. At the time, I was not really concerned much about the encounter, but I've recently hit a new bout of hypochondria and I'm having trouble deciphering whether this event should be causing me concern. Here's how I began to worry: in the process of googling my symptoms for a different condition I was worried about, I came upon a page about HIV rash (which did not even match the "symptoms" I had been searching for), and, despite the fact that it was completely unrelated to the information I had been looking for about a different skin condition, I became nervous and frantically remembered the encounter and began to search reputable websites (including your own) for information about whether the virus could be transmitted through these encounters. Most websites (including yours) say the same thing: no cases of transmission via fingering have been documented, and it doesn't seem like a likely mode of transmission. Some websites, however, state that there is a theoretical possibility of transmission if the fingers were bleeding. Now, I remember pretty distinctly that fingers had not been in his pants or in his mouth (i.e. they didn't have semen or saliva on them), but upon reading this information I became really anxious that maybe somehow they had been bleeding and neither of us had noticed? I do not remember seeing his fingers bleed, and there was no sign of blood on my thighs or underwear or anything, but at the same time I'm somehow worried that it was there and none of us recognized it. The guy was of Hispanic decent, and, while I know that race and ethnicity are not risk factors for HIV, I know that the Hispanic population is disproportionately affected by the virus, which increases my worry. A few weeks after the encounter I came down with a really nasty sinus infection, and now in retrospect I'm anxious that maybe that somehow could have been symptoms of HIV. Now, every minor change in my body--every ache and pain, every pimple and skin irritation, every headache and sore throat--I worry is a result of a positive HIV status. I also worry because I know experts say that there are a lot of people who have HIV and don't know it, so is it possible that the virus could be transmitted by fingering and just nobody's reported it because nobody gets tested after such encounters?
My question to you is this: does this encounter warrant testing (given that I am not 100% sure about whether his fingers were bleeding), or is this just me being overly anxious and perhaps a result of feeling guilty about the encounter? I know at least for me if I ever get a hangnail or similar cut on my finger and it's bleeding it hurts pretty badly, so am I silly to think that neither of us would have noticed if his fingers had been bleeding? Do I need to be seeing an HIV specialist or seeing a counselor about anxiety and hypochondria?
I know I can always take a test to be sure/alleviate what might be irrational fears, but I'd rather not do that if I don't have to. I don't think I could handle the anxiety, and I know that with the HIV antibody test they sometimes don't recommend it except for high-risk encounters anyway, since there is a possibility of false positives.
Thank you very much for the abundant resources you provide on your website. I look forward to reading your advice to help me make informed decisions about my health.
This is not something I'm proud of or that I like to talk about, but around eight months ago, I made out with and was fingered (in my vagina) by a guy, and I was not aware of his sexual history or STD status. At the time, I was not really concerned much about the encounter, but I've recently hit a new bout of hypochondria and I'm having trouble deciphering whether this event should be causing me concern. Here's how I began to worry: in the process of googling my symptoms for a different condition I was worried about, I came upon a page about HIV rash (which did not even match the "symptoms" I had been searching for), and, despite the fact that it was completely unrelated to the information I had been looking for about a different skin condition, I became nervous and frantically remembered the encounter and began to search reputable websites (including your own) for information about whether the virus could be transmitted through these encounters. Most websites (including yours) say the same thing: no cases of transmission via fingering have been documented, and it doesn't seem like a likely mode of transmission. Some websites, however, state that there is a theoretical possibility of transmission if the fingers were bleeding. Now, I remember pretty distinctly that fingers had not been in his pants or in his mouth (i.e. they didn't have semen or saliva on them), but upon reading this information I became really anxious that maybe somehow they had been bleeding and neither of us had noticed? I do not remember seeing his fingers bleed, and there was no sign of blood on my thighs or underwear or anything, but at the same time I'm somehow worried that it was there and none of us recognized it. The guy was of Hispanic decent, and, while I know that race and ethnicity are not risk factors for HIV, I know that the Hispanic population is disproportionately affected by the virus, which increases my worry. A few weeks after the encounter I came down with a really nasty sinus infection, and now in retrospect I'm anxious that maybe that somehow could have been symptoms of HIV. Now, every minor change in my body--every ache and pain, every pimple and skin irritation, every headache and sore throat--I worry is a result of a positive HIV status. I also worry because I know experts say that there are a lot of people who have HIV and don't know it, so is it possible that the virus could be transmitted by fingering and just nobody's reported it because nobody gets tested after such encounters?
My question to you is this: does this encounter warrant testing (given that I am not 100% sure about whether his fingers were bleeding), or is this just me being overly anxious and perhaps a result of feeling guilty about the encounter? I know at least for me if I ever get a hangnail or similar cut on my finger and it's bleeding it hurts pretty badly, so am I silly to think that neither of us would have noticed if his fingers had been bleeding? Do I need to be seeing an HIV specialist or seeing a counselor about anxiety and hypochondria?
I know I can always take a test to be sure/alleviate what might be irrational fears, but I'd rather not do that if I don't have to. I don't think I could handle the anxiety, and I know that with the HIV antibody test they sometimes don't recommend it except for high-risk encounters anyway, since there is a possibility of false positives.
Thank you very much for the abundant resources you provide on your website. I look forward to reading your advice to help me make informed decisions about my health.
Thank you getitright! That does make me feel better.
The best advice i can give you is to accept Teak's advice because he is the best of the best on this forum and when he says you never had a risk from your encounter you should 100% believe this.Please don't google other sites as most of them are outdated.Medhelp provides updated information and the facts.You are not going to make history and be the first person ever in 30 years to contract Hiv via fingering.It's never going to happen.You're safer then fort knox.
I apologize if it started to sound like I was beating a dead horse, I'm just trying to better understand why there is no risk so I can stop worrying for good.
At any rate, thank you very much for your responses, and I will do my best to stop worrying and move on with my life.
At any rate, thank you very much for your responses, and I will do my best to stop worrying and move on with my life.
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* Continuing to post upon your return will result in a permanent ban.
But HIV can be transmitted by infected blood, right? Like cases of hospital workers who've been jabbed with needles that may have HIV+ blood on them? Why is this situation any different than that?
Nothing you did put you at risk.
HIV is transmitted by;
Unprotected penetrative anal and/or virginal sex
Sharing works with other IV drug abusers
Mother to child.
HIV is transmitted by;
Unprotected penetrative anal and/or virginal sex
Sharing works with other IV drug abusers
Mother to child.
Thank you, Teak...can you elaborate as to why?
You never had an exposure.
You are reading content posted in the HIV Prevention Community
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
Can I get HIV from surfaces, like toilet seats?
Can you get HIV from casual contact, like hugging?
Frequency of HIV testing depends on your risk.
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) may help prevent HIV infection.
