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Semen-to-cut HIV risk
Hello,
While I've seen a number of questions dealing with the risk of a finger-cut exposure to vaginal fluids (risk appears to be very close to zero), I'm having trouble getting an informed opinion regarding the risk of a finger-cut's exposure to SEMEN.
One of the site's doctors, in reply to a vaginal fluid/cut-finger incident, noted, "I'll bet that in the history of the world, not one of the millions and millions of HIV infected persons acquired HIV by hand-to-genital contact with an infected person." My inquiry, specifically, is:
1) Was that forceful reply suggesting the zero-infection rate also likely meant to include incidents of hand-to-semen contact and not just hand-to-vaginal-fluid contact?
2) Is it further presumed that, even in the presence of cuts on the finger or hand, no one has contracted HIV as the result of semen coming into contact with those finger or hand cuts during mutual masturbation?
Thanks so much for addressing this rather elusive area.
While I've seen a number of questions dealing with the risk of a finger-cut exposure to vaginal fluids (risk appears to be very close to zero), I'm having trouble getting an informed opinion regarding the risk of a finger-cut's exposure to SEMEN.
One of the site's doctors, in reply to a vaginal fluid/cut-finger incident, noted, "I'll bet that in the history of the world, not one of the millions and millions of HIV infected persons acquired HIV by hand-to-genital contact with an infected person." My inquiry, specifically, is:
1) Was that forceful reply suggesting the zero-infection rate also likely meant to include incidents of hand-to-semen contact and not just hand-to-vaginal-fluid contact?
2) Is it further presumed that, even in the presence of cuts on the finger or hand, no one has contracted HIV as the result of semen coming into contact with those finger or hand cuts during mutual masturbation?
Thanks so much for addressing this rather elusive area.
I am indeed!
And if I thought you had a real risk, I'd tell you. You definitely did not have a risk.
You mentioned 'theoretical' risks. When a doctor uses that word I just check out to be honest with you, because it means that they don't believe it's possible either. Face it, if you could be infected in the manner you describe, we'd know about it by now, ie loads of people would have stated that as a route of transmission.
It's theoretically possible for my eyes to fall out of my head. That doesn't mean it'll ever happen:)
And if I thought you had a real risk, I'd tell you. You definitely did not have a risk.
You mentioned 'theoretical' risks. When a doctor uses that word I just check out to be honest with you, because it means that they don't believe it's possible either. Face it, if you could be infected in the manner you describe, we'd know about it by now, ie loads of people would have stated that as a route of transmission.
It's theoretically possible for my eyes to fall out of my head. That doesn't mean it'll ever happen:)
'The mental-health benefits alone from straight-talk and realistic assessment, in my opinion, outweigh any potential benefits from assigning a mandatory risk--if only 'theoretical'--to otherwise harmless behaviors.'
Couldn't agree more. I had unprotected sex outside my relationship. I've always believed that there's no point telling the other person because it only hurts them, it's selfish. But when I went to get my first test, the first doctor told me 'saliva can theoretically transmit HIV'. I know now that this is 100% wrong, yet it freaked me out and since I had been kissing my partner, I felt like I had to own up. She wishes now I'd never told her. That doctor also, instead of telling me that I was at a very very low risk for HIV - which I was - told me I was right to come and get tested, because at least I'd be able to get medicine to keep me well! The *****!
You have to understand that there is a lot of hysteria out there about HIV and that affects doctors - who are human - as much as us. Don't get caught up in it. Unless you had unprotected anal or vaginal sex, you didn't have a risk:)
Couldn't agree more. I had unprotected sex outside my relationship. I've always believed that there's no point telling the other person because it only hurts them, it's selfish. But when I went to get my first test, the first doctor told me 'saliva can theoretically transmit HIV'. I know now that this is 100% wrong, yet it freaked me out and since I had been kissing my partner, I felt like I had to own up. She wishes now I'd never told her. That doctor also, instead of telling me that I was at a very very low risk for HIV - which I was - told me I was right to come and get tested, because at least I'd be able to get medicine to keep me well! The *****!
You have to understand that there is a lot of hysteria out there about HIV and that affects doctors - who are human - as much as us. Don't get caught up in it. Unless you had unprotected anal or vaginal sex, you didn't have a risk:)
Yes, I was in a situation where ejaculated semen came into contact with a cut I'd incurred a few hours prior...the cut was in the knuckle area and I was concerned that, given the flexing of that area that would have occurred, I may have inadvertently opened the cut again and exposed it to what I had presumed was a risk from the semen.
You're saying..."Forget it, there was zero risk?"
You're saying..."Forget it, there was zero risk?"
Dobber, would it be fair to assume you've been researching/investigating this disease and its transmission risks for quite some time? I guess I'm asking if you'd consider yourself quite expert (or at least highly informed) in the area...
While I would never refer to myself as an expert - I have no medical qualifications - I have been researching HIV transmission for quite a while and probably know as much as anybody about what constitutes a risk and what doesn't.
And I know enough to tell you that cuts on your hand or no cuts on your hand, handjobs are never, ever a source of HIV transmission. Well, maybe if, just as your HIV + partner was about to ejaculate, you slashed your hand open with a knife and got him to ejaculate into the wound, then closed it off immediately, then, MAYBE, there might be a risk.
But that's not gonna happen is it??
I also know that nothing I say on here hasn't been well researched:)
And I know enough to tell you that cuts on your hand or no cuts on your hand, handjobs are never, ever a source of HIV transmission. Well, maybe if, just as your HIV + partner was about to ejaculate, you slashed your hand open with a knife and got him to ejaculate into the wound, then closed it off immediately, then, MAYBE, there might be a risk.
But that's not gonna happen is it??
I also know that nothing I say on here hasn't been well researched:)
Having read some of your previous posts, I assumed you'd been on the information trail for quite some time.
Thing that has me worried now is, you mentioned if I'd intentionally cut my hand open just prior to his ejaculation and then immediately sealed it up...you see, I'm also BadDay1972 / iknowihaveit...and that DID happen...
Thing that has me worried now is, you mentioned if I'd intentionally cut my hand open just prior to his ejaculation and then immediately sealed it up...you see, I'm also BadDay1972 / iknowihaveit...and that DID happen...
Yes, I'm kidding...thought it would be more obvious, so I'm sorry for any momentary confusion.
Again, thanks for the insights and your specific addressing of my particular questions.
Again, thanks for the insights and your specific addressing of my particular questions.
Believe me it can be hard to tell on here!
I imagine you are worrying about an incident yourself? If it has anything to do with handjobs, cuts on your hand and HIV, I promise you there was no risk for HIV, and I know that the Doc would say the same:)
I imagine you are worrying about an incident yourself? If it has anything to do with handjobs, cuts on your hand and HIV, I promise you there was no risk for HIV, and I know that the Doc would say the same:)
1. Yes
2. Yes
There is absolutely NO risk there whatsoever. HIV is a very difficult virus to transmit
2. Yes
There is absolutely NO risk there whatsoever. HIV is a very difficult virus to transmit
Yes, that makes a great deal of sense. Perhaps certain doctors feel constrained to ALWAYS state worst-case scenarios and forever err on the side of caution; if that's the case, how nice to have this medium for real-world insights and probabilities. The mental-health benefits alone from straight-talk and realistic assessment, in my opinion, outweigh any potential benefits from assigning a mandatory risk--if only 'theoretical'--to otherwise harmless behaviors.
Thank you, Dobber21.
Do you think there are HIV-trained doctors out there (on this site or elsewhere) who would share your (refreshingly) unequivocal risk assessment re. cuts/semen...or is the usual medical reply more hedged with noting 'theoretical' risks?
Do you think there are HIV-trained doctors out there (on this site or elsewhere) who would share your (refreshingly) unequivocal risk assessment re. cuts/semen...or is the usual medical reply more hedged with noting 'theoretical' risks?
Or that other thing I did with my arm...cutting it open pre-ejaculation, etc.
I'm sure the horror of a possible positive diagnosis, even if based on flawed risk assessment by well-meaning professionals, has prompted more than one later-regretted act of contrition or, much worse yet, suicide...particularly when the stigma was so much greater.
I'm sure the horror of a possible positive diagnosis, even if based on flawed risk assessment by well-meaning professionals, has prompted more than one later-regretted act of contrition or, much worse yet, suicide...particularly when the stigma was so much greater.
'Or that other thing I did with my arm...cutting it open pre-ejaculation, etc'
Yeah man, I'd really watch out for AIDS there; I hear you can get it from a child's tears too!
You speak a lot of sense. There's a poor lad who was on here over the last few weeks, whose doctor told him that getting a blowjob is a risk - it isn't, and never was - and that he'd have to test out to six months - not true!
He subsequently came on here talking about suicide, even though he NEVER, ever had a risk. The poor guy. But doctors don't think, they really don't
Yeah man, I'd really watch out for AIDS there; I hear you can get it from a child's tears too!
You speak a lot of sense. There's a poor lad who was on here over the last few weeks, whose doctor told him that getting a blowjob is a risk - it isn't, and never was - and that he'd have to test out to six months - not true!
He subsequently came on here talking about suicide, even though he NEVER, ever had a risk. The poor guy. But doctors don't think, they really don't
Amen. If you want to educate yourself about HIV, there are loads of good sites, the best probably being aidsmeds.com. Just keep the word 'theoretical' on the tip of your tongue and that it essentially means 'no risk'
Nice chatting to you dude:)
Nice chatting to you dude:)
Take good care. And if I may ask a final question: the site "poz.com" was recommended highly as being authoritative and real. Do you have an opinion?
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