Advice please

[twiga84]

Dear Doctor,

I would like your reassurance please. I broke up with my long term boyfriend over 3 months ago. I had routine GUM testing since the break up (including an HIV test within the appropriate time frame) and everything was negative. About a month ago I met up with a friend who I have known for years. We ended up fooling around. He rubbed his penis on my vagina (I know that he did not enter me at this point) then we spooned and he continued to rub his penis on my vagina. I could feel him moving back and forth hitting my clitoris. I didn’t feel him penetrate me (and he says that at no point did he penetrate me) and this rubbing must have lasted for less than 1 minute. A few days after I started to get anxiety about all this and I keep thinking what if he did slip into me even if for a few seconds. I do not believe that the guy is bisexual and he does not use drugs. He is quite promiscuous and in the past we have discussed std testing and he has said that he does not believe that he has put himself at risk because he doesn’t have sex with girls who have lots of partners or who do drugs.
Do you think I have put myself at risk? Should I test again or forget about this?
Thanks.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

OK, now we're in the correct forum.

It is rare for STDs to be transmitted by genital apposition without penetration (some call it "outercourse").  In theory, there is a small risk for those STDs transmitted by skin-to-skin contact (herpes, HPV, syphilis).  The risk is even lower -- zero for all practical purposes -- for those transmitted primarily through sexual secretions like semen and vaginal fluid (HIV, gonorrhea, chlamydia, hepatitis B).  Even for the skin-skin infections, the chance is very much lower than with pentrative sex -- low enough that you should not be at all worred and so not need testing.  As you move on to future sexual relationships, you should plan on condoms for vaginal or anal sex, until you and your partner both are assured of mutual monogamy -- at which point you can consider mutual STD/HIV testing as well, for reassurance.

But for the particular exposure described here, no worries; as you put it yourself, you should forget about it.

I hope this has been helpful.  Best wishes--  HHH, MD

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Welcome.  However, this new forum is strictly for people with HIV infection who are seeking advice about treatment, protecting partners, or other aspects of living with HIV and AIDS.  The web administrator will move it to the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex forum, and I will reply to your questions there.

HHH, MD