Risk of mutual masturbation with chafing and semen

[stormtrooper]

Hi,

This is my first post and I have spent a great deal of time reading the threads in these forums but I Still dont know what action if any i need to take in relation to my possible exposure due to conflicting info

In brief, I met a guy at a gay sauna and we only performed mutual masturbation on each other as he admitted sleeping around and I wanted to play it safe. I do not know his HIV status. No oral or anal penetration took place. The other guy 'came' onto my chest before me and straight away a blob of his semen dripped off my chest onto the area at the bottom of the head of my penis. I got a towel and wiped the semen off and then using some lube, masturbated myself for a few more minutes. It wasnt until i went to the restroom that I noticed that i had a 1.5cm friction sore along the ridge of the head of my penis where the guys semen landed. I'm uncut. I am now terrified that some of the semen permeated my penis head through the sore and foreskin and that I may have even rubbed some of the semen into the sore when masturbating with the lube. A day later I still have the sore. I cannot say whether it is open or not it is just red.

I have read some threads on here which send out the message that "Successful hiv transmission occurs INSIDE the human body, and masturbation takes place OUTSIDE the body." I have also read the HIV transmission lesson which points out early on that fluids such as semen can enter the body through open cuts and open sores, sores which Im guessing were like the one I had on the head of my penis? I find this information conflicting. I have also read that once exposed to air the HIV virus SLOWLY becomes inactive. But surely, the seconds it takes for semen to be ejaculated and then land on an open sore would be insufficient to render it inactive? 

Can anyone please clarify these points and advise me whether:

1. I have put myself at significant risk?
2. I should have a HIV test anyway
3. I should consider PEP Treatment.

Many thanks for an informative and helpful site.

[RapidRod]

1. You were never at risk from masturbation.
2. No you don't need testing from masturbation.
3. You don't need PEP for a non risk issue.

[anniebc]

Stormtrooper

The answers to your questions are NO, NO and NO.

This is not an HIV situation please read the Welcome Thread and follow the lessons on how HIV is and isn't transmitted.

HIV has to enter the body,  any infected semen has to get into the blood stream in order to infect, the skin is made up of several layers of skin and blood or semen cannot seep through the skin.

When we talk about open cuts, sores or wounds we are talking about large wide open deep cuts, abrasions are not classed as any of those.

You are not at risk from this incident.

Jan.

[stormtrooper]

Stormtrooper

HIV has to enter the body,  any infected semen has to get into the blood stream in order to infect, the skin is made up of several layers of skin and blood or semen cannot seep through the skin.

When we talk about open cuts, sores or wounds we are talking about large wide open deep cuts, abrasions are not classed as any of those.

You are not at risk from this incident.

Jan.


Thanks for the swift responses and reassurance all of you.

So, am i right in thinking then that the penis has several layers of skin like other parts of the body and an "open sore" is exactly that, a sore which which would be like a "mini crevice"? Therefore my friction sore would have only affected maybe one layer of skin, leaving others in situ to act as a barrier against any virus present in the semen?

Is it also true that once the virus has been exposed to air it does not necessarily die but becomes inactive which would account for the lack of cases of HIV transmission through mutual masturbation?

I'm still learning....

[Andy Velez]

No matter what details you throw into the masturbation mix, there's no risk for HIV transmission. With or without ejaculation, mutual handling, abrassions, rubbing -- you name it. No one's ever been documented to have become infected through what is a very common sexual activity and you aren't going to make history by becoming the first. Period.

[stormtrooper]

No matter what details you throw into the masturbation mix, there's no risk for HIV transmission. With or without ejaculation, mutual handling, abrassions, rubbing -- you name it. No one's ever been documented to have become infected through what is a very common sexual activity and you aren't going to make history by becoming the first. Period.

Thanks Andy. I sincerely hope you are right. I think the reason for my doubt, like the doubts from others who have posted similar threads is that I have only come across this great site after visiting other supposed expert sites such as TheBody.com which has stated:

 "Cuts and abrasions are much more likely to occur on mucous membranes than regular skin. Mucous membranes are found on the head of the penis, vagina, rectum, eyes, nose, and mouth. Mucous membranes are much thinner than the skin found on your hands and other parts of your body. Therefore, mucous membranes are much more likely to have microscopic cuts and abrasions. If you were to get semen directly in a fresh open cut on your hands, yes, there is a possibility of infection. But there would be an even greater possibility of infection if semen were to get onto a mucous membrane like the mouth or the head of the penis. So don't panic if you get semen on your hands. The skin on your hands is much thicker than the linings made of mucous membranes. The thicker the skin, the less the chance for abrasions and cuts."

And believe you me, there is no way I want to make history by becoming the first case of transmission through masturbation, but in light of the above I will still take a test for peace of mind.

Thanks again for the replies.

[Ann]

Storm,

As a sexually active adult, you should be having regular, routine sexual health check-ups anyway.

You need to be using condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, every time, no exceptions until such time as you are in a securely monogamous relationship where you have both tested for ALL sexually transmitted infections together. To agree to have unprotected intercourse is to consent to the possibility of being infected with an STI. Sex with a condom lasts only a matter of minutes, but hiv is forever.

Have a look through all three condom and lube links in my signature line so you can use condoms with confidence.

ALTHOUGH YOU DO NOT NEED TO TEST OVER GETTING SPUNK ON YOUR CHEST/PENIS, anyone who is sexually active should be having a full sexual health care check-up, including but not limited to hiv testing, at least once a year and more often if unprotected intercourse occurs.

If you aren't already having regular, routine check-ups, now is the time to start. As long as you make sure condoms are being used for intercourse, you can fully expect your routine hiv tests to return with negative results. Don't forget to always get checked for all the other sexually transmitted infections as well, because they are MUCH easier to transmit than hiv.

Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, correctly and consistently, and you will avoid hiv infection. It really is that simple.

Ann