POZ Community Forums
HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: tommy on April 29, 2009, 06:51:09 am
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Hi,
just a quick one. Is there any likelihood of catching HIV from fingering someone? I gather none at all from having read previous posts but what about if you notice blood on fingers afterwards?
Many thanks for your help.
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Tommy,
No, fingering is in no way a risk for hiv infection. Even if you saw blood on your fingers. The skin is an excellent barrier against hiv. Hiv can only latch onto and infect certain cell types, and these cell types are not found on the skin of your fingers.
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 without 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 FINGERING, 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
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Ann,
Much appreciated.