POZ Community Forums

HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: chipreboot on July 07, 2006, 06:35:13 am

Title: scared fom fingering
Post by: chipreboot on July 07, 2006, 06:35:13 am
I was wondering about my situation if anyone can help ease my mind. Any chance of hiv transmission from fingering a girl in a hot bath. I dont know her status(poz or not) but this has been eating away at my mind.  It was for about 10 seconds and all took place under the water which was hot. Nothing else happened between us so I am assuming I am safe, but just needed to get it off my chest and ask. I had no noticable cuts or anything, but it is still hard to deal with.  Thanks for all responses in advance.  I have read alot of the forums which have helped, and the lessons. But still needed to do this.
Title: Re: scared fom fingering
Post by: RapidRod on July 07, 2006, 06:46:22 am
You don't get HIV from fingering, cuts or no cuts. You can finger away....
Title: Re: scared fom fingering
Post by: Andy Velez on July 07, 2006, 09:11:36 am
Chip, read the lesson on transmission again. And really take it in because all of the basics are there that you need to know about HIV transmission.

Perhaps you are at the beginning of becoming sexually active. As exciting as that maybe it also can stir up a lot of anxiety. I'm wondering if that's what is happening here with you now. As long as you follow safer sex guidelines and always use a latex condom for intercourse, (every time, no exceptions), you're covered literally and figuratively as far as HIV is concerned.

Fingering, mutual masturbation, getting oral, kissing, frottage, etc., are all non-risk activities you don't have to worry about.

There are other STDs out there, so it's a good idea if you are sexually active to regularly have a full panel of STD tests done -- at least annually and more frequently if there are any troubling symptoms.

In this instance you have absolutely nothing to worry about.

Cheers, 
Title: Re: scared fom fingering
Post by: chipreboot on July 07, 2006, 09:18:32 am
Thank you all so much for responding...You are right about the anxiety. Hearing this come from you guys really helps. The whole incident was while I was drunk. Out of curiosity, does the water help stop transmission also? Just for that extra piece of mind. Again thanks so much for your help.
Title: Re: scared fom fingering
Post by: Andy Velez on July 07, 2006, 11:24:00 am
HIV is a fragile virus and even IF the woman was HIV+ and even if you were getting her vaginal juices on your fingers, 1) they would not have been from the cervical area which is further up inside of her which is a more receptive area for HIV, and 2) HIV is not going to remain viable in a bathtub setting such as you have described.

What is more of a red flag in what you've described is that you were drinking excessively. Mixing alcohol with casual or impulsive sex is a dangerous combination. It diminishes your ability to negotiate safer sex. Maybe the drinking was to bolster your courage over the sex. Whatever the reason, don't mix drinking and sex. Enjoy yourself the safer way.

Cheers,
Title: Re: scared fom fingering
Post by: chipreboot on July 08, 2006, 05:50:01 am
Ann,
Could I please have your insight on my situation. Thanks so very much!! Just for an extra piece of mind. I would really appreciate it.
Title: Re: scared fom fingering
Post by: Ann on July 08, 2006, 05:59:20 am
chip,

There is no way on earth you would have become infected with hiv through fingering a woman for ten seconds in hot water. There is no way you would become infected with hiv from fingering PERIOD. Hiv is NOT transmitted in this way.

Sexually speaking, hiv is transmitted through having anal or vaginal intercourse without a condom and very, very rarely, through GIVING a blowjob. And that's it.

Use condoms for intercourse and you will avoid hiv infection. It really is that simple. Please read through the condom and lube links in my signature line so you can learn the correct way to use them. We are not born with this knowledge, so get reading and make sure you always use condoms. Condoms don't work when they're left in the wrapper. Oh, and practice using condoms on your own so you know what you're doing the first time you need one.

Ann
Title: Re: scared fom fingering
Post by: chipreboot on July 09, 2006, 11:18:48 am
Me again. I know this may sound silly, but any chance that the virus could have remained on my finger and then wiped my face and got it.  I am sure it is just my brain working overtime, but had to ask.  Thanks again for your help.
Title: Re: scared fom fingering
Post by: Ann on July 09, 2006, 11:29:09 am
Chip,

Hiv is a fragile, difficult to transmit virus. It becomes too damaged to be successfully transmitted when it is outside its favoured environment, which is INSIDE the human body.

Fingering is not a risk for hiv infection and neither is wiping your fingering finger on your face.

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

Ann
Title: Re: scared fom fingering
Post by: chipreboot on July 09, 2006, 12:05:52 pm
Thanks so much for replying Ann. I figured it was just my mind messing with me again, but had to ask. You guys have been great. Thanks again for the support during my rough time.
Title: Re: scared fom fingering
Post by: chipreboot on July 10, 2006, 09:12:17 pm
I again just wanted to thank you for helping me with my troubles. I have learned so much about HIV from you guys and wanted to commend you on the excellent work you have been doing to help people.  You all are a wonderful bunch of people. Not to mention I am so relieved that I didn't have a risk of infection. Thank you sooo very much!!! By the way, would you even bother getting tested in my situation? I am leaning toward not bothering, but thought I would throw it out and see what you thought??
Title: Re: scared fom fingering
Post by: RapidRod on July 10, 2006, 09:29:07 pm
You didn't have a risk, so there is no reason to test.
Title: Re: scared fom fingering
Post by: Ann on July 11, 2006, 05:31:16 am
Chip,

If you are sexually active - and by that I mean having intercourse at least a few times a month - then you 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.

If you're not sexually active (other than fingering) now, please keep this in mind for the future. When you become sexually active is the time to start having routine sexual health care check-ups. It's like going to the dentist. Maybe not such a pleasant activity, but you need to do it to stay healthy. Brush your teeth and you don't have to worry about cavities, use condoms and you don't have to worry about hiv infection. It really is that simple.

Ann
Title: Re: scared fom fingering
Post by: chipreboot on July 11, 2006, 06:58:13 am
Thanks Ann...I always use a condom if I was to have sex. I was never intending to have any relations with this person, it was spur of the moment and that was all that happened because I stopped and left the situation. So I should not worry about getting tested as that is all that happened. Sorry if I sound redundant, just a little worried I guess...The mind does crazy things to you. Thanks again

Chip
Title: Re: scared fom fingering
Post by: Ann on July 11, 2006, 07:26:20 am
Chip,

No, you don't need to test over this incident. However, as I mentioned, if you are sexually active you need to be getting full sexual health care check-ups at least once a year and more often if you are very active or have had unprotected intercourse. But you do NOT need to test because of this specific incident.

As long as you always use condoms for intercourse, you can fully expect your routine hiv tests to return negative results.

Use condoms and avoid hiv infection. It really is that simple.

Ann
Title: Re: scared fom fingering
Post by: mercury on July 11, 2006, 08:12:33 am
no need to get worked up abt that. fingerin doesnt get u hiv!
Title: Re: scared fom fingering
Post by: chipreboot on July 23, 2006, 08:01:54 pm
Hi all...was doing good until week 4 and I got a sore throat. No other signs that I am aware of, but still playing games with my head.  I have a habit of rubbing my eyes and now i am afraid I may have rubbed my eyes after the event and somehow transferred it that way.  I know I am probably being stupid, but any comments would be welcomed. Thanks for your help and support with this.

Chip
Title: Re: scared fom fingering
Post by: jkinatl2 on July 23, 2006, 08:09:26 pm
You do not have HIV through a fingering incident. No matter what sort of spin you wan to place on it, HIV simply is not that easy to transmit.

Title: Re: scared fom fingering
Post by: chipreboot on July 25, 2006, 05:06:55 pm
Well it turns out that I have gotten Chlamydia, which I am under the assumption that takes more than skin to skin contact.  So now I am really freaking out about hiv because this is the only incident that I can think of that I would have gotten that.  So I was wondering if that changes my chance of possibly picking up hiv, or if it is still not a risk from my incident.  I am sure hiv is harder to transmit, but if chlamydia made it, could hiv make it too? I go to be treated tomorrow for this and hope it is why my throat is sore, and they offered to test me for hiv the follwing week for free, but it would only be about the 6 week mark.  If my sore throat is from seroconverting, would it show up on the test? Scared sensless about this. Please give me a little more insight.
Title: Re: scared fom fingering
Post by: RapidRod on July 25, 2006, 05:28:25 pm
The answers to you questions are NO....You CAN NOT get HIV in the situation that you have given. Period.
Title: Re: scared fom fingering
Post by: chipreboot on October 13, 2006, 05:12:25 am
Me again. I know you said I didn't need to test, but I couldn't stop thinking about it, so I did. And I just wanted to thank you and share my negative result.  You were very helpful in getting through this. Thank You ;D