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Author Topic: Worried about blood exposure  (Read 5950 times)

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Offline josh1918

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Worried about blood exposure
« on: June 18, 2009, 09:33:45 pm »
I recently was out shopping when I suddenly realized there was a blood spot on my pants. I was definitely not bleeding myself, so I must have either bumped into someone who was bleeding or brushed against blood on some object.

The problem for me is that the blood was still wet. I noticed the blood when my hand brushed the blood spot on my pants. The blood smeared slightly on my jeans and hand, so it was definitely still at least somewhat fresh and not completely dried.

What is the risk of contracting HIV from this situation? I know that if blood dries, it is no longer infectious, but in this case it was still wet.

Thanks much.

Offline Andy Velez

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Re: Worried about blood exposure
« Reply #1 on: June 18, 2009, 09:41:15 pm »
Josh, it wouldn't have mattered if you had been dripping in fresh, HIV+ blood. There still wouldn't have been any risk whatsoever of becoming infected in that manner.

HIV is a fragile virus. It's not transmitted on surface objects such as food, furniture, clothing, hand to hand, kissing, rubbing against someone and any number of other ways people seem to worry about needlessly. Please read our lesson on Transmission. There's a link to it in the Welcome thread which opens this section.

In your ordinary life the only real risks you have to pay attention to sexually are through unprotected vaginal and anal intercourse. As long as you always use condoms for those you will be well protected.

Just get on with your life. There's nothing to be concerned about this time.

Cheers.
Andy Velez

Offline josh1918

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Re: Worried about blood exposure
« Reply #2 on: June 18, 2009, 09:57:34 pm »
Thanks for such a quick response. Before I posted, I did read about transmission of HIV on multiple websites, including the lesson on this site. However, my reason for concern is what I read on the website for the CDC (which I would have to think is also credible site).

The key line I noticed from the CDC website is:  "CDC studies have shown that drying of even these high concentrations of HIV reduces the amount of infectious virus by 90 to 99 percent within several hours."

This seems to indicate to me that it does take some length of time for this infectious virus to die outside the body. Even if this specific example is a "high concentration", that makes me worried that a lower concentration could last a few minutes.

I'm basically asking why you are so sure that this sort of infetction could not happen when the CDC website makes it sound possible.

Offline Ann

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Re: Worried about blood exposure
« Reply #3 on: June 18, 2009, 10:04:08 pm »
Josh,

We're sure because nobody has EVER been infected though getting blood on their pants and you certainly won't be the first.

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 BLOOD ON YOUR PANTS, 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
Condoms are a girl's best friend

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"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Offline josh1918

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Re: Worried about blood exposure
« Reply #4 on: June 18, 2009, 10:08:02 pm »
So then why do athletes immediately have to leave a game when there is blood on their jerseys? When I got a job at a store, they explained how to clean up blood if there was an accident (so as to not get infected with HIV). It seems like everywhere you look, people are taking precautions so they do not come into contact with blood.

This is really all for nothing? All of these pro sports leagues and major businesses (and the CDC) just don't understand?

Offline RapidRod

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Re: Worried about blood exposure
« Reply #5 on: June 18, 2009, 10:33:55 pm »
To get a clean uniform that would be the only reason to change. To bad the kick boxers don't do that.

Offline Ann

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Re: Worried about blood exposure
« Reply #6 on: June 19, 2009, 05:05:26 am »
Josh,

There are other blood-borne illnesses out there, ones that can remain infectious in the environment. Hiv isn't one of them, no matter what a paranoid public may think.

Do not even consider using this forum to go on and on about your NO RISK incident. You weren't at risk for hiv infection - end of story.

Ann
Condoms are a girl's best friend

Condom and Lube Info  

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Offline josh1918

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Handjob with gash on hand
« Reply #7 on: November 14, 2009, 12:34:45 pm »
I have been trying to stay safe in my sexual activities, but I have unfortunately encountered another situation where I have become concerned about the possibility of HIV infection.

I received a handjob from someone of unknown HIV status. I know that mutual masturbation is not considered a method of infection, but my concern is because this person had a band-aid on their finger because they had earlier "gashed" their finger (they used the word "gashed", so it was more than a small cut).

The reason that I am concerned is because the handjob was fairly rough. Afterwards, I noticed that there were some cuts/irritations that appeared to have broken through the skin on my penis from where she was rubbing me.

I know from wearing band-aids myself that, depending on how well the band-aid is covering the cut,  blood can seep out the sides even though a band-aid is on. My concern is that blood from the gash on her finger could have entered the cuts on my penis while she was giving me the handjob.

Furthermore, I think the rough surface of the bandage is likely what caused the cuts on my penis, so if there was blood around the band-aid, it would have been able to enter right as the cuts from the band-aids were occuring.

Should I get tested over this incident? I'd rather be safe than sorry.

Offline RapidRod

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Re: Worried about blood exposure
« Reply #8 on: November 14, 2009, 09:00:09 pm »
And again you never had a risk.

Offline josh1918

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Re: Worried about blood exposure
« Reply #9 on: November 15, 2009, 11:53:16 pm »
I understand that HIV can not survive for long outside of the body, but I am confused why it wouldn't be possible in this instance. The blood from her finger could have went directly from her finger into the cuts on my penis.

Andy or Ann, could you explain why this instance, that I described a couple posts above, is an instance where testing is not necessary?
« Last Edit: November 15, 2009, 11:56:50 pm by josh1918 »

Offline Ann

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  • It just is, OK?
    • Num is sum qui mentiar tibi?
Re: Worried about blood exposure
« Reply #10 on: November 16, 2009, 08:27:28 am »
Josh,

Her hand would have had to been absolutely dripping in blood in order for there to have been a risk to you. Hiv is just not that easily transmitted.

You got a rough handjob. You're not going to become infected with hiv as a result, so get over it.

Ann
Condoms are a girl's best friend

Condom and Lube Info  

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

 


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