worry

[doddy40]

Hi I am hoping someone can help me, the other day in a fast food restaurant I touched a door handle, and did not notice that there was red all over it, I did not know if it was blood or a sauce of somekind, but like an idiot I put my finger in my mouth to taste it and also snorted it off my car key, I am anxious now as I am worried that I may have contracted hiv this way, I have ocd and I do not know if this is a genuine concern or my ocd nagging away at me, if someone could please help me and let me know if I need to be tested, I could not taste anything when putting my finger in mouth.

[Ann]

Doddy,

Hiv is a fragile, difficult to transmit virus that is primarily transmitted INSIDE the human body, as in unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse where the virus never leaves the confines of the two bodies.

Once outside the body, small changes in temperature, and pH and moisture levels all quickly damage the virus and render it unable to infect. For this reason, you cannot become infected from hiv on objects in the environment, including but not limited to doorknobs.

Not one person has EVER been infected via a doorknob and you certainly are not going to be the first.

If you're not already seeing a therapist for your OCD, I suggest you start.

Here's what you need to know in order to avoid hiv infection:

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 the condom and lube links in my signature line so you can use condoms with confidence.

ALTHOUGH YOU DO NOT NEED TO TEST FOR HIV AFTER TOUCHING A DOORKNOB, REGARDLESS OF WHAT WAS ON THAT DOORKNOB, 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. Some of the other STIs can be present with no obvious symptoms, so the only way to know for sure is to test.

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

Ann

[doddy40]

hi thanks for coming back to me, I just want to clarify that even though I tasted what was on the door handle and sniffed it up my nose there is no danger of getting hiv, sorry to be a stress monkey but my ocd is working overdrive

[Andy Velez]

That was absolutely a no-risk situation for HIV no matter what was on that door handle. HIV is a fragile virus and is not transmitted in that kind of ordinary life situation. Period.

[jkinatl2]

hi thanks for coming back to me, I just want to clarify that even though I tasted what was on the door handle and sniffed it up my nose there is no danger of getting hiv, sorry to be a stress monkey but my ocd is working overdrive

Absolutely zero danger. You may lick each and every doorknob, toilet bowl, floor, and emergency room in the world and you will never ever contract HIV. You'll get all sorts of other things, of course. Not HIV.

I hope you are working with your therapist to overcome your unfortunate affliction. I daresay I have never heard of a version of OCD that caused a person to snort unusual substances off of a car key. Or find a method of placing aforementioned substance ON a car key for that matter.

I might suggest you look for a keyless entry option the next time you are in the market for an automobile.

[doddy40]

thank you both for taking the time to reply to me it is greatly appreciated

[Andy Velez]

You're welcome.

Now ...on with your life!