Worried of HIV exposure (anal fissure)

[mike2]

I had an encounter with a high-risk couple 2 weeks ago. I performed briefly oral sex on the man but there was no ejaculation. What worries me is is that he rubbed his penis on my anus (no penetration), but I suffer from a chronic anal fissure (no signs of blood at present) as a result I have a 'sentinel pile' on the anus which is mucous membrane from what I understand. It is painful when irritated and his penis touched it. I am worried sick, that pre-cum from the penis entered the mucous membrane from the sentinel pile. I will be going for an HIV test in a few weeks, but I am worried that my risk was high because mucous membrane was exposed outside the anus. Your advise is greatly appreciated.

[RapidRod]

You are worrying needlessly. HIV is unable to reproduce outside its living host (unlike many bacteria or fungi, which may do so under suitable conditions), except under laboratory conditions, therefore, it does not spread or maintain infectiousness outside its host.

[jkinatl2]

There is no risk for HIV in the behavior you describe.

[mike2]

Thank you guys. I hope that you are right. But I am still very worried about the fissure and the 'sentinel pile' as it is an open wound that can allow the virus to enter the bloodstream. I have been trying to educate and learn as much as I can about about HIV in the past 2 weeks and trying to prepare myself to live with HIV. I think I have learned a lot in the past 2 weeks and although I feel confident that I can handle it. I am still scared.

[Ann]

Mike,

One thing you need to realise is that people are not "high risk", but some activities are. It doesn't matter who you are with, if you are having unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse, then your activities are high risk.

What you did was not high risk, it was not low risk, it was NO risk. Unless you've engaged in barebacking that you've not told us about, don't be surprised by your negative result when you test.

As a sexually active adult, you should be testing regularly anyway. Here's what you need to know in order to remain hiv negative...

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 OVER YOUR CURRENT CONCERNS, 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