Am I just being irrational?

[jonnykino]

Hey there. First off, just wanna point out I have severe OCD regarding germs and STD's... so if this is a stupid question, I do apologise, but I can't cope with all the worry and anxiety.

On Friday night, after a lot to drink, me and my friends ended up in a strippers. I had a couple of dances, and each of the girls touched themselves down below. They didn't go right inside, as far as I could tell. I kept my hands on the seat as I wasn't allowed to touch them. The girls had touched my hand. Then when I left one of the girls came over and hugged me, and I hugged back.

Before I went though, I noticed I had a small cut on my finger. Like a scab/blister. I was wondering if it's possible I could have caught anything due to them touching themselves and me having a cut on my hand? Is it even possible from the situation I was in?

This is the cut, taken the next day after the strippers.

http://i42.tinypic.com/jfzssz.jpg

Here's another picture from this morning of the cut; http://i44.tinypic.com/1581kc9.jpg

I'd never been to a strippers before... and don't intend to due to all the anxiety I'm getting now. Am I being irrational about it all due to my OCD.... or is there any rationality in my thinking?

I mean, I don't know how big a cut needs to be, or whether mine constitutes a cut etc. I'm just very worried right now.

Thanks.

[RapidRod]

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.

HIV is transmitted by;
Unprotected penetrative anal and vaginal sex
Sharing works with other IV drug abusers
Mother to child

[jonnykino]

Hey, thanks for your reply.

So I've got no risk at all with any STD, and I should just dismiss my worries completely? There's definitely no chance I could have caught something?

What about the cut, is that the kind of cut that would be likely to get infected by an STD or anything?

Sorry for all the questions! Just want to know everything so I don't get these worries again in the future.

Thanks.

[Ann]

Jonny,

You could have fingered the woman with a cut on your finger and you still would not have been at risk for hiv.

You also weren't at risk for any other STI just because a stripper touched your hand which happened to have a small cut on it.

Hiv is a fragile, difficult to transmit virus. Unless you're having unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse with anyone or sharing needles to inject street drugs, then you're not at risk.

I suggest you seek out professional therapy to help you deal with your out-of-control OCD. We cannot help you with that here.

You have NOT had a risk for hiv infection and you do NOT need to test over this lapdance incident.

Ann

[jonnykino]

Hi,

Thank you for your reply. Yeah, I'm currently seeing a therapist... hopefully I'll get sorted out asap.

I was wondering if, whilst I'm here, I could gather some knowledge on HIV and cuts? I'm just curious as to how big a cut would need to be, and would fresh dripping infect blood need to directly enter the cut? Same with fingering a girl.

Only, I'm not too concerned about this, but I was on a night out with some friends, and the cut I mentioned in my first post was still on my finger. A girl had fallen over earlier in the night, and had a graze on her knee. I put my hand on it without realising. Obviously this isn't a risk, but I'm wondering, in that situation, how specific everything would need to be?

Thanks.

[RapidRod]

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.

[Ann]

Jon,

If you are in a car accident (for example) and you and someone else both sustained deep cuts, and your deep, profusely bleeding cuts came into direct contact (say you were helping the other person out of the car), then you might (only might) have a problem if the other person was hiv positive. The cuts and scratches you're worrying about are not something you should be worrying about.

Put it this way. I was in a relationship with an hiv negative man for eight years. He is in the building trade and often has nicks, cuts and scratches on his fingers. He remains hiv negative. The ONLY thing we did to protect his hiv negative status was to use condoms for intercourse. If hiv were as easily transmitted as you are imagining, everyone would be poz by now.

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

Ann

[jonnykino]

I made a topic a while back and was told I had nothing to worry about, but a recent 'incident' got me worried again. I mean it's probably due to my OCD, but since I'm not knowledgeable in STD's in general I figured I'd ask here, so please forgive me if you think my question is pointless.

Anyway, on a night out there was this girl from my university. I'd never spoken to her before in my life, and we didn't do 'anything', however she had fallen over and had a graze/cut on her knee. I also had one on my hand and pointed out the cut to her, touching it. I can't really remember, but I don't think it was bleeding, and I didn't notice any blood on me or anything, so am guessing there's no risk here at all, for any type of STD?

I know it would need to be gallons of blood to have a chance of infecting someone with a cut, and the main form of transfer for most STD's is sex, but I still worry.

I have an irrational fear of STD's and Aids, and I don't know why. I have no need to be, I'm not even sexually active.

Anyway, there's no risk here, right?

Again, I apologise if this is a pointless thread.

[RapidRod]

I made a topic a while back and was told I had nothing to worry about, but a recent 'incident' got me worried again. I mean it's probably due to my OCD, but since I'm not knowledgeable in STD's in general I figured I'd ask here, so please forgive me if you think my question is pointless.

Anyway, on a night out there was this girl from my university. I'd never spoken to her before in my life, and we didn't do 'anything', however she had fallen over and had a graze/cut on her knee. I also had one on my hand and pointed out the cut to her, touching it. I can't really remember, but I don't think it was bleeding, and I didn't notice any blood on me or anything, so am guessing there's no risk here at all, for any type of STD?

I know it would need to be gallons of blood to have a chance of infecting someone with a cut, and the main form of transfer for most STD's is sex, but I still worry.

I have an irrational fear of STD's and Aids, and I don't know why. I have no need to be, I'm not even sexually active.

Anyway, there's no risk here, right?

Again, I apologise if this is a pointless thread.

■Please do not start a new thread every time you have another question or thought - regardless if you think your questions are related to each other or not. It helps us to help you when you keep all your thoughts or questions in one thread and it helps other readers to follow the discussion. Additional threads will be merged.


■If you cannot find your thread, click on the "Show own posts" link in the left-hand column of any forum page, under your name.

[Ann]

Jonny,

I've merged your new thread into your original thread - where you should post all your additional thoughts or questions. It helps us to help you when you keep everything in one thread. It doesn't matter how long it has been since you last posted in your thread or if the subject matter is different.

If you need help finding your thread when you come here, click on the "Show own posts" link under your name in the left-hand column of any forum page.

Please also read through the Welcome Thread so you can familiarize yourself with our Forum Posting Guidelines. Thank you for your cooperation.




Yes, you are being irrational once again. And once again you did NOT have a risk for hiv infection.

Your university more likely than not has on-campus counselling available for students. Please, please, PLEASE avail yourself of this service and get help for your OCD. We absolutely cannot help you with that here.

If you read the Welcome Thread before posting like you're supposed to, you will have read the following posting guideline:

Anyone who continues to post excessively, questioning a conclusive negative result or no-risk situation(s), will be subject to a four week Time Out (a temporary ban from the Forums). If you continue to post excessively after one Time Out, you may be given a second Time Out which will last eight weeks. There is no third Time Out - it is a permanent ban. The purpose of a Time Out is to encourage you to seek the face-to-face help we cannot provide on this forum.

Please consider yourself warned!

Ann