Need some reassurance

[WorriedSick999]

I was with a stripper in Portugal 4 weeks ago which included lots of open mouth kissing, mutual masturbation with fingering and hand job. The hand job was rough and i am worried about vaginal secretions on her hands getting into a small cut on head of penis or behind the foreskin. We also used each others saliva for lube.

I know from reading lots of articles on this forum that this should be a low risk activity for HIV, however the next day there was a fair amount of blood in my stools which has worried me ever since. A week after i started to notice some issues with my breathing which have also continued since, there are times i have woken at night really struggling for breath which i have never experienced before. I have also had some night time sweating. Im incredibly stressed about the whole incident and I am really looking for some reassurance that my symptoms are unrelated.

I am going to test for all STDs tomorrow, but also planning on testing again at 6 weeks and 3 months.

[Jim]

the next day there was a fair amount of blood in my stools which has worried me ever since. A week after i started to notice some issues with my breathing which have also continued since, there are times i have woken at night really struggling for breath which i have never experienced before. I have also had some night time sweating. Im incredibly stressed about the whole incident and I am really looking for some reassurance that my symptoms are unrelated.

Blood in your stool the next and breathing issues starting within a week has absolutely nothing to do with HIV from the encounter with the sex worker in Portugal.

mouth kissing, mutual masturbation with fingering and hand job. The hand job was rough and i am worried about vaginal secretions on her hands getting into a small cut on head of penis or behind the foreskin.

Read this three times. No HIV risk to you, you did not acquire HIV from these activities.

We also used each others saliva for lube.

Saliva is hostile towards HIV breaking down the receptors needed to infect.

Here's what you need to know to reduce your HIV risks:
Use condoms for anal or easier-acquired correctly and consistently, with no exceptions. Consider talking to your healthcare provider about PrEP as an additional layer of protection against HIV and get vaccinated against HPV, Hepatitis A & B.

Keep in mind that some sexual practices described as safe in terms of acquiring HIV still pose a risk for other easier-acquired STIs. So please do get tested at least yearly for STIs, including but not limited to HIV, and more frequently if condomless intercourse occurs.

Also, note that it is possible to have an STI and show no signs or symptoms; testing is the only way to know.

Kind regards

Jim

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[WorriedSick999]

Thank you Jim, this is such a relief to read (and i did read 3 times!). You guys do an amazing job on this forum.

So there are no documented cases of HIV infection through mutual masturbation with transfer of fluids?

[Jim]

HIV is fragile and limited in how it's sexually acquired; it's acquired inside the confines of the human body, meaning not being exposed outside the confines of the body, like during condomless intercourse. Once exposed outside the body, the receptors needed to infect corrode, leaving it unable to infect.

As for the fluids on her hands etc, not that it matters as it's exposed outside the body and the concern also lacks any of the simultaneously needed environmental and biological conditions for HIV transmission, but the vaginal fluids a woman produces when sexually stimulated/excited comes from the Bartholin's glands; this is essentially a lubricating fluid with no more HIV present than other bodily secretions such as saliva, sweat or tears.  Saliva, sweat and tears are not HIV-infectious fluids. The fluid that's a concern is found far deeper inside, so near the cervix and the saliva as explained already, is hostile towards HIV, it neutralises HIV by damaging the receptors needed to infect human cells.

In brief, your adult HIV risks are:

* Condomless intercourse & a minute (theoretical) HIV risk if you give a blowjob.
* Sharing drugs rigs (Syringes)
* Blood products/ transfusions (Rare nowadays in most nations thanks to screening)

That's it.

So you did not acquire HIV from the activities mentioned with the sex-worker in your first post, that much is certain.

Move on with your life, see your GP regarding the blood in stool and breathing issues so they can test and treat it as needed and as you are sexually active get an STI screening yearly out of standard routine.