James2229:
Hi, thanks for the great work everyone does here.
I had a no scalpel vasectomy a week before my encounter which left two puncture holes about 2 mm on each side of the scrotum near the shaft of my penis. Both had scabbed over by the encounter.
Encounter was protected vaginal intercourse from doggy style with an escort. My fear is coming from potential vaginal fluids getting on the healing wounds. I wasn’t to worried till 2 days later one of the wounds has a watery look on top of it (don’t know if infection or not).
My question is does having this type of surgical wound open me up to an hiv infection?
Thanks
Jim Allen:
Hiya.
Read your post three times, it's not an HIV concern, relax and move on with your life.
--- Quote ---one of the wounds has a watery look on top of it (don’t know if infection or not). --- End quote ---
See your healthcare provider because if it is a bacterial infection you definitely want it treated sooner rather than later.
Here's what you need to know to reduce your HIV risks: Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse 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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James2229:
Hi Jim, thank you for a speedy response.
I was actually mentally to the point where I was going to make an appointment to get some pep. Your comment has put me at ease.
Do you mind elaborating on why it wasn’t a HIV concern please. I was always under the impression that a wound could be a source for infection and that vaginal fluids were a source of virus. Just interested in the science of it if you have the time to school me.
Once again thanks again for sharing your time and knowledge
Jim Allen:
Why, because your concerns lack any of the simultaneously needed biological and environmental conditions to acquire HIV.
I'll cover a few points in a brief, but forgive me as I am typing this from my mobile phone without my glasses, whilst trying to do the shopping, :( so forgive any spelling and grammar issues.
Let's start with your wounds, firstly your scrotum was outside of her vagina and HIV is fragile and limited in how it's sexually acquired; it's acquired inside the confines of the human body as once HIV is exposed outside the body, the receptors needed to infect corrode.
Next the the fluid 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 infectious fluids. The fluid that's a concern is found far deeper inside, so near the cervix.
So the fluid that was in contact with your scrotum did not contain HIV and even if it had it is outside the body and not an HIV concern, that brings us to the next problem, which's your "wounds"
These small wounds are not even a route for you to aquire HIV, it's not direct access to the bloodstream, and this isn't bacteria we are talking about or even an effective virus, HIV is a lentivirus and your wounds have been healing and the innate immunity doesn't allow HIV to be passed on this way, compared to other infections HIV just isn't very infectious and this ties into the next issue that HIV uses for lack of better phrase brute force to overcome the innate immune system, like in perfect conditions, so example during condomless intercourse but with your concern there certainly wasn't the quantity of exposure needed and whatever you were exposure to lacks route and infectiousness in terms of HIV.
Anyhow, there are several other barriers to your concerns and I could write a book about it but the short version, is that you had no HIV risk, so move on with your life. ;)
Jim Allen:
Oh yeah, I should add that you had plenty of risk for far easier-to-transmit STIs, even whilst using condoms, However, there is no need to panic every time you have sex though, just keep using condoms, no exceptions and get an STI screening yearly and see your healthcare provider to check and treat those wounds.