Is there a chance of getting HIV?

Posted by lond @lond, Jan 27, 2016

I'd like to ask what the risk of HIV is if I had semen from another mans penis on my hand and then touched my own penis. I had cut the underside of my penis a couple days before with hair clippers. It was not a bad cut but it wasn't completely healed. Is there a chance of getting HIV?

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Rebecca McRoberts | @rebeccamcroberts | Jan 27, 2016

Hi @lond. Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect - I'm one of the community managers here. Transmission of HIV in the way you described would be unlikely, but I'd recommend talking to your doctor about some of the prevention tools available.

This link explains how HIV is transmitted http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/transmission.html and this one has information about prevention http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/prevention.html. I think these will be good starting points for you.

Have you talked to your doctor before about ways to prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases?

lond | @lond | Jan 28, 2016

In reply to @rebeccamcroberts "Hi @lond. Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect - I'm one of the community managers here. Transmission..." + (show)

I'll be perfectly honest and tell you that I have been married 32 years and this was something way out of ordinary for me. It happened one time at a gym. I was seeing how far something would go and made a mistake. It was dumb. I am not gay but obviously have some issues to sort out. It will not happen again and I have told my wife the story. Just dealing with extreme anxiety about the whole thing right now. I have spoken to my Dr and to a few other professionals about this incident and every health board you can imagine and they all say pretty much the same thing. It is pretty much unheard of to get hiv in this manner but I keep playing the why and what if game in my head and of course every time I turn around I feel like I have a symptom. Going to speak to a phycologist today. I was tested early negative but still have to go back at 3 months. Pretty much has ruined me and messed me up. Just trying to get through each day. Thanks for your help <br />

Rebecca McRoberts | @rebeccamcroberts | Jan 28, 2016

Hi @lond. I appreciate your honesty and openness. There is definitely more going on than worry of infection. Glad that you've recognized the need to sort things out and kudos for making an appointment to see a psychologist today. The worst is feeling like you're alone. Feel free to come back and talk with others, perhaps in the Men's Health group or Mental Health group or just continue to post right here. Wherever you're comfortable.

You can find the two groups I mentioned here:
Men's Health group https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/mens-health/
Mental Health group https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/mental-health/

Good luck with your appointment today.

lond | @lond | Jan 28, 2016

In reply to @rebeccamcroberts "Hi @lond. I appreciate your honesty and openness. There is definitely more going on than worry..." + (show)

Thank you. I am hoping for the best. It's amazing what your mind does to you. Never been through so much anxiety. My wife thinks I've gone nuts. Can't stop looking things up on internet about transmission. Almost every website says transmission this way is very rare but of course if you look hard enough you can find ones that tell you different. Hopefully I can get through this<br />