Contracting HIV
So after a workout, I sat in my sweaty briefs on what might have been a blood stain (3 day old stain) of a person with HIV on a bed sheet. After I washed my hands I obliviously wiped them on the same briefs with which I sat on the sheet stain. After that I touched my penis for a prolonged time in the process of masturbating and showering and washing it.
Several days later, today, I was holding a sheet to put in a bag when the lady who gave me the sheet took it from my hands to put it in her self. Now, my hands are cracked and flayed by the dry cold weather, my knuckles full of wounds and sores. There isn't blood on any of them but one or two wounds are open and wet and shiny red, though no blood comes out of it even when wiped.
My questions are 1. Could I have contracted the virus in the manner I described 2. If the wet red wound on my hand came in contact with the part of the sheet the woman touched with her hands, and she had an open wound on her hands or on another body part she later touches, or if she touches her genitalia later with that hsnd for some reason before washing it, could she contract it from me if I have it? I feel horrible and consider whether I should tell her to get post contact prophylaxis, but don't know how to do so, she is a complete stranger to me.
I'm glad you reached out because I can tell from your writing that you're dealing with a lot of anxiety and worry. Also, it gives me a chance to clear up misinformation about HIV transmission that is out there that can feed into this worry, and may be helpful to others. It sounds like you are concerned about your genitals coming into contact with an object that may have come into contact with another person's bodily fluids three days earlier. First, we must remember there is a lot of misinformation about how HIV is transmitted. The five fluids HIV can be transmitted through are breast milk, blood, precum, semen, and anal and vaginal secretions (not sweat or saliva), when they come in contact with a mucus membrane - more about that here: https://h-i-v.net/transmission. HIV is not expected to live for long at all, making environmental transmission outside the body virtually non-existent. This means HIV cannot be transmitted through contact with everyday surfaces- more about that here: https://h-i-v.net/myths-misconceptions.
There are messages that you may have heard from others or from the media that can make it seem like people living with HIV are a threat to those around them, and this is a misconception that makes life incredibly difficult for those living with HIV - more on that here: https://h-i-v.net/?p=2683 - so I am so grateful you asked and started this conversation. I hope this helps to provide some clarity and ease your mind.
Liz, Team Member
I am extremely grateful for your reply. I know of the fragility of the virus once it leaves the body. However what worries me is that it was dried blood, and I read that the virus can survive in small amounts in dry blood for up to 6 days. Also my hands got in contact with my penis head which is a moist muccus membrane, aren't those the pathways for the virus? While we cannot give specific medical advice about your personal transmission risk, if you are concerned you can look into testing: https://h-i-v.net/test-types
In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States encourages all individuals between the ages of 13 and 64 to have at least one HIV test as part of their normal care. - Liz (Team Member)
Alafia (Peace) Have you had the opportunity to review any of the information Liz sent to you? How are you feeling now? Please reach back out to check in with us. Khafre (H-I-V.net Team Member)
