HomeAnswersHIV/AIDS specialisthiv risk factorsCan HIV be contracted by just fingering the vagina?

Can HIV be contracted by just fingering the vagina?

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The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.

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Published At January 7, 2018
Reviewed AtJuly 11, 2023

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

Three weeks ago, I met a girl in a strip club and I was fingering her vagina for at least 30 minutes but without any intercourse or kissing or anything else. A week after this, I started having gas in my stomach and feeling strange and this continues till today. Ten days after this exposure and after I drank a liter of milk, I had diarrhea. The next day I ate, 20 minutes later I went to the toilet. Since then, I did not have such problem but whenever I am eating something I have this feeling that I need to go to the toilet and my stomach is "playing all over." But, I did not have any symptoms of diarrhea. Also, I never had a fever during this period. Five days ago, I started having a headache and my nose was full and I was coughing like I had a kind of Virus and I did not know if it was correlated with my symptoms in my stomach. I still have the feeling that I need to go to the toilet but when I go, it is either the gas or the normal stool. On day 15 after the possible exposure, I went to a clinic and I had done an HIV third generation test and the result was negative. When I asked the doctor what kind of test was that he mentioned to me the third generation but enforced which is equal or better than the fourth generation and this is what the doctor told me. My worries are if I have been infected with HIV by performing fingering and only that, and if my symptoms are related to that and if not what else might be. I am going today to give a sample of my stool for culture to see if I have any virus or anything else. In two weeks from today, my wife and I have decided to do an in-vitro Fertilization and therefore I am worried if the above are interlinked and I need to take any other action. Finally, my other question is linked to the latter. If I will take any antibiotics now for my stomach if they find also something in my stool and in two weeks, I need to give semen for the in vitro fertilization is this fine or the antibiotics will affect the quality of the semen? Should I do anything else with reference to my possible exposure to fingering?

Answered by Dr. Sushil Kakkar

Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com.

There is really no chance of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection through Just Fingering the vagina as the virus is unable to pass through intact skin. There is not even a need to screen for HIV if fingering is the only physical activity that you have performed. Your stomach issues are perhaps due to indigestion and lactose intolerance. Milk and Dairy products are a common cause of lactose intolerance. You can avoid dairy products for a while. I do not see any issues with your scheduled IVF (in-vitro Fertilization) procedure. You can go ahead with it.

Patient's Query

Thank you doctor,

What about the nose and my headache? Could this virus be related to stomach or flu? and also my stomach continues like that for the last two weeks. I have tried to avoid dairy products.

Answered by Dr. Sushil Kakkar

Hello, Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Nasal blockade and associated symptoms are most likely related to viral flu than anything else. Lactose intolerance may improve over time with avoidance of diet. You may also take a probiotic for your gut symptoms.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Sushil Kakkar
Dr. Sushil Kakkar

Dermatology

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