HomeAnswersHIV/AIDS specialistmasturbationI have hepatitis C and had mutual masturbation. Do I need to get PEP?

I had mutual masturbation. Do I need a PEP being a hepatitis C patient?

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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.

Medically reviewed by

Dr. Nithila. A

Published At July 4, 2019
Reviewed AtJuly 28, 2023

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I am a 31-year-old male with a history of hepatitis C on Harvoni. I was with a lady doing mutual masturbation. I then placed my fingers on her tits and played with them. I then sucked her tits. I have traumatic oral lesions. My concerns that if she has HIV(Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and then I got it to my fingers then to her tits and then to my mouth. That happened two hours ago. Do I need to get PEP(Post- exposure Prophylaxis)?

Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com.

You had negligible to low-risk exposure in this scenario. Mutual masturbation and playing with tits involves no risk. I guess there was no discharge from tits. If there was no discharge, again this was a negligible risk. You had traumatic oral lesions, which was a source of risk to the other person. If you do not know her HIV status or if she is HIV infected, in both situations, your concern of HIV acquisition is unwarranted as HIV cannot be transmitted by touching. Because of no to negligible risk, PEP is not warranted in this scenario. In case, the act was more than that you had described, or there was also fresh cuts or oozing wound on the tits, or you had sucked secretions from the breast, kindly revert. Take precautions in the future. I hope your query is answered, but if you still have any other question, please revert.

Patient's Query

Thank you doctor,

My concern was that the virus moved to the surface of the skin to my finger when I did the mutual masturbation, then when I touched her tits, it moved to the surface of the tits, then when I sucked her tits it moved to my mucous membrane.

Hello, Welcome back to icliniq.com.

No, this is not the way of HIV transmission. Your HIV acquisition risk in this scenario is non-existent. Mutual masturbation is not considered as a significant risk for HIV transmission. Survival of HIV outside the body is minimal. Another good thing is our saliva also has antiviral factors which reduce oral communication. If your act is limited to what you have described, PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) is not indicated. I hope your query is answered but if you still have more questions, do revert.

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

Dr. Ravinder K. Sachdeva
Dr. Ravinder K. Sachdeva

HIV/AIDS specialist

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