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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Could Holding A Tampon By Hand Cause Infection?

i was working away cleaning toilets today and was emptying bins. I can across a used tampon in the waste bin not the sanitary bin. I had gloves on lifted the bin but the tampon fell out so I had to pick it up. i washed my hands after and changed gloves. is there a chance I could have H.I.V
Thu, 6 Feb 2014
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Infectious Diseases Specialist 's  Response
Hello,
Welcome to HCM,
No, even if the blood on tampon had HIV, it would surely have died before you touched it.
HIV is present in blood, semen, vaginal fluids and breast milk.
To create an infection, one of these four body fluids with HIV in it must come into immediate and direct contact with the bloodstream or a mucous membrane.
I include the word "immediate" because the virus cannot survive for long outside the body. Oxygen destroys the virus.
Thank you
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Could Holding A Tampon By Hand Cause Infection?

Hello, Welcome to HCM, No, even if the blood on tampon had HIV, it would surely have died before you touched it. HIV is present in blood, semen, vaginal fluids and breast milk. To create an infection, one of these four body fluids with HIV in it must come into immediate and direct contact with the bloodstream or a mucous membrane. I include the word immediate because the virus cannot survive for long outside the body. Oxygen destroys the virus. Thank you