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Can HIV Be Contracted Through Contact Of Semen On Open Wound?

Posted on Thu, 23 Apr 2015

Question: Hi recently a HIV Positive person jerked off his semen on my bed sheet and rubbed it on the bed sheet so that it won't be visible clearly which means you can see only wet stain of semen but it is fresh and still wet and just 10 seconds old.Without knowing any of this i slept on that bed sheet. I had contact with that semen( of course it is rubbed by bed sheet but still wet and very fresh like just 10 seconds old) to my eyes, nose and with wound on my hand which is fresh and bleeding.Will get HIV from this ?

Answered by Dr. Bharatesh Devendra Basti (32 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Low risk of HIV transmission.

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thank you for query. I am Dr Bharatesh D Basti answering your query.
Welcome to health care magic.
I have gone through the details and can make out your anxiety.

Practically the chances of transmission of HIV by the mode mentioned is nil.
But theoretically with fresh semen,open bleeding wound there is minor or very low risk of transmission of HIV.
If you are sure of such an incident and sure of status of the person ,you can go for post exposure prophylaxis for HIV .Consult your doctor and have a discussion with your doctor and can go ahead with PEP.PEP has to be taken within 72 hours of risk exposure.
If beyond 72 hours, then go for HIV testing based on time since exposure.
You can get back for any clarification.
Thank you
Dr Bharatesh D Basti
Dermatologist and venerologist

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Neel Kudchadkar

Follow up: Dr. Bharatesh Devendra Basti (5 hours later)

Hi Doctor thanks for your reply. I got test reports of that person and he is HIV Negative and he is saying that there is a time gap of at least 10 minutes for my contact with his semen and coming to the wound its very small like a wound.Should i now be worried about that. Also please tell me how long does HIV live outside human body like in my case on Bed sheets?

Answered by Dr. Bharatesh Devendra Basti (24 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
You can totally allay fears of HIV.

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Thank you for follow up query.

If he is negative for HIV then there is no reason to worry at all.So you can totally allay fears of HIV.
HIV cannot survive beyond few minutes in the environment.
This aspect does not arise at all as there is no source of HIV to transmit yo you.
So forget the episode.
Be safe next time.
You can get back for any clarification else please close the discussion and rate.
Thank you
Dr Bharatesh D Basti

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Pradeep Vitta

Follow up: Dr. Bharatesh Devendra Basti (3 hours later)

Hi doctor i'm scared because that person is of bad sort and he is in window period of hiv(He said he got exposure of HIV by having Unprotected sex with HIV Positive person on 19 th March, 2 weeks back from today). That's y i'm worried. I heard that there were some tests with shorter window period to detect HIV early than standard window period 90 days like PCR, p24 Antigen Test.Can you please tell me about those tests and their window period and accuracy details.Please pardon me if i'm being stupid.I'm having sleepless nights because of this incident.Hope you understand my situation. Thanks in Advance

Answered by Dr. Bharatesh Devendra Basti (15 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Tests details explained.

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thank you for follow up query.

2 weeks is short for HIV to be transmitted to others.
The HIV 1&2 RNA PCR tests detect HIV RNA as early as after 4 days of exposure. Usually after 10 days exposure it is considered very sensitive .

P24 antigen is a component of HIV virus.It can be detected as early as after 3 weeks exposure.

Antibodies test detect antibodies to HIV .These can be detected as early as 2 -6 weeks after exposure. Some it may take 3 months.So until this period is considered window period.

You need not worry as it is unlikely for HIV to multiply and be transmitted through semen within 2 weeks of exposure.
You can allay fears.
Forget the episode.
You can get back for any clarification.
Thank you
Dr Bharatesh D Basti

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Pradeep Vitta