Question

Are sexual fluids infectious for HIV?

4 April 2008. Related: All topics, HIV transmission.

Can HIV virus spread after fluids are outside the body?

After I got off the condom, vagina fluid from an HIV-positive woman touched on the hole on my penis, the fluid is still wet I am so worried. Can I get HIV from this situation?

Thank you for taking your time.

Answer

Answer: Simon Collins

Firstly, sexual fluids contain infectious HIV. This is why HIV is a sexually transmitted infection.

Secondly, HIV doesn’t survive for long outside the body – perhaps less than a minute – so the risk you describe is very low. Your exposure sounds minimal, the fluid may not have been infectious by then, and HIV is also fairly difficult to catch.

You can only know your HIV status though by having a test, perhaps as part of a routine sexual health check up. Information on HIV tests is at this link.