A: Fingering is generally considered a low-risk activity for the transmission of HIV, particularly if there are no open cuts or abrasions on the fingers/hand or the body orifice (anus, vagina) being fingered. However, fingering can be a way of transmitting Hepatitis A and parasites that live in the ass. For safer fingering, it's a good idea to use latex gloves or finger cots for fingering. Also, if you finger someone, don't put that finger in your ass or mouth (or rub your eyes, nose, etc.) without washing it thoroughly.
Another important thing to remember about fingering (and fisting) is that sticking anything up there can lead to creating tears within the rectum, which could then be areas of entry for HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and other STDs if followed by unprotected anal intercourse. So, keeping nails trimmed without any jagged edges, removing jewelry, and using plenty of lube are good behaviors both for safety and for his comfort!
[thanks to Howard Brown Health Center for this info]
Is it problematical?..., is it misleading in public health advocacy to evaluate risk of any one sexual practice?... People do multiple things. People don't do only one thing and stop. Before and during sex people don't know what could happen next when the heart beats faster and the mind goes numb.
ReplyDeleteThe reason that we have provided the above information is because we are often asked about discrete risk of specific behaviors. I am simply making available in a more public forum my responses to those requests for information. It is true that, sometimes, in real-life behavior, one thing can lead to another. However, information needs to be available to people regarding how to reduce their risk, given the activity in which they plan to participate or, as is often the case, have already participated. As a health educator and contributor to this blog, I often include information about other sexual practices as well and do not stop at just one behavior (see previous post “Q: What are ways to reduce my risk for HIV/STDs?”).
ReplyDeletePeople do make decisions regarding sexual behavior based upon health risk. Frankly, unprotected anal sex is more risky than fingering or rimming. Knowing that, people will determine what level of risk is appropriate for them and act accordingly. With that in mind, I try to give tips on how to perform a broad range of behaviors as safely as possible.
> ...people will determine what level of risk is
ReplyDelete> appropriate for them and act accordingly.
Like everybody is a perfect actor, as if they are rational and thinking about this. And they are sitting there and computing a number before they do anything. Okay, I can live with 50% risk. That isn't what's really happening. They are unconscious in those situations. That's what sexual feelings do, they swamp everything. There's probably some element of fear and it gets crowded out with sexual urges. Fear gets swamped out that's why there's all the dead people.