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I recently had a sexual encounter with a massage parlour worker. I inserted one finger into a sex worker's vagina, additionally her vagina was rubbed up against my penis without any actual penetration but there might have been some vaginal fluids that touched the shaft of my penis but not the top/opening.

I am nervous about STIs. This is the first time I have done this so I am kinda freaking out. Am I at risk for anything, and if so, what are the odds?

 

Thanks for the question. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are common, so we’re happy to provide this information. Commercial Sex Trade Workers are no more likely than anyone else to have STIs, so we focus on the activities performed and not the individuals involved in the activities.

As for what to be tested for, different infections have different modes of transmission. Some pass from person to person through body fluids, some pass through blood, and some pass through skin to skin contact. The sexual activites you mention (fingering and skin to skin rubbing) may transmit syphilis, HPV, or herpes if you or the sex worker had one of these infections.

As you are sexually active, we recommend talking with a health care provider about how often to get STI testing. The frequency may depend on the kinds of sex you have, how many sex partners you have, and if you use injection drugs. A full STI screening (testing for everything) is the best way to stay informed of your status and treat anything that may be present. STI testing is available at all physician clinics, community clinics and hospitals in Manitoba.