Answers provided by:

Mark H. Katz, M.D.
Regional HIV/AIDS Physician Coordinator
Kaiser Permanente of Southern California

Question: I know that HIV can be absorbed into the bloodstream through the mucous membranes, so are the woman's labia minora considered to be mucous membranes through which HIV can be absorbed into the bloodstream?

Answer: Yes, the vaginal mucous membranes are believed to be capable of absorbing HIV, if in contact.

Question: Is it true that the lesser the amount of HIV-infected fluid one is exposed to, that the lesser the chances are of them getting infected?

Answer: Yes, the amount of HIV-infected fluid (in both volume and concentration) is a cofactor as to whether transmission occurs or not.

Question: Is the perineum(the area between the vagina/penis and anus), as well as the area surrounding the outside of the anus considered to be mucous membranes through which HIV can enter the bloodstream? Are the lips on a person's face considered to be mucous membranes through which HIV can enter the bloodstream?

Answer: The perineum is actually skin, so this is an effective barrier to transmission. The actual rectal tissue (inside of the rectum) is mucosa , so this could potentially absorb HIV. No one truly knows about the lips--we postulate it is a more effective barrier than the "softer" buccal (inside of mouth) mucosa within, but not as effective a barrier as skin.

Question: Since HIV can enter the bloodstream through open, bleeding cuts?

Answer: Any opening in the skin or any mucous membrane is a possible source of HIV gaining entry into the body.

Question: Say someone gets an open cut and starts bleeding, but a few minutes later there's solid(coagulated) blood formed on that open cut - is it likely or unlikely for transmission to occur if HIV-infected fluids get on that solid blood on the outside of thatopen cut?

Answer: You ask a question for which the answer is not really known. Theoretically, a few minutes later after a cut, even if there is a mesh over it, it is still permeable enough for something--consider dirt--to enter and cause infection.

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