I recently visited HAwaii nd my firends encouraged me to finaly try out an Oriental Massage Parlor. The woman who gave me the shower used a sponge that was obviously used and now new and out of the package to wash me down but did not use it on my genitalia but she did use it to scrub my anus and the surface of my anus though no penetration occured. She also used a towel to dry the same area. I am concerned that perhaps a person who has IV might have been washed with the same sponge and the exposure to such a sensitive area might lead to me being infected. Also, she ran the sponge over an open blister i have on my toe and though there was no blood and it is more like a rug burn. I am just concernedabout my chances of contacting HIV by having a used sponge touch the opening of my anus. No sexual contact occured. Thank you very much.

Hello,

Unless you had unsafe sex with an HIV-positive version of Sponge Bob Square Pants, you have absolutely no cause for concern that HIV could be transmitted via sponge.

Dr. Bob (Square Pants)