Q: If a massage therapist uses fingers to take out cream from a container and then massages or masturbates a penis, will she transfer pre-ejaculation from penis back to cream as she pulls cream several times while doing so. If this cream is used again on a second person soon after, will the cream transfer the HIV virus (assuming the first person was infected)? The therapist washes her hands prior to second massage but uses the same cream.

A:The risk is very low but it depends on many factors. In general it would depend upon the composition of the cream, the time interval between clients and the presence or absence of sexually transmitted infections other than HIV. I agree that it does not appear to be a hygienic practice but I do not think that it carries a significant risk. For your own peace of mind either avoid such a situation or carry your own cream!