Nipple & HIV

LegacyUser

Hi,this may seem awful naive but is it possible to contract HIV or any infection from getting your nipple pierced?!

ARGINITE

Sorry disregard my previous advice as I'm not a doctor.

Black Swan

One of the sources of contracting HIV are shared needles by dope addicts. There is a sharing of the infected blood. Not sure if HIV can be transmitted during your procedure, but there was a dentist in Florida who was successfully sued for causing an HIV infection between patients (he did not sanitize his instruments between patients). There have also been warnings about tatoo procedures and the possibility of infection with HIV.

Other types of infections are possible. Check with any GP about post-op care and treatment.

Boston

ARGINITE wrote:

Not HIV but yes you could get an infected nipple.

What the fuk are you, a doctor?

patrickc

if the needles werent sterilised and had come into contact with someone who had hiv previously (obviously only there blood) and the same needle came into contact with your blood hiv could be passed on.

Fajitas!

Like any use of needles breaking skin, it is.

If your contemplating getting it done, go to a well known piercer, that has good reputation, if you're worried it's happened to you, go straight to the doc

LundiMardi

Boston wrote:

What the fuk are you, a doctor?

are you?

OP, it is highly, highly unlikely to get infected with HIV if you go to a professional piercer. The only way it could be possible is if they do not sterilize their equipment, and even at that, they'd have had to pierce someone before you who was also HIV positve.

Let's just say the odds are in your favour.

However, it is possible to get an infection.

Boston

No, but than again I'm not offering a medical opinion. To say something is 100% safe from HIV is a medical opinion btw.

Jules

not really a medical opinion unless "in my medical opinion" is stated before hand, otherwise its just an opinion and the op should realise that. You can get quite a bad infection from it. Read an article where a girl ended up loosing her brest due to an infected nipple piercing. Now not saying this has happened here as IM NOT A DOCTOR but if you feel tender in the area or unwell in anyway get yourself to a professional!

http://www.jconline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061102/LIFE03/611020322/1152/NEWS

Fanny Cradock

Let's not whip up hysteria here. Talk of losing a breast seems to be just that.

Pay attention to LundiMardi's post

Rb

Fajitas! wrote:

Like any use of needles breaking skin, it is.

If your contemplating getting it done, go to a well known piercer, that has good reputation, if you're worried it's happened to you, go straight to the doc

Exactly. You could get HIV from getting your ear pierced too, all depends on the conditions the needles are left in.

Go to any good piercing place (not the Georges street arcade!) and you've little or nothing to worry about, most are extremely professional and will have all their needles sterilized and clean.

Alter-Ego

Go to a reputable piercer. Afaik most use single use needles that are disposed of in a medical sharps container. And everything else, steralised.

I would also agree with staying away from georges street arcade.

j0e

Dr. Robert Goulet, Jr., a surgical breast oncologist at Indiana University Hospital who is supervising Edington's care in Indianapolis, said that while piercing can be safe, it's imperative that those seeking such a procedure are well informed and understand the possible ramifications.

docs opinon

Talliesin

A good piercer will be demonstrably hygenic - opening fresh needles in front of you so you can see that they are clean.

Otherwise there is indeed a risk of HIV and other blood-borne infections (such as Hep C).

tallaght01

Hi there.

I'm a doctor.

Banned for breaking the charter rules in regaurds to giving out medical advise.
Thaedydal

Sam Vimes

tallaght01 wrote:

Hi there.

I'm a doctor.

i'm a doctor too. in fact i'm the lord jesus christ. you may well be a doctor but we have no way of verifying that so best not give medical advice on boards anyway

[/modmode]

Nevyn

Commander Vimes if you have an issues with a post please use the report post
function, thank you.

The_B_Man

eh, he is a doctor! and even at that, all he said was if shes worried about anything, go see a doctor!

kowloon

Like Tallesin posted, they should be taking new needles out of their SEALED package (usually with a STERILE marked tab).

As for unsterilised needles you're more likely to get hepatitis than HIV, it lasts longer outside the body (im told).
You could still get either from a dodgy needle though.

But if youre not sure dont get the piercing, at the very least you could get a nasty infection just from the needles contact with unsterilised surfaces.
Ive given myself infections from using opened needles (Insulin, nobody go mental).

\m/_(>_<)_\m/

ungeged83 wrote:

Hi,this may seem awful naive but is it possible to contract HIV or any infection from getting your nipple pierced?!

this is not medical advice, this is only my opinion
if the piercer uses a new (out of a sterile packet) needle then no.
all piercers should/must use new needles. if not go to a reputable piercer who does. glove and sterile wipes are also mandatory in a reputable shop.

again this is not medical advice, this is only my opinion.
see a doctor for medical advice on this issue.

The_B_Man

well sure thats as much medical advice as tallaght01 gave!

He said what this poster should be doin! Go see a doctor if shes worried, especially if this is AFTER a "procedure".

Marksie

well, i wont give medical advice even though my primary degree specialises in medical microbiology.

BUT.... i went for a tattoo on my 40th and checked around before having one. The place i went to opened a fresh packet containing a sterile needle and used basic aseptic techniques which were suitable.
I was happy with it anyway.

Any reputable piercer will tell you what procedures they use.

Hellrazer

\m/_(>_<)_\m/ wrote:

glove and sterile wipes are also mandatory in a reputable shop.

Actually there are little or no laws governing the tattooing and piercing industry here.If the OP is concerned read the recommended places post in the Tattooing/Piercing forum.
You`ll find plenty of recommendations of clean reputable places if you read through the threads there.
Richie