10 Curious Questions Asked About HIV Transmission in 2013

There's no such thing as a stupid question when it comes to learning about HIV. Accurate information about HIV transmission is one of the greatest tools out there to fight the epidemic, and on TheBody.com's "Ask the Experts" forums, our experts field many serious questions about HIV risks. HIV education is still sorely needed around the globe, and when a person takes a step to correct misconceptions and fears about how HIV is acquired by reaching out for clarification from trusted professionals, we welcome that.

And it sure can make for some zany,imaginative queries. Here are 10 of the most farfetched questions that have been asked on our forums this year. (Spoiler alert: None of these people were at risk for HIV from thescenarios they describe. Not one!)

Can I Get HIV From Food That Was Grown Using HIV-Positive People's Urine as Fertilizer?

Urine can be used as fertilizer, but what if it comes from an HIV-positive person? Will HIV-positive urine get into your food? Will it then get into you and give you HIV?

Can HIV Be Transmitted From a Monkey to a Dog to a Human?

Four years ago, my family moved to Lagos, Nigeria. Some monkeys around our compound got into a fight with my two dogs, who both received deep bites and scratches. Now one of my dogs has bitten my housekeeper. Could the monkeys have transmitted HIV (animal form or otherwise) to the dogs who then transmitted it to my housekeeper?

What's the Dog Been Eating?

Can having a dog eat you out transmit HIV or other diseases?

Can I Get HIV From Blood in Laundry Detergent?

My husband got groceries and when I wasunloading the bag I noticed laundry soap was spilled all over the bag. The bottle lid was not on tight. The laundry soap is usually clear, but when I opened the bottle, it looked like blood. If there were blood in the soap, would I be at risk from touching it?

Is the Special Sauce Semen?

Can you get HIV if there was semen in yourfast food and you ate it without knowing?

Can I Give Myself HIV?

I was using the bathroom while I was on mymenstrual cycle. When I stood up, I noticed a drop of my own blood on the toilet seat. I wiped it up with toilet paper, but I don't remember if I reused the paper to wipe myself. Could I have given myself something through my own blood?

Did Someone Spike the Champagne?

Recently I opened a bottle of champagne that had a crumbled cork. I'm worried that someone tried to put the cork back in after putting blood in the champagne. Could I be at risk for HIV?

Believe Everything You Read Online?

I recently read online that there have been some incidents of HIV-infected needles hidden under gas pump handles. I have really bad anxiety and after pumping gas I saw blood under the skin of my index finger, but no pain or bleeding. Was this a needle prick and could I get HIV?

Can I Get HIV From Someone Squeezing My Blackhead?

During a session of aromatherapy massage, my therapist was doing my back near my butt cheek area. She discovered and removed a blackhead from my skin. She must have just squeezed the skin for the blackhead to pop out. Her hands had no visible blood or cuts when I checked. Was I at risk of HIV?

What's the HIV Risk of Smelling Semen on a Towel?

I was in my bathroom when I noticed a hand towel in the corner. I saw something clear and dried up on it, so I felt it to see what it was. Then, I smelled it and it smelled like semen. I'm thinking it's semen from my HIV-positive friend. Is there a risk of contracting HIV if I smelled it and a particle from the semen got in my nose