Can you get HIV if you have hangnails or small cuts near your fingers?

If you have small cuts or hangnails on your fingers, the risk of contracting HIV from touching a tampon in the trash is very low. The virus weakens quickly outside the body, and simply washing your hands afterwards is usually sufficient protection. It is important to know that HIV is typically only transmitted through certain bodily fluids, such as blood or semen, from an infected person. So in general, the risk in this situation is considered very low.