Teak, for the win. Thanks. I appreciate your effort a great deal. I find comfort in all of this and I will try to use it for my own further education.
... of course, I'm still going to get tested, and I won't feel totally in the clear until months from now if my tests continue to be negative. But I am, to a great extent, more relaxed.
I can say this of my scare: I am much more aware of the crisis and I feel a renewed desire to do my part to help.
Page-Shafer, Kimberlya,b; Shiboski, Caroline Hb; Osmond, Dennis Hc; Dilley, Jamesd; McFarland, Willie; Shiboski, Steve Cc; Klausner, Jeffrey De; Balls, Joycea; Greenspan, Deborahb; Greenspan
Page-Shafer K, Veugelers PJ, Moss AR, Strathdee S, Kaldor JM, van Griensven GJ. Sexual risk behavior and risk factors for HIV-1 seroconversion in homosexual men participating in the Tricontinental Seroconverter Study, 1982-1994 [published erratum appears in Am J Epidemiol 1997 15 Dec; 146(12):1076]. Am J Epidemiol 1997, 146:531-542.
Studies which show the fallacy of relying on anecdotal evidence as opposed to carefully controlled study insofar as HIV transmission risk is concerned:
Jenicek M. "Clinical Case Reporting" in Evidence-Based Medicine. Oxford: Butterworth–Heinemann; 1999:117
Saltzman SP, Stoddard AM, McCusker J, Moon MW, Mayer KH. Reliability of self-reported sexual behavior risk factors for HIV infection in homosexual men. Public Health Rep. 1987 102(6):692–697.Nov–Dec;
Catania JA, Gibson DR, Chitwood DD, Coates TJ. Methodological problems in AIDS behavioral research: influences on measurement error and participation bias in studies of sexual behavior. Psychol Bull. 1990 Nov;108(3):339–362.
In June 2002, a study conducted amongst 135 HIV negative Spanish heterosexuals, who were in a sexual relationship with a person who was HIV positive, reported that over 19,000 instances of unprotected oral sex had not led to any cases of HIV transmission.3 The study also looked at contributing factors that could affect the potential transmission of HIV through oral sex.
DEL ROMERO et al. (2002) Evaluating the risk of HIV transmission through unprotected orogenital sex. AIDS, Vol.16, p. 1296 - 1297
by Edward W Hook, MD , Dec 11, 2009 10:08PM
No to both questions. Herpes is not present in saliva. Herpes is spread by direct contact.
The quoted figure for HIV risk, if one has oral sex with an infected partner is less than 1 in 10,000 and, in my estimation that is too high. Some experts state there is no risk at all from oral sex. Neither of us on this site have ever seen or reading the medical literature of a convincing instance in which HIV was passed by oral sex,even if you have blisters or sores. EWH
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D. , Dec 18, 2009 10:28AM
There is no debate (among experts) about the HIV risks associated with oral sex. The risk is so low that almost nobody who cares for HIV infected patients has ever had a patient believed to have been infected that way. Among experts, it's a semantic issue about using terms like "no risk" and "very low risk". There is no difference between my or Dr. Hook's use of "low risk" and other experts' "no risk".
Thanks again, Teak.
As a precaution I will still confront my boy about his testing habits, past sexual encounters and so on... and still get regular tests myself...
Not to overpost or to insult you, though: I just wish I knew WHY you and Dr. Gonzalez-Garcia consider it a zero risk activity. What does that mean? I thought that (especially as HIV infection amongst North American gay men is on the rise) nothing was zero risk, aside from holding hands wearing latex gloves?
And what do you mean by "not up to date"? Are there recent studies I can look at for reassurance?
What you read was incorrect and not up to date.
From the International HIV Prevention Forum.
5 - Finally, in the public HIV Prevention forum of MedHelp, TEAK and the other moderators maintain that oral sex in all forms is a zero risk activity. Would you agree with this assessment? I TOTALLY AGREE.
Best wishes,
Dr Jose Gonzalez-Garcia
Thanks Teak.
I'm confused. I read multiple times on multiple pages that unprotected oral sex carries a risk of transmission. Seminal fluid carrying HIV may have been in my mouth. Supposing I brushed my teeth moments before, it could have gotten into abrasions on my gums, correct?
A note: I did not allow my boyfriend to ejaculate into my mouth.
"unprotected oral sex (only) on a regular basis." You've never had a risk of contracting HIV. Keep working with your doctor your symptoms have nothing to do with HIV.