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Clarification: Oral Sex and HIV Transmittion
Hello, this is just a basic question about HIV Transmittion and risks. While I have previously posted about my concerns with unprotected oral sex and understand this forums stance that it is a ZERO risk for HIV transmittion. However, when I read the expert forum where both Dr.HHH and Dr.Hook give their opinions, I do find that they often label oral sex as a low risk activity as opposed to frequently stating that oral sex is zero risk for HIV. I do recall seeing Dr.Hook state in the past that HIV is not transmitted via oral sex (givng or receiving). I wanted to understand the difference in opinion (whether or not there is one). If the Dr's inform us that oral sex is considered a low risk exposure, would this not warrant a need for testing? I would assume that since you have informed me that I was never at risk for HIV, I would not need to be tested.
Basically just to recap, I have had oral sex with a number of men of unknown status, where I performed and received fellatio. I will also note that sometimes when I brush my teeth I notice some bleeding and have had a couple of mouth sores and chapped lips- would this change my risk assesment at all? Does "rimming" pose any risk of infection?
Also, I have had one recent incident of intercourse which was brief and completely protected by a condom so I will assume this too, did not put me at risk. What I want to understand is why I see the words "low risk" at times, and the unanimous "zero risk" from this forum. I just want to undertsand and clear this issue up. I am sure there are others confused about this so I wanted to know. Is it considered to be NO/ZERO risk because the risk is so LOW that it just isn't recognized or is it truly not possible to get HIV from oral sex?
Basically just to recap, I have had oral sex with a number of men of unknown status, where I performed and received fellatio. I will also note that sometimes when I brush my teeth I notice some bleeding and have had a couple of mouth sores and chapped lips- would this change my risk assesment at all? Does "rimming" pose any risk of infection?
Also, I have had one recent incident of intercourse which was brief and completely protected by a condom so I will assume this too, did not put me at risk. What I want to understand is why I see the words "low risk" at times, and the unanimous "zero risk" from this forum. I just want to undertsand and clear this issue up. I am sure there are others confused about this so I wanted to know. Is it considered to be NO/ZERO risk because the risk is so LOW that it just isn't recognized or is it truly not possible to get HIV from oral sex?
Thanks Lizzie. I appreciate it. I do understand Dr.Hook's views as he has stated that hiv is not transmitted through oral sex. I guess I just couldn't get past the times I've come across it being described as "low risk". Thanks again
FROM THE HIV EXPERTS HERE AT MEDHELP:
"As you know from other posts about oral sex, our stance is that giving or receiving oral sex is not a risk for HIV. Some others suggest that there is an appreciable risk of HIV from oral sex however, there are no convincing scientific reports which support these statements. The presence of a burn in your mouth, or a sore, or ingestion of blood does not change this. Still no risk an no reason for testing." DR HOOK
"As far as HIV is concerned, there is no known risk of getting HIV from performing oral sex on an infected partner, even if that person's genital secretions get into your eyes or if you swallow" DR HOOK
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".
DR. HANDSFIELD
"And oral sex is basically safe sex -- completely safe with respect to HIV and although not zero risk for other STDs, the chance of infection is far lower than for unprotected vaginal or anal sex. Please educate yourself about the real risks. If you stick with oral sex and condom-protected vaginal or anal sex, you have no HIV worries and very little worry about other STDs. " DR HANDSFIELD
"I am sure you can find lots of people who belive that HIV is transmitted by oral sex, but you will not find scientific data to support this unrealistic concern..." DR HOOK
"HIV is not spread by touching, masturbation, oral sex or condom protected sex."- DR. HOOK
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 / DR GARCIA
The observation on thousand and thousand of observations is that HIV is not spread by oral sex (of any sort). DR. HOOK
"With regard to the question you ask, I will repeat, as I’ve said more times than I can think- there are NO credible cases in which persons have acquired HIV through performance of oral sex- none!!. The chance that you will be the first is ridiculously low. You are more likely to be hit by lightening while reading my reply to you. DR HOOK
"HIV is not spread by masturbation, through oral sex, through kissing or other casual contact." DR HOOK
"There is no credible evidence that HIV is spread through oral sex, with or without the presence of cuts or blood in the persons mouth."- DR HOOK
"Oral sex. there is no evidence that HIV is spread through giving or receiving oral sex"- DR HOOK
"HIV is not spread through oral sex." DR HOOK
"HIV is not spread through giving or receiving oral sex" DR HOOK
"As you know from other posts about oral sex, our stance is that giving or receiving oral sex is not a risk for HIV. Some others suggest that there is an appreciable risk of HIV from oral sex however, there are no convincing scientific reports which support these statements. The presence of a burn in your mouth, or a sore, or ingestion of blood does not change this. Still no risk an no reason for testing." DR HOOK
"As far as HIV is concerned, there is no known risk of getting HIV from performing oral sex on an infected partner, even if that person's genital secretions get into your eyes or if you swallow" DR HOOK
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".
DR. HANDSFIELD
"And oral sex is basically safe sex -- completely safe with respect to HIV and although not zero risk for other STDs, the chance of infection is far lower than for unprotected vaginal or anal sex. Please educate yourself about the real risks. If you stick with oral sex and condom-protected vaginal or anal sex, you have no HIV worries and very little worry about other STDs. " DR HANDSFIELD
"I am sure you can find lots of people who belive that HIV is transmitted by oral sex, but you will not find scientific data to support this unrealistic concern..." DR HOOK
"HIV is not spread by touching, masturbation, oral sex or condom protected sex."- DR. HOOK
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 / DR GARCIA
The observation on thousand and thousand of observations is that HIV is not spread by oral sex (of any sort). DR. HOOK
"With regard to the question you ask, I will repeat, as I’ve said more times than I can think- there are NO credible cases in which persons have acquired HIV through performance of oral sex- none!!. The chance that you will be the first is ridiculously low. You are more likely to be hit by lightening while reading my reply to you. DR HOOK
"HIV is not spread by masturbation, through oral sex, through kissing or other casual contact." DR HOOK
"There is no credible evidence that HIV is spread through oral sex, with or without the presence of cuts or blood in the persons mouth."- DR HOOK
"Oral sex. there is no evidence that HIV is spread through giving or receiving oral sex"- DR HOOK
"HIV is not spread through oral sex." DR HOOK
"HIV is not spread through giving or receiving oral sex" DR HOOK
I don't know, I was looking for some insight. They are the professionals who have worked in the field for decades from what I understand. I just get confused about the real risk with oral sex when I see "low risk" as opposed to "no risk". I have seen the doctors state that it is "no risk" and that oral sex is not a way to transmit the virus, yet there are still instances where I find them describing it as low risk. Maybe I should ask them to explain it to me, just thought I would post in this forum in order to save a few $$
How can we explain Dr.Hook's and/or Dr.HHH's position in statements they have made?
I am not asking to evaluate this "no risk" situation. What I am asking is to clarify the difference in risk assessment where I find the words "Low risk" and "no risk". Can somebody please explain this to me I do not understand.
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* After excessive posting, a warning will be issued by MedHelp
* Continuing to post regarding the negative result / no risk situation will result in a 3 day suspension
* Continuing to post upon your return will result in a permanent ban.
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