Cunnilingus on viet prostitute

Dear Dr:

This is my situation: a week ago, on a Friday night and while I was heavily drunk, I visited a brothel in Viet Nam. I had protected vaginal sex (no problem with condom), but gave the viet girl oral sex and she also performed oral sex on me. I gave her oral sex twice, which I know is pretty stupid, since its been said that one in two vietnamese sex workers are HIV positive...

The next day, saturday around 14:00 pm, I noticed a severe inflammation of my lower left gum, the skin of my gum was very red and almost covered my entire teeth. I also noticed that my gum was bleeding, and some red spots could be seen between my gum and teeth.

I dont think my gums were bleeding the night before when I gave this girl oral sex, although Im not 100% sure. One thing I know is that sometimes after I brush my teeth my gums bleeds, not very much, I always thought it was normal and probably due to the fact that I use a strong brush. On sunday night my gum was fairly better.

Monday I went to a local clinic because obviously I was (and still am) freaking out. They gave me something for ghonorrea and clamydia (chlamydia), and told me the risk of HIV was "low". Now to me "low" means I can still get positive, so it doesnt help me very much.

Now is one week after this event, and I feel fairly good, my gum is ok, I have no fever or sore throat. In one of your answers I read that contrtacting HIV from this episode is less likely than winning a lottery. Is that so in my case?

So my questions are:

(1) What is my risk of getting HIV?

(2) If the girl had HIV and another STD (which might have caused the gum swelling), does it make it more possible for getting HIV?

(3) What other STD's could she have passed me on?

(4) Does alcohol make it worse for getting HIV via oral sex? (as it makes the mouth dry...)

Please, please give me some advice on these questions!!!

I sincerely thank you for your help and patience, God bless you Doc!

Stupid2008

[Edward W Hook, MD]

There are no well documented cases in which HIV was transmitted by oral sex under normal conditions.  Your sex was protected and the oral exposure was low risk (in science we never say never, someday someone will get HIV through oral sex but up till now there ahve been  millions of exposures without infection).  You need not worry.

As for your questions:

1.  Tiny.  You are much more likely to get hit by lightening.
2.  Yes but not enough to worry about.  Increasing risk three-fold (that's the estimate of the effect) would still be less than one on 3000) and that would occur only if your two "ifs" were true.
3.  Nothing to worry about. You received treatment
4.  No, no effect of alcohol
5.  No symptoms or signs at the spot where HIV enters the body

EWH

[stupid2008]

Oh, and now I seem to have a cold...just a runny nose and sneezing, no fever nor chills. Maybe its just my nerves playing tricks on me, what do you think?

My doctor here recommended a HIV test in 3 months, but at this pace I will have lost my mind by then...Im already taking sleeping pills...

So, what do you think Doc?

[stupid2008]

And a last question:

(5) What are the symptoms on the spot where HIV makes an entrance into the body? Say HIV went into my body through the gums...would that create a swelling a few hours later on that spot???

Thanks doc, I wait for your answers...

[stupid2008]

OK Doc, thank you so much for your quick and honest reply, I feel a bit more at ease now... I just hope not to be "the one" that gets HIV through oral sex, even for the sake of the advancement of science...

Today I woke up with an eye infection, I dont know if conjuntivitis, but its probably due to the cold I got. I've been sneezing a lot and drying my eye with kleenex, maybe thats why.

I guess having a cold and an eye infection are more due to my nerves that to a possible exposure to HIV....Right???

By the way, your site is great, congratulations on the help you provide to us! I'll keep you posted in 3 months with my results, ok?

Thanks again!

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Its cold season.  Getting a cold in no way suggests you have HIV.  We look forward to hearing of your negative test result at 12 weeks.  Take care.  EWH

[stupid2008]

Dr: I recently remembered that the girl also gave me  unprotected oral sex (a "b*job"), I dont remember for how long, as I told you I was pretty drunk, but last week I remembered this event.

I read your posts and it looks like there is virtually no risk of getting HIV by receiving oral sex, BUT in a lot of other sites (Like CDC, The Body...) they say its a pretty risky activity. So I'm confused...How come some say its risky and others say its not?

Whats your opinion on HIV infectio for receiving oral sex (from a woman to a man)?

And how about other STD's? How long for getting the first symptoms?

[theworriedman]

Hi Dr. Hook,

I apologize for jumping in out of no where but i thought this is related to "stupid2008" question.

I recently posted in the STD prevention (expert forum), Dr. HHH said that "cunnilingus, it is too rare to consider" for Gonorrhea. However, there is a thread posted by "wowxer" with the topic "Worried" in this forum, HIV Prevention (Expert Forum), "wowxer" stated that he is recently diagnosed with Gonorrhea through Oral Sex. So is this "wowxer" guy felt in the rare list?

Yes, there are many sites say that oral sex is not a low risk activities...i am very confused as well.

I would really appreciate if you can give us your input.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Irrespective of what you can find on other sites, the fact is that HIV is not effectively spread by oral sex.  You are at virtually no HIV risk from receipt of oral sex.  With regard to other STDs, occasionally gonorrhea and non-gonococcal urethritis result from oral sex.  The signs of these infections are penile discharge or burning on urination.  If you are worried about these STDs, you should be seen by a health care provider.  If you choose to believe what you can see on other sites regarding oral sex, that is your priviledge.  I will not debate this- you have to decide who you want to believe. EWH

[bemyown234]

Dear Doctor,

I find that another post of mine has been deleted. I thought  I was only helpful by providing some scientific info. Please let me know if this is against any forum rules ? If so , I apologise, but I have seen many peopl posting rejoinders to existing posts.

Thanks