can it get in the urethra ???

[stupidarrs]

Hi Dr. HHH, I love your work online It's the only place that shoots straight, maybe 1 or 2 others but there not as detailed as you are. 1 of them is goaskalice.com. Here's my question, I just got off the phone with the local city( a major city) hiv testing site and the woman told me that if a woman does oral sex on a man with no condom that her saliva or blood( should she have any in her mouth) CANNOT get into the urethra(tip of penis or pee hole) because the urethra does not expand enough!!!! Now everywhere else I read or hear that it can get in through that hole. What's the real deal????? Can it get in there or not?? Also I let a prostitute who looked really down and out give me oral sex without a condom on (out drinking) for about 2 or 3 minutes and i came in her mouth, now i read where you say there is like zero risk and some other posts you say not zero but almost zero , basically what I'm trying to ask is am I ok, in your opinion, it would be nice to get a personal response,I have donated before but never asked a question this is my first time, I also own your book Color Atlas of Stds. (excellent!) Thank you for all your very fine work. I'm very glad I found this site it has helped and educated me ALOT! I hope my question uptop makes it on your forum, take care.

[Need help UK]

I seem to remember a post where the Doctor states that in enters through the urethra, unless of course there are any abrasions on the penis.

[skerdstraght68]

Question on the Urethra:  How far down does the virus need to travel?

[stupidarrs]

no dr. the idiot on the phone from that clinic specifically stated that the urethra opening does not expand enough to let anything inside it. but it's fine, she sounded like a young spanish girl and her info was way off, i thank you for correcting her and setting the facts straight. take it easy

[anotherdummy]

this is an interesting question.  I have looked extensively for info on whether hiv enters through the urethra and can't find any info.  I have read this route is speculated though.  I just find it hard to believe that "lots" of fragile virus can travel through the urethra and infect a guy.....it is a major process if it can do it.  Seems to me that genital ulcer disease, skin breaks, other STD's present are the key factors in transmission for a male....not thru a healthy urethra/penis and intact skin.

maybe I am wrong.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Most likely you misunderstood the person you spoke with.  Of course oral secretions can get inside the urethra during oral sex.  Otherwise, it sounds like you already know the answers to your questions, i.e. that the risk of catching any STD by receiving oral sex is low.  Occasional gonorrhea or herpes, no chlamydia, no proved cases of HIV transmission.

Thanks for the kind words.  Best wishes--  HHH, MD