Aa
Giving Oral Sex and HIV risk?
Hi Doctor,
I think your great. I am a gay man, I do not participate in anal sex simply don't like it and does nothing for me. But I do enjoy, on that rare occasion of having oral sex both giving and getting. I have read on websites from the CDC to thebody to other websites that the risk is HIGH risk to, according to Doctor K on gay.com to Extremely low, low risk, rare to happen. It is so confusing. I take your advice, ask my partner's their status and check their penis for sores or blisters. But sometimes people don't really know their status or they don't tell the truth for fear of you bailing on them. Most gay guys or woman for that matter don't usually use condoms when giving oral. I don't ever let anyone ejaculate in my mouth and always make sure my mouth is clear of cuts when performing oral. But, who knows what the risk really is. What do you think? I think its so frustrating that so many websites are all over the board on oral sex when it comes to performing it. I just want to limit my HIV risks to very low - I guess if that means condoms - I will start using them - but damn, even the flavored ones taste awful!
So what do you think about HIV risks for performing oral sex?
Keep up the good work and also, keep up the bluntness - you never sugar coat anything (maybe I should sugar coat the condoms!)
I think your great. I am a gay man, I do not participate in anal sex simply don't like it and does nothing for me. But I do enjoy, on that rare occasion of having oral sex both giving and getting. I have read on websites from the CDC to thebody to other websites that the risk is HIGH risk to, according to Doctor K on gay.com to Extremely low, low risk, rare to happen. It is so confusing. I take your advice, ask my partner's their status and check their penis for sores or blisters. But sometimes people don't really know their status or they don't tell the truth for fear of you bailing on them. Most gay guys or woman for that matter don't usually use condoms when giving oral. I don't ever let anyone ejaculate in my mouth and always make sure my mouth is clear of cuts when performing oral. But, who knows what the risk really is. What do you think? I think its so frustrating that so many websites are all over the board on oral sex when it comes to performing it. I just want to limit my HIV risks to very low - I guess if that means condoms - I will start using them - but damn, even the flavored ones taste awful!
So what do you think about HIV risks for performing oral sex?
Keep up the good work and also, keep up the bluntness - you never sugar coat anything (maybe I should sugar coat the condoms!)
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
It is logical to assume that the risk of transmission is higher (for the oral partner) with ejaculation than without it. However, there are no data one way or the other; your comment about the difficulty of knowing is spot on.
There are no data on HIV transmission by rimming, for either the rimmer or rimmee. My speculation is that it is very low risk in either direction.
HHH, MD
There are no data on HIV transmission by rimming, for either the rimmer or rimmee. My speculation is that it is very low risk in either direction.
HHH, MD
Just as follow up, would not taking ejaculate versus taking ejaculate lower the risk? One would think so, but I imagine it would be rather impossible to complete a study on it.
Thank you.
Thank you.
What about oral-anal or rimming? What are the chances of contracting the virus through that form of oral sex? Receptor vs giver? Anything been proven on this, speculation, or there is no chance? Thanks.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Man, I love getting articulate, well thought-out questions that have teaching value for most forum users. And thanks for the thanks about the forum.
There is no clear answer to how people should deal with conflicting information on public websites. But good clues include who runs the site; whether "facts" and opinions by the public are permitted and, if so, whether those comments are monitored; and the extent to which the people or agencies that run the site show evidence that their advice and information are based on data, not "common sense" or personal opinion. By those criteria, you can rely on outfits like the CDC, the American Social Health Association, thebody.com, and those with affiliations with public health departments, like gay.com and Jeff Klausner (Dr. K). And, frankly, this site.
Oral sex is of such low risk for the insertive partner (the one receiving the BJ) that HIV transmission has never been proved. There have been claims here and there, but sometimes there is reason to question the truth of statements about lack of other exposures. Transmission to the receptive (BJ-giving) partner clearly occurs, but is uncommon. It simply is very rare to see people with newly acquired HIV who give believable histories of oral sex as the only exposure, and the overall risk is clearly less than one transmission in 10,000 exposures, when one partner is known to have HIV. On average, how long would it take to get infected if someone gave or received oral once a day with HIV infected partners? Do the math.
Few prevention experts recommend routine use of condoms for oral sex. Not only are the transmission risks low, there is fear that if people hear a message they cannot have any sex at all without condoms, even oral sex, there will be a tendency to disregard them for all sex, which would be a disaster.
You are being very safe in general, in particular in routinely inquiring about partners' HIV status. Nothing is perfect, and nobody can guarantee you won't get HIV by oral sex. But the odds are strong that you'll never acquire HIV if you continue as you are doing now.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
There is no clear answer to how people should deal with conflicting information on public websites. But good clues include who runs the site; whether "facts" and opinions by the public are permitted and, if so, whether those comments are monitored; and the extent to which the people or agencies that run the site show evidence that their advice and information are based on data, not "common sense" or personal opinion. By those criteria, you can rely on outfits like the CDC, the American Social Health Association, thebody.com, and those with affiliations with public health departments, like gay.com and Jeff Klausner (Dr. K). And, frankly, this site.
Oral sex is of such low risk for the insertive partner (the one receiving the BJ) that HIV transmission has never been proved. There have been claims here and there, but sometimes there is reason to question the truth of statements about lack of other exposures. Transmission to the receptive (BJ-giving) partner clearly occurs, but is uncommon. It simply is very rare to see people with newly acquired HIV who give believable histories of oral sex as the only exposure, and the overall risk is clearly less than one transmission in 10,000 exposures, when one partner is known to have HIV. On average, how long would it take to get infected if someone gave or received oral once a day with HIV infected partners? Do the math.
Few prevention experts recommend routine use of condoms for oral sex. Not only are the transmission risks low, there is fear that if people hear a message they cannot have any sex at all without condoms, even oral sex, there will be a tendency to disregard them for all sex, which would be a disaster.
You are being very safe in general, in particular in routinely inquiring about partners' HIV status. Nothing is perfect, and nobody can guarantee you won't get HIV by oral sex. But the odds are strong that you'll never acquire HIV if you continue as you are doing now.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
You are reading content posted in the HIV - Prevention Forum
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
Can I get HIV from surfaces, like toilet seats?
Can you get HIV from casual contact, like hugging?
Frequency of HIV testing depends on your risk.
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) may help prevent HIV infection.
