Anxious and Worried

[MrANxious2]

Hi Doctors

I've read with interest some of the questions and answers on this site - and unfortunately many others. I'd appreciate some advice if you may?

My worries are about performing and receiving oral sex with female partners and the associated risks. The main concern I have is around Hep B. Is oral sex a conduit for the Hep B virus (some websites say yes, others no, some say low but theoretically possible). So, if I've given and received oral with female partners should I be concerned from a hep b perspective? All other 'penetrative sex' has been protected with condoms, its only the oral that has been unprotected.

Dr. Google and the rest of the internet is causing me much anxiety. I would go onto symptoms, cold, runny nose with mucus, yes I've had them. I've also woken up with an unbelievable itching sensation in my hands (first time and hasn't happened since - I'd also add I'd been handling fiber glass insulation during the day!!!).

Many thanks

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Welcome to the forum.

We get questions fairly frequently about oral sex and risk associated with HIV and other STDs.  The quick answer always is that oral sex is inherently low risk for all STDs and zero risk (for all practical purposes) for some.  Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is in the latter category:  low enough risk that you can consider it zero.

Here are two threads that go into detail about STD/HIV risks from oral sex; each of them has links to still more discussions.  Please take a look:

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/risk-assessment/show/1999445
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/Simple-question/show/1723730

Of course all sexually active people should be immunized against HBV; since you are particularly concerned about it, you definitely should be vaccinated.  Then you'll never have to worry about catching HBV by any route, either sexual or by blood exposure.

Itching and nasal congestion are not symptoms of hepatitis B or any other STD.  Sounds like you have a cold or allergies, plus another logical explanation for the hand itching.

I hope this has helped.  Best wishes--  HHH, MD

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

You correctly understand.  For sure you are at no risk for hepatitis B from the exposures described, and at little or no risk for other STDs as well.

[MrANxious2]

Thank you doctor, thats most helpful. You read one thing on the internet and get an answer, read it elsewhere and get something completely different.

So, to put my mind at rest - penetrative sex with condom (and definitely no break = no risk. Oral sex (cunninglingus and fellatio) = negligible risk?

Am I worrying needlessly?