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HIV through Oral Sex
Well...here is a another stupid bachelor party story. So last week I want to my buddies bachelor party, with of course strippers and such. Well...I had a few to many and I won some whip cream shots from this stripper, which includes licking whip cream off her breasts and licking whip cream off her stomach to the top of her vagina. Well..I started at the bottom and worked my way up. What I don't remember is if I actually hit the top of her vagina or if I didn't. I have been freaking out about it all week..and caused me a lot of anxiety. I have done research and everything says there is very little risk to getting anything from oral..if you want to even call what I did oral. It was for literally a second..and I think I might of hit the top of her vagina while licking the whip cream. Well..that night I rode in the backseat with a buddy who has a cold...so now I have cold symptoms, sinuses and now it hurts to swallow, not a sore throat, but the back of my throat hurts..oh yeah, someone at the office had strep throat this week. So now I am freaking out because I am reading about all these symptoms of HIV and checking myself everyday to see if I have them. Plus...I stare at a computer all day..and my neck was really sore yesterday...another symptom I read. I want to get a test for my own peace of mind about 24 days after exposure..is that long enough? I am really worried and have had a lot of anxiety about this. My friends keep telling me that there are very slim chances...but I am still really worried. Please help.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
See many other threads about HIV risk from oral sex (search "oral sex", "cunnilingus", "HIV risk", etc). Your risk is about zero and your symptoms almost cerrtainly aren't due to HIV.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
Good luck-- HHH, MD
Thank you for the information doctor. I know everyone else has questions as well, but I have one more. I was totally freaking out this weekend because the sore throat wasn't going away. So I spent the whole weekend checking myself for more symptoms..seeing if I had strep throat. I am going to the doctor hopefully today to get checked for some other things...for my own peace of mind. To early to get checked for HIV I guess. I was going crazy last night, called a buddy and he put my mind at ease. It is a really scary experience that I have learned from and am still dealing with. I was filling my mind with more junk...seeing how HIV was related with strep throat and stuff...causing myself more and more anxiety. Should I get checked for gonorrhea?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Although women and gay men sometimes get gonorrhea of the throat by fellatio, throat infections are extremely rare from cunnilingus. And contrary to common beliefs and assumptions, gonorrhea of the throat almost always is asymptomatic.
You have had a garden-variety viral respiratory infection. You caught a cold from your buddy, nothing more.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
You have had a garden-variety viral respiratory infection. You caught a cold from your buddy, nothing more.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Sorry if I overreacted to your message; I wish I had known your perspective. As you might imagine, most of the time that question gets asked, it is because someone with HIV is looking for excuses not to inform his/her partners. I applaud your prospective partner for being open with you and you for having an open mind and a level-headed perspective.
Your risk of infection likely will be low, even with unprotected vaginal sex, at least for now. But it will not be zero. As monkeyflower says, polyurethane condoms are an option for people allergic to latex. Your partner not only needs to stick with his meds, but to continue regular medical monitoring; in many persons, HIV meds eventually fail to control the infection, and if his viral load increases in the future, you will be at higher risk.
I can't guide you further in your decision to "get involved" or not. Much depends not only on your immediate attraction to him, but perhaps how likely it seems it could develop into a long-term, committed relationship. If so, I strongly suggest you not make a decision based on this online exchange. A good step might be for you and your prospective partner to have a joint visit with his HIV health care provider. Alternatively or in addition, consider visiting with a relationship counselor.
Best of luck and warm wishes to you--
HHH, MD
Your risk of infection likely will be low, even with unprotected vaginal sex, at least for now. But it will not be zero. As monkeyflower says, polyurethane condoms are an option for people allergic to latex. Your partner not only needs to stick with his meds, but to continue regular medical monitoring; in many persons, HIV meds eventually fail to control the infection, and if his viral load increases in the future, you will be at higher risk.
I can't guide you further in your decision to "get involved" or not. Much depends not only on your immediate attraction to him, but perhaps how likely it seems it could develop into a long-term, committed relationship. If so, I strongly suggest you not make a decision based on this online exchange. A good step might be for you and your prospective partner to have a joint visit with his HIV health care provider. Alternatively or in addition, consider visiting with a relationship counselor.
Best of luck and warm wishes to you--
HHH, MD
MY FRIEND DOES TELL WOMEN HE HAS AIDS ITS JUST IM FALLING IN LOVE WITH HIM AND HE HAS AIDS BUT ITS LIKE I SAID BEFORE ITS AT NEAR TO NOTHING CAUSE OF HIS TREATMENT OR UNDETECTABLE HE CANT USE LATEX CONDOMS HES ALLERGIC TO THEM AND BEFORE I MAKE MY DECISON TO GET INVOLVED AN ANY WAY ID LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE OPPIONS ARE TO PROTECT MYSELF OR MAYBE I WONT GET INVOLVED GET BACK.
If he's allergic to latex, you can use polyurethane condoms instead. You can also use the female condom, which is also polyurethane. Do NOT use lambskin condoms; they're too porous and not safe for preventing transmission of STDs. If using polyurethane condoms or the female condom don't work for you, I'd make sure you avoid anal and vaginal intercourse.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
kokocanela: I have responded below, but please also re-post your question as a new thread. The issue is important and I would like my response to have maximum readership.
When anti-HIV therapy is highly successful, it can drive virus down to undetectable levels. But undetectable with current technology doesn't necessarily mean zero. Undetectable levels in the blood probably are usually accompanied by very low levels in semen, cervical fluid, or other genital secretions. But once again, maybe not zero. Equally important, HIV levels may be undetectable when tested doesn't mean they are undectable all the time. For example, if a person gets another infection--herpes or other STDs, even a cold--the HIV level may rise transiently to high levels, even in people on treatment. In fact, most HIV sexual transmission events occur either during early infection, before people are on treatment; and at times other STDs or other infections raise their HIV levels. As a result, people on anti-HIV therapy are, on average, less likely to transmit HIV to their partners than people not on treatment. But "less likely" does not mean zero risk.
If your friend believes he has no obligation to tell his current or future sex partner(s) that he has HIV, or that he need not use condoms, he is absolutely wrong. His ethical obligation--and in many states, his legal obligation--to inform partners before potentially exposing them to a deadly infection is permanent and absolute. (The only exception might be if informing partners risks one's own life or health. For example, women who reveal their HIV infections in some African communities may risk abandonment or violence.)
Those of you with HIV: You must always, henceforth, and forever inform your sex partners of your infections, regardless of the context, the assumption that the other person is partly responsible for his/her own health, and regardless of whether or not you are on treatment for your HIV. (By the way, this applies to sexually active gay men as well as straight persons.) It further follows that every person at significant risk for HIV has an ethical obligation to be tested in order to know his or her HIV status.
Thanks for your question. As you can tell, I feel strongly about these issues. I will repeat the same reply when you re-post it to start a new string.
Regards-- HHH, MD
When anti-HIV therapy is highly successful, it can drive virus down to undetectable levels. But undetectable with current technology doesn't necessarily mean zero. Undetectable levels in the blood probably are usually accompanied by very low levels in semen, cervical fluid, or other genital secretions. But once again, maybe not zero. Equally important, HIV levels may be undetectable when tested doesn't mean they are undectable all the time. For example, if a person gets another infection--herpes or other STDs, even a cold--the HIV level may rise transiently to high levels, even in people on treatment. In fact, most HIV sexual transmission events occur either during early infection, before people are on treatment; and at times other STDs or other infections raise their HIV levels. As a result, people on anti-HIV therapy are, on average, less likely to transmit HIV to their partners than people not on treatment. But "less likely" does not mean zero risk.
If your friend believes he has no obligation to tell his current or future sex partner(s) that he has HIV, or that he need not use condoms, he is absolutely wrong. His ethical obligation--and in many states, his legal obligation--to inform partners before potentially exposing them to a deadly infection is permanent and absolute. (The only exception might be if informing partners risks one's own life or health. For example, women who reveal their HIV infections in some African communities may risk abandonment or violence.)
Those of you with HIV: You must always, henceforth, and forever inform your sex partners of your infections, regardless of the context, the assumption that the other person is partly responsible for his/her own health, and regardless of whether or not you are on treatment for your HIV. (By the way, this applies to sexually active gay men as well as straight persons.) It further follows that every person at significant risk for HIV has an ethical obligation to be tested in order to know his or her HIV status.
Thanks for your question. As you can tell, I feel strongly about these issues. I will repeat the same reply when you re-post it to start a new string.
Regards-- HHH, MD
I have this friend whos had aids for about 10 years now he says hes been going to the dr. taking his meds and is very healthy the dr.says hes more healthier then he is the meds hes been taking is working now his aids is undetectable and he told me that his virus is less to nothing is that possible and if he has sexual realationship could he pass it to his partner he says women are more of a danger to him then he is to them.because of his virus is so under control what do u think?
If he's allergic to latex, you can use polyurethane condoms instead. You can also use the female condom, which is also polyurethane. Do NOT use lambskin condoms; they're too porous and not safe for preventing transmission of STDs. If using polyurethane condoms or the female condom don't work for you, I'd make sure you avoid anal and vaginal intercourse.
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
