Aa
Unprotected Oral vs Protected Vaginal Intercourse
When comparing the risk of acquiring HIV, which is greater when comparing unprotected oral vs. protected vaginal intercourse. Many times hooking up with a female leads to unprotected oral in a relationship far before protected vaginal intercourse and may not lead to vaginal intercourse at all. I have read the forum and I see the that the quoted risk for receiving unprotected oral is 1 in 10,000, but you all have never seen a convincing case, does this include giving oral to a woman? What is the risk for protected intercourse? Obviously there is the risk of the condom breaking.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Technically yes, but the difference is so trivial it doesn't matter. Oral sex is safe sex.
Dr,
If that is the case then based on the risk. A person would be safer engaging in Protected vaginal intercourse, than receiving unprotected oral sex. Is that correct?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the HIV forum.
These questions have been addressed innumerable times on this forum. HIV transmission is at least 10 times more efficient than oral sex, perhaps 100-fold different. The quoted risk on this forum for fellatio (oral to penile, i.e. if the oral partner has HIV) is 1 in 20,000, not 1 in 10,000 (but that's a quibble). For female to male by vaginal sex, if the woman is infected, the risk has been estimated at 1 for every 2,000 exposures.
These data come from an analysis by CDC, based on reported exposure routes and frequency of various kinds of exposure among reported AIDS cases. They are very rough, but the difference between vaginal versus oral sex probably is valid.
The risk of transmission through vaginal sex, with a condom (assuming the condom remains intact) probably is zero.
As for cunnilingus (oral contact with female genitals), to my knowledge there has never been a documented transmission. Nobody can say the risk is zero, but it may be -- certainly it is low enough to consider cunnilingus risk-free.
Regards-- HHH, MD
These questions have been addressed innumerable times on this forum. HIV transmission is at least 10 times more efficient than oral sex, perhaps 100-fold different. The quoted risk on this forum for fellatio (oral to penile, i.e. if the oral partner has HIV) is 1 in 20,000, not 1 in 10,000 (but that's a quibble). For female to male by vaginal sex, if the woman is infected, the risk has been estimated at 1 for every 2,000 exposures.
These data come from an analysis by CDC, based on reported exposure routes and frequency of various kinds of exposure among reported AIDS cases. They are very rough, but the difference between vaginal versus oral sex probably is valid.
The risk of transmission through vaginal sex, with a condom (assuming the condom remains intact) probably is zero.
As for cunnilingus (oral contact with female genitals), to my knowledge there has never been a documented transmission. Nobody can say the risk is zero, but it may be -- certainly it is low enough to consider cunnilingus risk-free.
Regards-- 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.
