Aa
Am I at risk?
Hi,
I am a male and received unprotected oral sex from a female a week ago. I am unsure as to whether or not she was HIV positive but at the time I assumed she was negative. Two days after the encounter, however, I noticed some minor swelling in my throat, making it irritating to swallow but not impossible. That night, however, I tossed and turned in bed, had a tremendous fever, suffered night sweats, and my throat become unbearable and I could no longer swallow. The next day, I was in terrible shape; I had a fever all day, was achy beyond belief, I could not eat or drink anything, and my lymph nodes were almost bulging out of my skin. By nighttime, I registered a 105 fever and all my other symptoms had worsened as well. After a night of "sweating it out", my fever had subsided for the most part but my throat was still blood shot red and I could not swallow. I forced myself to take in fluids, but swallowing my own saliva became too arduous a task so I just spit into a cup. Also, a slight rash that looks like bug bites appeared on my lower back and has yet to go away. Currently, I still have the slight rash, my throat is slightly better but still quite irritable, my lymph node glands are still swollen, and I am still a bit achy. I was tested for Strep and the test came back negative. Should I be worried that I contracted HIV? Because of HIV's window period, is it impossible for its symptoms to appear within days of coming in contact with it? My behavior up to this point has been spotless and there is absolutely no possibility these symptoms are coming from prior experiences. If you could please shed some light on this issue, it would be much obliged. Thank you.
I am a male and received unprotected oral sex from a female a week ago. I am unsure as to whether or not she was HIV positive but at the time I assumed she was negative. Two days after the encounter, however, I noticed some minor swelling in my throat, making it irritating to swallow but not impossible. That night, however, I tossed and turned in bed, had a tremendous fever, suffered night sweats, and my throat become unbearable and I could no longer swallow. The next day, I was in terrible shape; I had a fever all day, was achy beyond belief, I could not eat or drink anything, and my lymph nodes were almost bulging out of my skin. By nighttime, I registered a 105 fever and all my other symptoms had worsened as well. After a night of "sweating it out", my fever had subsided for the most part but my throat was still blood shot red and I could not swallow. I forced myself to take in fluids, but swallowing my own saliva became too arduous a task so I just spit into a cup. Also, a slight rash that looks like bug bites appeared on my lower back and has yet to go away. Currently, I still have the slight rash, my throat is slightly better but still quite irritable, my lymph node glands are still swollen, and I am still a bit achy. I was tested for Strep and the test came back negative. Should I be worried that I contracted HIV? Because of HIV's window period, is it impossible for its symptoms to appear within days of coming in contact with it? My behavior up to this point has been spotless and there is absolutely no possibility these symptoms are coming from prior experiences. If you could please shed some light on this issue, it would be much obliged. Thank you.
it has been PROVEN that oral sex does not transmit hiv. there are over a dozen different proteins and enzymes in saliva that make it impossible for hiv to infect.
the symptoms you are experiencing are not a HIV concern , not sure about other STD`s , post in the STD forum ...( saliva has many enzymes that inhibit the HIV virus )
So you believe my risk of contracting HIV is 0% ? I'm in the clear (so to speak)? Since my strep test came back negative, do you think my symptoms point more towards a simple (though painful) throat infection or mono (I have never had mono before)?
NO RISK from receiving oral
Dr. Jose,
I am a heterosexual 19 yr. old male from US and have been reading up on some of your responses regarding insertive oral sex (BJ's). I have seen you state (regarding BJ's without any major twists or extenuating circumstance to their stories) the following....
" First of all, I would like to say that from your description of the events, you have not put yourself at any risk of HIV infection whatsoever"
and also state....
"First of all I would like to say that your encounter, as described, is a very low risk one in regards to HIV. (the person who gives a blow job and receives sperm after ejaculation would be at a slightly higher risk)"
Remember, these are responses to question about simple BJ’s without any rough stuff going on and the answers seem to contradict each other…I mean this respectfully, as I am just confused.
So here's my question as you already know what's coming next. What's the real story regarding BJ's? Is it a low risk or no risk incident for the male? Please be as "detailed" as possible with your response as I think many others may be confused also....respectfully I ask you to please prove your point to me....convince me please on your position here. Can you also explain where the soft tissue membranes are in the penis..are they at the tip of the opening on the penis gland(s) or deeper in the shaft? I'm just trying to better understanding where the point of infection is with a male during normal sex acts. If you couldprovide a link with a picture or diagram of where this ocurrs that would be great.
Sincerely,
Confused
Ps: I truly believe that God has placed people on this earth solely to help others…..I also believe you were created with this in mind…….May God bless you in return.
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Old 01-29-2010, 09:53 PM
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Hi there,
I am sorry if some of my replies have caused some confusion. In Medicine, like in many other fields, there are no 0% or 100%'s. I might have said in some posts 'no risk whatsoever' when I probably meant 'such a negligible risk, close to zero, essentially no risk'. Statistics are just statistics and when estimated risks for receptive oral sex (giving a bj) is 0% to 0.004%, but also after many years of experience in this field, I have never (this is a rotund NEVER=0%) seen or dealt or heard of a case of someone becoming infected this way. The estimated risk of receiving a bj is certainly 0%. I apologise if I have sometimes possibly given the impression of contradicting myself. It might be related to the workload that I had on that day, probably trying to answer a post late at night...However I hope that this clarifies this point. You can play the lottery every day, but the chances of winning the first price during your lifetime are not impossible, but they are pretty close to zero.
When you are talking of blow jobs, I assume you refer to heterosexual males. There are plenty of males out there who also enjoy performing them.
If you are usually a receiver of bj, as mentioned before you would not be at any risk at all of HIV infection. The main reason for this is because not only the saliva does not carry the virus, but it also destroys it. Even if the bj performer was positive with bleeding gums and mouth sores, the saliva would get rid of the virus. On top of that, the lining of the glans (head of penis) and opening of the urethra would have to be lacerated in order to gain access into the blood stream. By the way those are the areas where viral transmission happens. Circumcised men have a general lower risk of infection because this lining is tougher and less fragile, less likely to be damaged by intercourse; therefore transmission is less likely to occur.
The photo attached shows the glans, which has the urethral orifice at the top. HIV transmission can happen anywhere in this region.
I hope this helps and clears your doubts.
Best wishes,
Jose
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Old 01-30-2010, 03:39 AM
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Doctor,
I only recieve oral sex....never have given it. I have been reading your posts for some time now and have always followed your advice. Protect myself regarding vaginal sex, don't give oral sex just foreplay, and have always thought that a BJ was absolutely safe. I have even considered some of your replies to married men, advising them that it was okay to resume intercourse with their wife after recieving a BJ from a CSW...without even needing a HIV test. Can't they infect their wives if their that one in a million? Maybe I'm just not totally understaning your reply....shouldn't these men have been advised to test as they received an unprotected BJ outside of ther marriage? Do I need to test as well??? Respectfully, and I truely mean respectfully, I ask that you keep your answer detaled but in simple terms so that I am crystal clear....I'm a little,,,,no a lot worried now.
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Old 01-31-2010, 03:27 PM
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Perhaps I have not been very clear. I reiterate: no risk from receiving a blow job; practically zero risk from giving one. If the sexual encounter has been oral sex only (giving or receiving), we would not recommend patients having an HIV test.
I hope this is a bit clearer.
Best wishes,
Jose
Dr. Jose,
I am a heterosexual 19 yr. old male from US and have been reading up on some of your responses regarding insertive oral sex (BJ's). I have seen you state (regarding BJ's without any major twists or extenuating circumstance to their stories) the following....
" First of all, I would like to say that from your description of the events, you have not put yourself at any risk of HIV infection whatsoever"
and also state....
"First of all I would like to say that your encounter, as described, is a very low risk one in regards to HIV. (the person who gives a blow job and receives sperm after ejaculation would be at a slightly higher risk)"
Remember, these are responses to question about simple BJ’s without any rough stuff going on and the answers seem to contradict each other…I mean this respectfully, as I am just confused.
So here's my question as you already know what's coming next. What's the real story regarding BJ's? Is it a low risk or no risk incident for the male? Please be as "detailed" as possible with your response as I think many others may be confused also....respectfully I ask you to please prove your point to me....convince me please on your position here. Can you also explain where the soft tissue membranes are in the penis..are they at the tip of the opening on the penis gland(s) or deeper in the shaft? I'm just trying to better understanding where the point of infection is with a male during normal sex acts. If you couldprovide a link with a picture or diagram of where this ocurrs that would be great.
Sincerely,
Confused
Ps: I truly believe that God has placed people on this earth solely to help others…..I also believe you were created with this in mind…….May God bless you in return.
Unregistered
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Old 01-29-2010, 09:53 PM
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Hi there,
I am sorry if some of my replies have caused some confusion. In Medicine, like in many other fields, there are no 0% or 100%'s. I might have said in some posts 'no risk whatsoever' when I probably meant 'such a negligible risk, close to zero, essentially no risk'. Statistics are just statistics and when estimated risks for receptive oral sex (giving a bj) is 0% to 0.004%, but also after many years of experience in this field, I have never (this is a rotund NEVER=0%) seen or dealt or heard of a case of someone becoming infected this way. The estimated risk of receiving a bj is certainly 0%. I apologise if I have sometimes possibly given the impression of contradicting myself. It might be related to the workload that I had on that day, probably trying to answer a post late at night...However I hope that this clarifies this point. You can play the lottery every day, but the chances of winning the first price during your lifetime are not impossible, but they are pretty close to zero.
When you are talking of blow jobs, I assume you refer to heterosexual males. There are plenty of males out there who also enjoy performing them.
If you are usually a receiver of bj, as mentioned before you would not be at any risk at all of HIV infection. The main reason for this is because not only the saliva does not carry the virus, but it also destroys it. Even if the bj performer was positive with bleeding gums and mouth sores, the saliva would get rid of the virus. On top of that, the lining of the glans (head of penis) and opening of the urethra would have to be lacerated in order to gain access into the blood stream. By the way those are the areas where viral transmission happens. Circumcised men have a general lower risk of infection because this lining is tougher and less fragile, less likely to be damaged by intercourse; therefore transmission is less likely to occur.
The photo attached shows the glans, which has the urethral orifice at the top. HIV transmission can happen anywhere in this region.
I hope this helps and clears your doubts.
Best wishes,
Jose
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Old 01-30-2010, 03:39 AM
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Doctor,
I only recieve oral sex....never have given it. I have been reading your posts for some time now and have always followed your advice. Protect myself regarding vaginal sex, don't give oral sex just foreplay, and have always thought that a BJ was absolutely safe. I have even considered some of your replies to married men, advising them that it was okay to resume intercourse with their wife after recieving a BJ from a CSW...without even needing a HIV test. Can't they infect their wives if their that one in a million? Maybe I'm just not totally understaning your reply....shouldn't these men have been advised to test as they received an unprotected BJ outside of ther marriage? Do I need to test as well??? Respectfully, and I truely mean respectfully, I ask that you keep your answer detaled but in simple terms so that I am crystal clear....I'm a little,,,,no a lot worried now.
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Old 01-31-2010, 03:27 PM
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Perhaps I have not been very clear. I reiterate: no risk from receiving a blow job; practically zero risk from giving one. If the sexual encounter has been oral sex only (giving or receiving), we would not recommend patients having an HIV test.
I hope this is a bit clearer.
Best wishes,
Jose
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