Aa
Am I at risk?
Hi there, back towards the middle or end of september (I dont remember when exactly, either the last week of sept or the week before) I got really curious and downloaded grindr on the way home from work. I am a virgin, with no sexual acts prior to this. I met up with a guy to exchange handjobs, and sucked/deepthroated him for maybe like 10-15 seconds. He did not ejaculate but I assume there was precum while I went down on him. I noticed an itchy neck rash about a week later, then in early october I had a non-itchy, flat-ish rash with on my sides and upper chest. It was not super noticible. I saw my doctor about it and she said she really didn't think it was an STD related rash and I didn't have any other symptoms. I've read around and noticed that the rash aligns exactly with the seroconversion rash (I dont know if my neck rash was a seperate rash, or if the two rashes were seperate. The rash went away after a few weeks, came back, then went away a few days later. The torso rash didn't really itch. The doctor said it looked like a heat rash, but heat rashes dont last for weeks do they?
As far as I know, there were no cuts in my mouth though I ate a protein bar about an hour before contact. The man was a bi-male immigrant from India which is why I believe he perhaps was part of a high risk group (?). I am freaking out over this and I had questions about the level of exposure and risk to HIV here. While I have read and researched that contracting HIV via giving a blowjob is extremely low, I have observed that if the HIV poz person has recently become poz and in the seroconversion stage, their viral load is EXTREMELY high to the point that if you get in contact with even a bit of pre-cum, contracting HIV is pretty much guaranteed. Is this true? How at risk am I in the worst case scenario? I have a mild bleeding gum and bottom gum reccession, but otherwise my mouth is pretty healthy. I was having bad dust allergies in the weeks prior to this incident and I read in a case from the 90's that someone contracted HIV from giving oral to a man due to having an inflamed throat because of allergies. I just wanted to get some clarification on the level of risk here in the worst case scenario, am I ******? Am I overreacting and freaking out over nothing? I had night sweats for a few days while I had the rash but no obvious fever or illness and maybe the sweats were because I was wearing a sweater while sleeping when it was still hot weather. My skin feels warm from time to time but my temp never goes like a degree higher than usual.
Please clarify the level of risk for me, I am scared.
As far as I know, there were no cuts in my mouth though I ate a protein bar about an hour before contact. The man was a bi-male immigrant from India which is why I believe he perhaps was part of a high risk group (?). I am freaking out over this and I had questions about the level of exposure and risk to HIV here. While I have read and researched that contracting HIV via giving a blowjob is extremely low, I have observed that if the HIV poz person has recently become poz and in the seroconversion stage, their viral load is EXTREMELY high to the point that if you get in contact with even a bit of pre-cum, contracting HIV is pretty much guaranteed. Is this true? How at risk am I in the worst case scenario? I have a mild bleeding gum and bottom gum reccession, but otherwise my mouth is pretty healthy. I was having bad dust allergies in the weeks prior to this incident and I read in a case from the 90's that someone contracted HIV from giving oral to a man due to having an inflamed throat because of allergies. I just wanted to get some clarification on the level of risk here in the worst case scenario, am I ******? Am I overreacting and freaking out over nothing? I had night sweats for a few days while I had the rash but no obvious fever or illness and maybe the sweats were because I was wearing a sweater while sleeping when it was still hot weather. My skin feels warm from time to time but my temp never goes like a degree higher than usual.
Please clarify the level of risk for me, I am scared.
To add on, I've seen the scientific studies that tracked couples who performed oral sex and protected intercourse, that resulted in no seroconversions. But doesn't this only show that its basically impossible for HIV to transmit orally IF the poz person is on meds or has a lower viral load. This doesn't disprove that extremely high viral loads and recently seroconverted folk can easily transmit the virus orally, so why do people still say it's unlikely? Are the enzymes in our saliva just/that/ strong? I'm just really curious and maybe looking for peace of mind to put this all behind me and think that maybe my rash was covid or mono or something.
5 Comments
Oral is zero risk even if both of you have bleeding cuts, which is all that you need to know wrt hiv. Not sure what all of your questions are about since this is just an hiv prevention forum and we don't get into scientific discussions about this straightforward zero risk situation or we will be here all night - for no purpose.
We rely on the opinion of expert doctors so don't pay attention to whatever you located on other sites.
Your epic story indicates you just did oral so it is time to move on now that you know there is zero risk.
We rely on the opinion of expert doctors so don't pay attention to whatever you located on other sites.
Your epic story indicates you just did oral so it is time to move on now that you know there is zero risk.
but there is literally medically documented cases of people acquiring HIV through oral. Surely there is some level of risk?
It has been calculated that the risk is the same as being hit by a meteorite as you type, and I don't know of anyone hit in the last 40 years. You don't fear a meteorite do you?
Time to move on. There are 1,000s of different potential life ending accidents, serious diseases and conditions that can occur at any time without warning but you don't spend any time worrying about them so you should stop hiv fixation.
Time to move on. There are 1,000s of different potential life ending accidents, serious diseases and conditions that can occur at any time without warning but you don't spend any time worrying about them so you should stop hiv fixation.
I've weighed in on this once before, and got my post taken down, but if this forum is in fact relying on the opinion of expert doctors (have they ever been named? I only see members contributing) then the right answer to this oral question is, theoretically it is possible to get HIV from oral but only if there is significant bleeding in the mouth or the areas you are applying oral to. Saliva doesn't spread it, and that's virtually always the only fluid involved in oral. If you want to be 100% safe, and as mentioned above, it is theoretically possible to get hit by a meteorite, don't have sex. Or use a dental dam or a condom when doing oral, which was recommended early in the HIV epidemic but isn't really much anymore. It is wrong to say you can't get it from oral or that nobody has. The poster is correct, there are a couple of cases that appear to be from oral, but here's the problem: almost nobody who engages in oral sex isn't also engaging in penetrative sex. The person above is right about the worse problem, which is anxiety. The fact it is possible to get it from oral doesn't mean you will or have because in all the years we've been living with this and all the people all over the world who have been infected none of them was conclusively found to only have been engaged in oral sex but they might have gotten it that way and a couple of cases do exist that have been attributed to oral with accompanying blood. Since folks are going to search the internet and find that every source on there will not categorically state there is no risk as there is a theoretical risk, it's probably better here not to make it seem as if that theoretical risk doesn't exist. They are seeing it. Anyone here can go to the most authoritative sources and see that it is a theoretical risk. Now, I don't usually get on this forum because the folks who are answering don't need me and the people posting virtually never have a real risk of getting it. Almost all of them have a phobia about HIV. But I have always cringed when I see things said that are comforting but not scientifically true. So just say it doesn't happen, don't say it can't happen. Then this forum will match the other stuff they are reading and not confuse them. And I'm sure this post will disappear as it did the last time I said this. The best comment is the one AnxiousNoMore so often states on here: the risk is so low it's virtually non-existant so as he says, "it's time to move on" and as he also often says, go and enjoy your life and stop worrying. Worrying is worse than most diseases. Peace, out.
Hi everyone -
For a long time, we have said that oral sex is not a risk for HIV. We didn't just make this up. Even if you say that there is a "theoretical risk", the risk is so low that statistically, there is no real difference between "very low risk" and "no risk". This is essentially what AnxiousNoMore says.
Scientifically, it's still true.
We also know that most people don't have HIV. Statistically, the people our members are meeting don't have it. That's an important factor. Certainly, it's possible, but not at all likely.
Who are the doctors saying this? Some time ago, we had experts here on MedHelp. Dr. Handsfield and Dr. Hook are world-renowned for their work in the field, and I'm including some quotes from posts on our site, answering members, at the end.
There are no documented cases of HIV from receiving oral sex, and a few possible cases from giving, but most experts aren't convinced on those. As already stated, it's hard to narrow the risks down.
In any case, the risk, if there is one, is low enough to be scientifically non-existent. In this particular case, such a brief act isn't going to transmit anything.
Emily
Quotes from the doctors:
"As you know from other posts about oral sex, our stance is that giving or receiving oral sex is not a risk for HIV. Some others suggest that there is an appreciable risk of HIV from oral sex however, there are no convincing scientific reports which support these statements. The presence of a burn in your mouth, or a sore, or ingestion of blood does not change this. Still no risk an no reason for testing." DR HOOK
"As far as HIV is concerned, there is no known risk of getting HIV from performing oral sex on an infected partner, even if that person's genital secretions get into your eyes or if you swallow" DR HOOK
There is no debate (among experts) about the HIV risks associated with oral sex. The risk is so low that almost nobody who cares for HIV infected patients has ever had a patient believed to have been infected that way. Among experts, it's a semantic issue about using terms like "no risk" and "very low risk". There is no difference between my or Dr. Hook's use of "low risk" and other experts' "no risk".
DR. HANDSFIELD
"And oral sex is basically safe sex -- completely safe with respect to HIV and although not zero risk for other STDs, the chance of infection is far lower than for unprotected vaginal or anal sex. Please educate yourself about the real risks. If you stick with oral sex and condom-protected vaginal or anal sex, you have no HIV worries and very little worry about other STDs. " DR HANDSFIELD
"I am sure you can find lots of people who belive that HIV is transmitted by oral sex, but you will not find scientific data to support this unrealistic concern..." DR HOOK
"HIV is not spread by touching, masturbation, oral sex or condom protected sex."- DR. HOOK
in the public HIV Prevention forum of MedHelp, TEAK and the other moderators maintain that oral sex in all forms is a zero risk activity. Would you agree with this assessment?
I TOTALLY AGREE / DR GARCIA
The observation on thousand and thousand of observations is that HIV is not spread by oral sex (of any sort). DR. HOOK
"With regard to the question you ask, I will repeat, as I’ve said more times than I can think- there are NO credible cases in which persons have acquired HIV through performance of oral sex- none!!. The chance that you will be the first is ridiculously low. You are more likely to be hit by lightening while reading my reply to you. DR HOOK
"HIV is not spread by masturbation, through oral sex, through kissing or other casual contact." DR HOOK
"There is no credible evidence that HIV is spread through oral sex, with or without the presence of cuts or blood in the persons mouth."- DR HOOK
"Oral sex. there is no evidence that HIV is spread through giving or receiving oral sex"- DR HOOK
"HIV is not spread through oral sex." DR HOOK
"HIV is not spread through giving or receiving oral sex" DR HOOK
I don't have the links to these threads - these were compiled long ago by other members.
For a long time, we have said that oral sex is not a risk for HIV. We didn't just make this up. Even if you say that there is a "theoretical risk", the risk is so low that statistically, there is no real difference between "very low risk" and "no risk". This is essentially what AnxiousNoMore says.
Scientifically, it's still true.
We also know that most people don't have HIV. Statistically, the people our members are meeting don't have it. That's an important factor. Certainly, it's possible, but not at all likely.
Who are the doctors saying this? Some time ago, we had experts here on MedHelp. Dr. Handsfield and Dr. Hook are world-renowned for their work in the field, and I'm including some quotes from posts on our site, answering members, at the end.
There are no documented cases of HIV from receiving oral sex, and a few possible cases from giving, but most experts aren't convinced on those. As already stated, it's hard to narrow the risks down.
In any case, the risk, if there is one, is low enough to be scientifically non-existent. In this particular case, such a brief act isn't going to transmit anything.
Emily
Quotes from the doctors:
"As you know from other posts about oral sex, our stance is that giving or receiving oral sex is not a risk for HIV. Some others suggest that there is an appreciable risk of HIV from oral sex however, there are no convincing scientific reports which support these statements. The presence of a burn in your mouth, or a sore, or ingestion of blood does not change this. Still no risk an no reason for testing." DR HOOK
"As far as HIV is concerned, there is no known risk of getting HIV from performing oral sex on an infected partner, even if that person's genital secretions get into your eyes or if you swallow" DR HOOK
There is no debate (among experts) about the HIV risks associated with oral sex. The risk is so low that almost nobody who cares for HIV infected patients has ever had a patient believed to have been infected that way. Among experts, it's a semantic issue about using terms like "no risk" and "very low risk". There is no difference between my or Dr. Hook's use of "low risk" and other experts' "no risk".
DR. HANDSFIELD
"And oral sex is basically safe sex -- completely safe with respect to HIV and although not zero risk for other STDs, the chance of infection is far lower than for unprotected vaginal or anal sex. Please educate yourself about the real risks. If you stick with oral sex and condom-protected vaginal or anal sex, you have no HIV worries and very little worry about other STDs. " DR HANDSFIELD
"I am sure you can find lots of people who belive that HIV is transmitted by oral sex, but you will not find scientific data to support this unrealistic concern..." DR HOOK
"HIV is not spread by touching, masturbation, oral sex or condom protected sex."- DR. HOOK
in the public HIV Prevention forum of MedHelp, TEAK and the other moderators maintain that oral sex in all forms is a zero risk activity. Would you agree with this assessment?
I TOTALLY AGREE / DR GARCIA
The observation on thousand and thousand of observations is that HIV is not spread by oral sex (of any sort). DR. HOOK
"With regard to the question you ask, I will repeat, as I’ve said more times than I can think- there are NO credible cases in which persons have acquired HIV through performance of oral sex- none!!. The chance that you will be the first is ridiculously low. You are more likely to be hit by lightening while reading my reply to you. DR HOOK
"HIV is not spread by masturbation, through oral sex, through kissing or other casual contact." DR HOOK
"There is no credible evidence that HIV is spread through oral sex, with or without the presence of cuts or blood in the persons mouth."- DR HOOK
"Oral sex. there is no evidence that HIV is spread through giving or receiving oral sex"- DR HOOK
"HIV is not spread through oral sex." DR HOOK
"HIV is not spread through giving or receiving oral sex" DR HOOK
I don't have the links to these threads - these were compiled long ago by other members.
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