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HIV from giving Cunnilingus with Bleeding Gum

Dear Doctor,

Thanks for providing the continuous advice on this forum as your responses had helped myself in the past to understand the true nature of HIV and other STD/STI transmissions.

A few days ago, in a Karaoke/Gentleman's club in Shanghai, I had bit too much to drink and found myself giving cunnilingus for what I recall to be over several minutes to one of Karaoke club girls.  For all purposes, you could think of them as CSW as they do engage in sexual acts inside the VIP room as well as "leave" with the customers.  I don't also believe they are subjected to regular tests.

Normally I would not be worried, as I have read on many posts here that oral sex, especially in the case of cunnilingus presents virtually a zero risk of HIV for both participants. However, my oral health hasn't been great lately, as there is a weak gum tissue (slightly receded, more red than usual) between my front buck tooth and the adjacent tooth that often bleeds when I brush in that area.

Given the presence of this "wound", and any advancements in research/studies in the past years (many posts here I found on cunnilingus were from 3+ years ago), how would you access the risk of this encounter?

Should I be worried and cease sex activities with my spouse?  Would you recommend testing after such a single encounter?


Many thanks for your response.

Yours,
8 Responses
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300980 tn?1194929400
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Final answer.  Further questions will be deleted without commnet.  I see no meaningful risk for infection from the actitivities you describe, therefore I see no concern that you are infected or could infect others.  That you plan to have a family does not change this.  

This completes this thread.  EWH
Helpful - 1
300980 tn?1194929400
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome back to the Forum. The estimated risk for acquiring HIV from performing oral sex on another man is less than 1 infection per 10,000 sex acts (like having oral sex on an infected partner once daily for over 27 years) and the risk for infection from cunnilingus is even lower.  Your dental/gum disease does not meaningfully increase the risk.  I urge you not to worry about his exposure.  Odds are that, even as a CSW, your partner did not have HIV and even \if she did, the risk for infection is incredibly low.  In my opinion, I see no realistic reason to avoid sex with your wife or to worry at all.  Nor would I test if I were you.

I hope this response is helpful and comforting. EWH
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
Thanks Doctor.  Will need to work hard to forget this.

If you could provide one more clarification on your point of not seeing any realistic reason to avoid sex with my wife.  I was referring to unprotected sex with my wife as we plan to have a baby in the near future.  Given this detail, would your stance still be the same?
Helpful - 0
300980 tn?1194929400
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Yes.  EWH
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks Doctor.  That puts a lot of things into perspective.  My gut feeling is to forget this encounter ever happened and continue to work on improving my professional/personal life to prevent such mishaps in future.  If I were a patient in your clinic would you also recommend this?
Helpful - 0
300980 tn?1194929400
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Of course. Any average figure such as the one I cited reflects data from persons with a variety of situations including those with gum disease, dental problems, mout sores, etc. I really think you need not worry.  EWH
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you for providing such an immediate response.  Your responses in the past really had helped and I find myself with less anxiety this time around.

Just one final question, as I just read on other posts that Dr.  HHH and Dr. Cummings mentioned slightly upon the fact that many participants in past research on HIV transmission via oral sec probably also had oral conditions such as mine or worse so the fact that no transmissions were found in those studies as well as the low estimated risk probably took varying oral conditions into account.  Would you agree?

Thanks.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you for providing such an immediate response.  Your responses in the past really had helped and I find myself with less anxiety this time around.

Just one final question, as I just read on other posts that Dr.  HHH and Dr. Cummings mentioned slightly upon the fact that many participants in past research on HIV transmission via oral sec probably also had oral conditions such as mine or worse so the fact that no transmissions were found in those studies as well as the low estimated risk probably took varying oral conditions into account.  Would you agree?

Thanks.
Helpful - 0

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