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ORAL SEX. All flavours.
It's very, very rare that I now post on these forums. But I do still from time to time have a look at what's going on. And it still seems that there is some unease amongst posters with regard to unprotected oral sex.
It seems that for the most part Teak and LizzeLou and others are stuck on some repetitive answering service regarding this subject. I'd just like to offer some insight into this in a way that is hopefully easy to understand. And hopefully they would be good enough to make comment on this post as well.
Firstly, there have been numerous studies that have monitored sero-discordant couples (both GAY and STRAIGHT) who, use condoms for penetrative intercourse, that's anal and vaginal sex, but do not use barrier methods for oral sex. These studies have shown that the all the sero-negative persons in these studies have remained just that; NEGATIVE. This proves that barrier contraception when used correctly for Anal and Vaginal sex is 100% EFFECTIVE and stopping infection. Secondly, it PROVES that oral sex is not a transmission risk for HIV infection. These studies are genuine scientific studies that have been peer reviewed. And were conducted over periods of years, not weeks or months. And were quite large in scale.
That said, if you are having or have had unprotected oral sex - either way, male or female, you ARE at risk of contracting other more COMMON and very TREATABLE STI's like; Chlamydia (the most common STI in the world), Genital herpes, Non-specific urethritis, Trichomoniasis, Genital warts, Gonorrhoea, Syphilis, etc.
There are always going to be "reports" of people who claim that they were infected with HIV solely through giving\receiving through oral sex, but please REMEMBER that not one of these cases has EVER been confirmed that oral sex alone infected them. People can tell lies, not wanting to admit that their risks were greater, or they simply can't remember. You can also look at it another way; how many episodes of unprotected oral sex, must occur across the planet. If HIV was transmitted by oral sex the numbers living with the disease and those who have died of AIDS would surely be in the billions.
Questions about having ulcers, abrasions and the like do not alter this FACT. The only way, oral would even be considered a risk for transmission would be to have serious open profusely bleeding wounds in the mouth area and have a partner who had very obvious, very large and open, profusely bleeding wounds on their genitals. And trust me on this; sex of any kind would be the very last thing on either parties minds.
All the Doctors I have personally spoken to, face to face or online have all stated that that there is for all intents and purposes no risk in HIV infection from oral sex. You will sometimes here about "Theoretical risk". Thats because every time you have sex with someone there will be a theoretical risk of catching something. To put it another way; In the UK we have a national lottery. I do it every week. There is a theoretical chance that I will win the jackpot, because I've bought a ticket. After nearly 20 years of doing the lottery I still haven't won anything. And I probably never will. Thats what "theoretical" means. In the real world it means I haven't given up my day job, because the odds are so remote they are beyond measure. It is the same with oral sex.
If you feel the need to test over an incident of oral sex. Expect a negative result. Most places I know, will test you; it's firstly a good habit to be in and secondly the NHS will provide free point of care, or a private clinic will charge you. But they will test you if you ask. It's just that they DON'T recommend testing every time you give or receive a fellatio or perform cunnilingus. Thats a FACT.
So, the bottom line of my post; DON'T lose sleep over HIV infection after unprotected oral sex. DO; get tested for the more common and more infectious STI's that YOU can catch from oral sex.
It seems that for the most part Teak and LizzeLou and others are stuck on some repetitive answering service regarding this subject. I'd just like to offer some insight into this in a way that is hopefully easy to understand. And hopefully they would be good enough to make comment on this post as well.
Firstly, there have been numerous studies that have monitored sero-discordant couples (both GAY and STRAIGHT) who, use condoms for penetrative intercourse, that's anal and vaginal sex, but do not use barrier methods for oral sex. These studies have shown that the all the sero-negative persons in these studies have remained just that; NEGATIVE. This proves that barrier contraception when used correctly for Anal and Vaginal sex is 100% EFFECTIVE and stopping infection. Secondly, it PROVES that oral sex is not a transmission risk for HIV infection. These studies are genuine scientific studies that have been peer reviewed. And were conducted over periods of years, not weeks or months. And were quite large in scale.
That said, if you are having or have had unprotected oral sex - either way, male or female, you ARE at risk of contracting other more COMMON and very TREATABLE STI's like; Chlamydia (the most common STI in the world), Genital herpes, Non-specific urethritis, Trichomoniasis, Genital warts, Gonorrhoea, Syphilis, etc.
There are always going to be "reports" of people who claim that they were infected with HIV solely through giving\receiving through oral sex, but please REMEMBER that not one of these cases has EVER been confirmed that oral sex alone infected them. People can tell lies, not wanting to admit that their risks were greater, or they simply can't remember. You can also look at it another way; how many episodes of unprotected oral sex, must occur across the planet. If HIV was transmitted by oral sex the numbers living with the disease and those who have died of AIDS would surely be in the billions.
Questions about having ulcers, abrasions and the like do not alter this FACT. The only way, oral would even be considered a risk for transmission would be to have serious open profusely bleeding wounds in the mouth area and have a partner who had very obvious, very large and open, profusely bleeding wounds on their genitals. And trust me on this; sex of any kind would be the very last thing on either parties minds.
All the Doctors I have personally spoken to, face to face or online have all stated that that there is for all intents and purposes no risk in HIV infection from oral sex. You will sometimes here about "Theoretical risk". Thats because every time you have sex with someone there will be a theoretical risk of catching something. To put it another way; In the UK we have a national lottery. I do it every week. There is a theoretical chance that I will win the jackpot, because I've bought a ticket. After nearly 20 years of doing the lottery I still haven't won anything. And I probably never will. Thats what "theoretical" means. In the real world it means I haven't given up my day job, because the odds are so remote they are beyond measure. It is the same with oral sex.
If you feel the need to test over an incident of oral sex. Expect a negative result. Most places I know, will test you; it's firstly a good habit to be in and secondly the NHS will provide free point of care, or a private clinic will charge you. But they will test you if you ask. It's just that they DON'T recommend testing every time you give or receive a fellatio or perform cunnilingus. Thats a FACT.
So, the bottom line of my post; DON'T lose sleep over HIV infection after unprotected oral sex. DO; get tested for the more common and more infectious STI's that YOU can catch from oral sex.
i ask about the swallowing of vaginal fluids because i read somewhere that your tonsills can be infected by hiv is this an issue
You are talking about two separate issues. The window period is agreed upon to make sure that all those who have had an exposure are given sufficient time to develop antibodies. As I've mentioned earlier, some people have multiple partners, often in a anonymous setting for them it's harder to precisely gauge their window period.
The fact remains that oral sex ISN'T a risk for HIV transmission.
The fact remains that oral sex ISN'T a risk for HIV transmission.
1. The CDC doesn't keep their websites up to date
2. The CDC is a government agency
3. Studies of serodiscordant couples have shown that HIV is not transmitted by oral sex and yes the CDC was involved in that study.
2. The CDC is a government agency
3. Studies of serodiscordant couples have shown that HIV is not transmitted by oral sex and yes the CDC was involved in that study.
Thanks for that LizzieLou, I should use the proper terminology. I hope though it came across in the correct way.
As for the statistical odds - well they have to attach a number to highlight how difficult it is to transmit. Also, you have to take into consideration just how conservative the CDC is. As a non US resident I don't feel it is my place to either promote or criticise what information they choose to produce and make available.
What I will say, however, is that every Dr I have spoken to has agreed that HIV transmission is unlikely and ultimately so rare as to be beyond the ability of science to measure, if in fact it happens at all. And remember the long term studies that have proved that Oral transmission doesn't occur.
As for the statistical odds - well they have to attach a number to highlight how difficult it is to transmit. Also, you have to take into consideration just how conservative the CDC is. As a non US resident I don't feel it is my place to either promote or criticise what information they choose to produce and make available.
What I will say, however, is that every Dr I have spoken to has agreed that HIV transmission is unlikely and ultimately so rare as to be beyond the ability of science to measure, if in fact it happens at all. And remember the long term studies that have proved that Oral transmission doesn't occur.
Here is how HIV is transmitted:
Unprotect anal or vaginal sex
Sharing works with other IV drug abusers
Mother to child.
Unprotect anal or vaginal sex
Sharing works with other IV drug abusers
Mother to child.
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