Does Oral Sex Cause Hiv

If You Swallow The Semen Of An Hiv

Does Kissing cause HIV Infection?

The risk of acquiring HIV during oral sex is pretty low, but it isn’t zero. Taking your partner’s ejaculate in your mouth appears to make transmission more likely. Almost all of the individuals who say that oral sex must have been the way they acquired HIV and whose cases have been medically evaluated mention that they took ejaculate in the mouth.

It isn’t actually the swallowing that matters, it’s probably having the ejaculate in your mouth . In the stomach, digestive enzymes and acidity may inactivate HIV.

But the risk of acquiring HIV during vaginal or anal sex is far, far higher than during oral sex. It’s also worth remembering that when a person with HIV receives antiretroviral treatment, the amount of HIV in his body fluids falls dramatically. Put simply there will be very little HIV in his semen, so transmission is highly unlikely. This applies to all forms of sex, including oral sex.

How To Reduce The Risk

Although the risk of HIV passing to another person through oral sex is low, people can take steps to reduce it further.

For example, people with HIV can avoid ejaculating in the mouth of their sexual partner. They can do this by using a condom or withdrawing the penis before ejaculation.

A dental dam is another option. This is a small latex or silicone sheet that a person places over the vagina, anus, or mouth during sex.

Flossing or brushing the teeth can cause the gums to bleed, so it might also help to avoid this right before sexual activity.

People without HIV can take additional steps to avoid transmission, including:

taking pre-exposure prophylaxis medication beforehand
using condoms or dental dams correctly during all sexual activities
avoiding lubricants with an oil base, such as Vaseline or baby oil
taking post-exposure prophylaxis within a couple of days after the sexual contact
getting regular sexual health checkups

People with HIV should take antiretroviral medication exactly as their doctor recommends.

In the early stages of HIV, people might experience:

a fever
rashes that are not itchy
aching muscles
swollen glands, or lymph nodes
oral sores

Should I Have Oral Sex

Talking to your partner about protection before you start having oral sex will help make things easier. This may feel embarrassing but taking responsibility for protecting yourself and your partner is an important part of having sex. If you find it too awkward to talk about then you may not be ready to have oral sex just yet.

You should never give or receive oral sex just because you feel forced into it. Dont be pressured into any sex act by comments like it doesnt mean weve had real sex youll still be a virgin, or if you dont want sex at least go down on me, or its not as risky as having intercourse. If one of you isnt comfortable with the decision it can ruin the whole experience. Oral sex should be fun for both of you.

Our article Am I ready for sex? will help you work out what is right for you.

You May Like: Does Nba Youngboy Have Herpies

Giving And Receiving Oral Sex

Though semen and pre-cum are not the only routes for contracting HIV, they are two avenues. Ejaculating during oral sex increases the risk. If you or your partner feels ready to ejaculate, you can remove your mouth to avoid exposure.

Barrier methods like latex or polyurethane condoms and dental dams can be used during every oral sex act. Change condoms or dental dams if you move from the vagina or penis to the anus, or vice versa.

Also use lubricants to prevent friction and tearing. Any holes in the barrier methods can increase exposure risk.

Abstain from oral sex if you have any cuts, abrasions, or sores in your mouth. Any opening in the skin is an avenue for possible viral exposure.

Be careful not to cut or tear your partners skin with your teeth during oral sex. This opening can expose you to blood.

Can I Get Hiv From Oral Sex

Can you contract hiv from oral sex. Causes of HIV ...

So it’s 2am, you’re in a bathroom at a house party and some guy you just met is breathing into your stomach while he unzips your fly. What do you need to know before you shove your dick in his mouth?

Blowjobs should be a great time for everyone involved, and getting rid of any misconceptions about HIV and STIs means you can enjoy the moment without worry.

Don’t Miss: How Long Does It Take For Hiv To Show

Hiv Undetectable=untransmittable Or Treatment As Prevention

In recent years, an overwhelming body of clinical evidence has firmly established the HIV Undetectable=Untransmittable, or U=U, concept as scientifically sound. U=U means that people with HIV who achieve and maintain an undetectable viral loadthe amount of HIV in the bloodby taking antiretroviral therapy daily as prescribed cannot sexually transmit the virus to others. Thus, treatment for HIV is a powerful arrow in the quiver of HIV prevention tools. Read more about how a durably undetectable viral load prevents HIV transmission with NIAIDs fact sheet 10 Things to Know About HIV Suppression.

For nearly two decades, scientists have recognized that viral load is a key determinant of HIV transmission. Studies conducted before the availability of ART revealed that higher viral loads correlate with higher rates of both sexual and perinatal transmission of HIV. Following the advent of triple-drug ART in 1996, observational studies suggested that viral loads lowered by ART were associated with reduced risk of sexual and perinatal HIV transmission. In addition, epidemiological studies showed that as the number of people in a community who are virally suppressed rises, the number of new HIV transmissions falls.

To read more about the underlying science and the value of U=U, see NIAIDs blog post Science Validates Undetectable=Untransmittable HIV Prevention Message.

Also Check: Does Cookie Johnson Have Aids

How Safe Is Oral Sex

Although it is possible to become infected with HIV through oral sex, the risk of becoming infected in this way is much lower than the risk of infection via unprotected sexual intercourse with a man or woman.When giving oral sex to a man a person could become infected with HIV if infected semen came into contact with damaged and receding gums, or any cuts or sores they might have in their mouth.

Giving oral sex to a woman is also considered relatively low risk. Transmission could take place if infected sexual fluids from a woman got into the mouth of her partner. The likelihood of infection might be increased if there is menstrual blood involved or if the woman is infected with another sexually transmitted disease.

The likelihood of either a man or a woman becoming infected with HIV as a result of receiving oral sex is extremely low, as saliva does not contain infectious quantities of HIV.

Don’t Miss: Does Nba Youngboy Have A Std

Top Tips For Oral Sex

FAQ’s Around HIV and AIDs

It can take a while to work out what makes someone feel good. The best thing to do is to keep communicating with your partner. Ask them to tell you what feels nice and let them know when you are enjoying something.

If youre happy and comfortable with someone, oral sex can be a great way to get physically closer and learn what turns each other on. If you find you arent enjoying something you can stop at any time you want, and the same is true for your partner.

Recommended Reading: How Long Does Hiv Take To Show

When Is Oral Sex More Risky

If you are living with HIV, there is a higher risk of passing on HIV through someone performing oral sex on you, if you are not taking treatment and if you also have an untreated sexually transmitted infection. If you don’t have HIV and you are performing oral sex on someone who does have HIV, you are at more risk of acquiring HIV if you have cuts, sores or abrasions in your mouth or on your gums. There is also more risk if you have an infection in your throat or mouth which is causing inflammation.

effectiveness

How well something works . See also ‘efficacy’.

For men, having a high viral load in the blood may also mean that viral load is high in the semen. Factors like untreated sexually transmitted infections can cause viral load in semen to increase.

For women, the levels of HIV in vaginal fluid vary. They are likely to be highest around the time of menstruation , when HIV-bearing cells shed from the cervix are most likely to be found in vaginal fluid, along with blood. Oral sex will therefore be more risky around the time of menstruation.

Significant Factors Associated With The Sexual Transmission Of Hiv

The significant factors associated with the sexual transmission of HIV relevant to the formulation of our expert opinion are:

type of sexual act
antiretroviral therapy use and viral load in the HIV-positive individual.

Type of sexual act:

For principally biological reasons, some sexual acts involve a lower HIV transmission possibility than others. All other factors being equal, oral sex has a significantly lower possibility of transmission than vaginal or anal intercourse, and anal intercourse has a higher possibility of transmission than vaginal intercourse.

Condom use:

Condoms are a cornerstone of HIV prevention. Latex and polyurethane condoms act as an impermeable physical barrier through which HIV cannot pass. When used correctly and no breakage occurs, condoms are 100% effective at stopping the transmission of HIV because they prevent the contact between HIV-containing bodily fluid and the target cells of an HIV-negative individual. Studies at a population level have also shown that even when factoring in possible instances of incorrect use or breakage, the consistent use of condoms dramatically reduces the possibility of HIV transmission. Where the present consensus statement discusses the possibility of HIV transmission in the context of condom use, it is assumed that the condom was applied to the penis and worn throughout sex, and that no condom breakage occurred.

Antiretroviral therapy and viral load:

You May Like: Average Hiv Life Expectancy

Is Unprotected Anal Intercourse More Of An Hiv Risk Than Vaginal Or Oral Sex

Unprotected anal intercourse does carry a higher risk than most other forms of sexual activity. The lining of the rectum has fewer cells than that of the vagina, and therefore can be damaged more easily, causing bleeding during intercourse. This can then be a route into the bloodstream for infected sexual fluids or blood. There is also a risk to the insertive partner during anal intercourse, though this is lower than the risk to the receptive partner.

So There Is Only A Low Risk For Contracting Hiv When Having Oral Sex What About Other Stis

While it is low risk for HIV there is the possibility of contracting other Sexually Transmissible Infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis. These are all bacterial infections, so the good news is they are easily treated and cured.

Syphilis can be spread through oral, anal or vaginal sex. It can even be spread when there is no visible sore present. If youre having multiple sexual partners even if youre only having oral sex its a good idea to make sure you are getting a sexual health check every 3 months to ensure you dont have an STI.

The presence of an STI does increase the risk of HIV transmission. This is true whoever has the STI. If the negative person has an STI it increases their susceptibility to contracting HIV as it may cause breaks in the skin and allow entry of the virus as well as activate the bodys immune response in that area. Its these immune cells that HIV targets. If the HIV positive person has an STI, HIV transmission is more likely as the presence of an STI causes and increase in the amount of HIV in cum and pre-cum.

The best way to protect ourselves and the guys we fuck is to regularly use condoms and have regular sexual health tests, whether were HIV positive or negative, to make sure we dont also have other STIs.

Read Also: Walgreens At Home Hiv Test

Assessing The Possibility Of Hiv Transmission

We assess the possibility of HIV transmission according to three categories: low possibility negligible possibility and no possibility. We define and rely on these categories for the purposes of informing the criminal justice system about the possibility of HIV transmission between individuals in specific circumstances at a specific time in other words, the per-act possibility of HIV transmission. Our three categories should not be confused with relative HIV transmission risk categories traditionally used in public health, which describe activities from high risk to no risk.

It is our expert opinion that scientific and medical evidence clearly indicate that HIV is difficult to transmit during sex. Even activities generally considered risky, such as unprotected anal and vaginal sex, carry a per-act possibility of transmission that is much lower than is often commonly believed. It is our expert opinion that the actual per-act possibility of HIV transmission through sex, biting or spitting lies along a continuum from low possibility, to negligible possibility, to no possibility of transmission .

Low possibility:

The basic conditions of viral transmission are present. The majority of HIV transmission worldwide is linked to these activities. Although these activities are considered to be the main modes of HIV transmission, the per-act possibility of transmission remains low.

Negligible possibility:

No possibility:

Challenges In Calculating A Number

It isn’t easy for researchers to calculate the risk of transmission from an exposure to HIV through sex. To do this effectively, a group of HIV-negative individuals need to be followed over time and their exposures to HIVboth the number of times they are exposed and the types of exposureneed to be tracked.

As you can imagine, accurately tracking the number of times a person is exposed to HIV is very difficult. Researchers ask HIV-negative individuals enrolled in these studies to report how many times they have had sex in a given period of time, what type of sex they had, how often they used condoms and the HIV status of their partner. Because a person may have trouble remembering their sexual behaviour or may not want to tell the whole truth, this reporting is often inaccurate.

Furthermore, a person does not always know the HIV status of their partner. For this reason, researchers usually enroll HIV-negative individuals who are in stable relationships with an HIV-positive partner . Researchers can then conclude that any unprotected sex reported by a study participant counts as an exposure to HIV.

Don’t Miss: Does Cookie Have Hiv

How Do You Get Hiv From Sex

HIV is transmitted through semen , vaginal fluid, blood, and anal mucus. During sex without a condom the bodily fluids from one person can pass into the body of their sexual partner. This can happen through the mucous membranes of the penis, vagina and rectum, or sores in the mouth and throat.

You can only get HIV from someone who is living with HIV and has a detectable viral load.

What Are The Chances Of Becoming Infected If He Doesnt Ejaculate Inside Me

HIV/AIDS: Preventing Sexual Transmission of HIV

While research suggests that high concentrations of HIV can sometimes be detected in precum, it is difficult to judge whether HIV is present in sufficient quantities for infection to occur. To guard against the possibility of infection with HIV or any other STI it is best to practice safer sex by using condoms.

Also Check: Does Nba Youngboy Have An Std

Papillomavirus And Oral Sex

Human papillomavirus can be transmitted through oral sex. In fact, HPV acquired during oral intercourse is thought to be a substantial risk factor for oral and throat malignancies, as well as for recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. Vertical transmission can also cause HPV to emerge in the oral cavity.

Similar to herpes, it appears that using external or internal condoms or dental dams during oral intercourse will minimise the risk of infection, but not completely eliminate it.

HPV, like herpes, is transferred by skin-to-skin contact rather than body fluids.

What Is Oral Sex

Oral sex involves using your mouth or tongue to stimulate your partners genitals or anus.

Many people enjoy oral sex as part of their sex life but it is a very personal thing and not everybody likes it or chooses to do it. Different people like to give or receive oral sex in different ways. There are a whole variety of ways to lick, suck and stimulate someone. You may decide not to have oral sex at all, or you may enjoy experimenting with your partner to find out what gives you both pleasure.

It is important to talk to your partner so you can understand what you both enjoy and what you would prefer to avoid.

Read Also: Does Hiv Cause Hair Loss

Is It Safe To Get Cum In My Mouth Or To Swallow Cum

If your partner nuts in your mouth it does increase the risk of HIV, because HIV can be in cum . The risk is still extremely low, but you should spit or swallow quickly. Stomach acid and enzymes in the esophagus kill HIV, so its the length of time the cum is in your mouth thats the risky part.

Remember the saying: Spit or swallow, don’t let it wallow!

Is It True That Gay Men Are More At Risk For Hiv Than Other People

4 facts about oral sex: STDs, throat cancer, HIV, and ...

Although anyone can be at risk for HIV, some people can be more at risk depending upon the types of sexual practices and drug use they are engaging in. Being gay does not necessarily mean you are at higher risk, but certain activities gay men sometimes participate in might put them at greater risk. Overall, the gay male population in Canada has higher rates of HIV infection than some other populations. Stigma and homophobia can affect a person’s ability to access information about safer sex specifically for gay men.

Recommended Reading: Hiv Hair Loss Symptom