POZ Community Forums

HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: scl2013 on July 23, 2013, 01:34:45 pm

Title: I wonder if I may have contracted Hiv.
Post by: scl2013 on July 23, 2013, 01:34:45 pm
Hello everyone I am new to the forum and after doing some research I decided to garner some advice. Here is my story.

A week ago I spontaneously performed oral on a Guy who I've been acquainted with for sometime(I am not aware of his status). He proceeded to ejaculate in my mouth and I allowed him to(after I spat it out). I cannot help but wonder if i could have contracted the virus after this small encounter. What are my chances? should i proceed to get tested? Thank you for any advice or information you may provide me with in advance.
Title: Re: I wonder if I may have contracted Hiv.
Post by: Andy Velez on July 23, 2013, 01:46:53 pm
The risk from giving oral is basically only theoretical. That's because HIV is a fragile virus and the enzymes and proteins in your saliva very effectively prevent the transmission of viable HIV if it is present.

The only confirmed risks for the sexual transmission of HIV are unprotected vaginal and anal intercourse. As long as you consistently use condoms properly for those activities you will be well protected.

Others STDs are much easier to acquire so we do recommend that anyone who is sexual active ought to have a full STD panel done at least annually. At this moment I don't see any need for you to test for HIV.

Title: Re: I wonder if I may have contracted Hiv.
Post by: scl2013 on July 23, 2013, 01:57:57 pm
Thank you for taking the time to respond to this post Andy. I believe it is more of a psycological issue at this point(the fact that I let myself get caught up in a reckless situation) and hope that I may be able to get pass it.
Title: Re: I wonder if I may have contracted Hiv.
Post by: jkinatl2 on July 23, 2013, 02:15:29 pm
The only confirmed risks for HIV are unprotected anal and vaginal sex, sharing IV drug needles, and occasionally from mother to child.

As you have done research, I probably don't need to tell you about the three serodiscordant couples studies in which couples of mixed serostatus used condoms for penetrative anal and vagibal sex, yet no barriers whatsoever for any form of oral sex. These studies lasted ten, five, and three years and yielded no infections.

Combine this with the fact that saliva contains over a dozen identified elements which render HIV incapable of infecting, and you can arrive at the conclusion that oral sex- specifically performing fellatio- is not considered a risk for HIV.

The only caveat I can theorize would be if you were, say, a chronic long term meth user and suffered from "meth mouth" (google that) which basically shuts down your saliva production and causes large open sores with rotted teeth.