gving oral incident

[retew]

Hello everyone. Very nice site to come to and get great information. Just thought I would throw that out there and would really appreciate feed back to my incident. I did have unprotected oral sex with a male give and recieve. I noticed it says giving oral is a verry low risk but I also notice it says it is a risk on other sites etc. Im just very confused and don't know if it is worth it to get tested or not. He did pre cum a lot as well and I dont know of any cuts I have in my mouth, other than my wisdom teeth coming in?? Is this an issue. Thank you so much.
retew

[Ann]

retew,

There have been long-term studies of couples where one is positive and one is negative. In the couples who used condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, but no barrier for oral activities, not one of the negative partners became infected with hiv. Not one. This shows us two things. One, condoms are very effective for the prevention of hiv transmission. Two, oral sex is much lower risk than previously believed. We now have the evidence that oral sex is a very low risk activity where hiv transmission is concerned.

While you do not need to test over this specific incident, anyone who is sexually active should be having a full sexual health care check-up, including but not limited to hiv testing, at least once a year and more often if unprotected intercourse occurs.

If you aren't already having regular, routine check-ups, now is the time to start. As long as you make sure condoms are being used for intercourse, you can fully expect your routine hiv tests to return with negative results. Don't forget to always get checked for all the other sexually transmitted infections as well, because they are MUCH easier to transmit than hiv.

You need to be using condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, every time, no exceptions until such time as you are in a securely monogamous relationship where you have both tested for ALL STIs together. To agree to have unprotected intercourse is to consent to the possibility of being infected with a sexually transmitted infection.

Have a look through the condom and lube links in my signature line so you can use condoms with confidence.

Ann

[retew]

Thank you Ann. So you honestly really don't think it is necessary to be tested for giving oral when there was a lot of pre cum involved. I've been tested neg before this incident so would like to still stay clear .. i will use condoms for any intercourse so since ive been tested this is the only exposure ive had..Really not necessary to be tested? Thanks
retew

[Ann]

ret,

I don't think it's necessary that you get tested over this specific incident, no. However I do think you should carry on with having regular, routine tests, at least once a year, twice is better if you're regularly sexually active.

Ann

[retew]

So is it true the reason why giving oral is not a risk is because if your partner did have hiv your saliva would kill it? It just seems to me that if you can get it from inserting in the anus vagina etc, why not when it is in your mouth and down your throat (sorry to be verbal). Thanks.

[retew]

anyone?

[Ann]

ret,

There is no saliva present in the vagina or the anus for a start. Saliva contains over a dozen different proteins and enzymes that damage hiv and make it impossible for it to infect a new cell.

The cells that hiv can infect are very specific cells and they are not present in any great quantity in the mouth/throat. They are, however, very much present in the vagina and anus.

Our mouths are designed to filter out many different pathogens. They have to be... just think of all the bacteria etc that goes into your mouth on any given day. Your mouth and skin are very good defense barriers against all sorts - including hiv.

Taking a load of hiv infected semen into your mouth MIGHT be a risk if you have VERY bad oral hygiene. It's mainly a risk that falls into the category of theoretical. To put that into perspective, it is also a theoretical risk that you will be hit by a meteorite the next time you step out of your house. Does that keep you in bed?

Make sure you use condoms for intercourse, and make sure you have regular, routine sexual health care check ups and you will be fine where hiv is concerned. Oh, and if you like to give head, make sure you visit your dentist regularly too. Good oral health is a bonus no matter which way you look at it.

I really don't think you have anything to worry about. Really!

Ann