Risk of performing oral sex with throat infection

[tomwoon]

Hi There,

I have been seriously bothered by an incident happened 5 weeks ago. I did a receptive oral sex on one guy that I did not know his HIV status. I was then having throat infection (flu like symptom). But there were no visible sore, cuts, ulcer or gum bleeding in mouth during that time. He did not  ejaculate in my mouth. I did a hand job on him to make him cum. He then wiped off the semen with paper towel. I then continue to suck his balls for a while. I am not too sure if there was pre cum during performing the oral sex. After the 3 days of the incident, my sore throat got worse.  A week later, I went to see my family doctor and told him about the incident and my doctor told me that was not likely to be ARS. I was then prescribed with antibiotic for the sore throat. And the doctor asked me to do a quickoral test after 3 weeks of the incident. I did the test on the 23rd day and the result was negative. However, my throat problem still persists today (is getting better but not fully recovered, I am also having reflux problem). My doctor told me that I am at very low risk scale of contracting HIV. Based on the report he has gotten, my risk is 1/10,000 if the person that I am performing on is HIV+. I am having panic attack and cannot sleep well until now. I need some expert advice on the following:

1. Will sore throat increase the risk of HIV infection when performing receptive oral sex?
2. Does the act I performed put me at a higher risks than usual oral sex?
3. Is the risk scale of 1/10,000 for receptive oral sex validated?
4. I am so worry now and I am thinking of performing another rapid test in the 6th week. Is that necessary?

Please help to ease my nerve. I have been having sleepless nights. Thank you very much.

Tom

[Andy Velez]

It's no surprise that your test result was negative. Although we always continue to hear from time to time about someone insisting they became infected only through giving oral, those stories never hold up under careful scientific scrutiny. Obviously good sense dictates that if you have a gaping wound in your mouth the giving of oral is not a good idea. But then who would be doing it under those circumstances?!

By contrast longterm studies of sero-discordant gay and straight couples who had only protected intercourse and lots of mutual unprotected oral have resulted in not one single sero-negative partner having become infected.

Additionally, your saliva contains over a dozen enzymes and proteins which are very effective at disarming the ability of HIV to be transmitted if it's present.

Your'e worrying needlessly and I don't see any need for testing again. If you have symptoms that are troubling you, that's something to discuss with your doctor. This is not an HIV situation. Period.

[tomwoon]

Hi Andy,

Thanks for the prompt reply. I am now more relief. I was panic because in our country, unprotected oral sex is considered a high risk activity for contracting HIV. And I was confused by a lot of websites stating different level of risk of unprotected oral sex. 

Thank God that there are people like you to help clearing our  doubts and support those who are infected.

[Andy Velez]

Yah, well there is a lot of misinformation, hearsay and inaccurate stuff being handed out, guessed and otherwise not simply, directly and in a science-based way addressing HIV transmission issues.

Sexually in terms of transmission it's actually very simple. If you consistently use latex condoms for vaginal and anal intercourse you will be well protected. Period. All of the other so-called risks sexually never seem to hold up under careful scientific examination.

Cheers.