Question

[CoryT]

Guys I am at a loss and not sure what to do..I have had some questions but afraid to ask a doctor or something so ill ask you.. Can someone get hiv from swallowing I am curious about this and are they at high risk from performing oral.

[Matty the Damned]

Far from being "high risk", performing unprotected oral sex on an HIV positive male is in fact only a theoretical risk. There have not been any documented cases of HIV being transmitted in this way in the 25 years of the pandemic.

You will hear some people talking about "reported cases" and such like. These are not proof that HIV is transmitted via unprotected oral sex. In reality they mean that some people think they were infected that way, but there's no substantive evidence to confirm this.

The big issues when it comes to HIV transmission are unprotected anal and vaginal sex, and it's these behaviours that people need to focus on, not the theoretical spectre of unprotected oral sex that freaks so many people out.

Our Lessons can give you more information.

Oh and welcome to the Forums!

MtD

[aztecan]

Hey Cory,

As Matty said, oral sex is very low risk. His referral to the lessons section is good advice.

Regarding the spit vs. swallow question, it is really a non-issue. Once the semen or vaginal fluid is in a person's mouth, it doesn't' really matter whether they spit or swallow, because if something is going to be passed along, it will be in the mouth, no the stomach.

Oh, and welcome to the forums. Glad you found us and and I look forward to hearing more from you.

HUGS,

Mark

[Andy Velez]

Hi Cory,

I know you're fairly newly diagnosed. You've expressed concern before about not wanting to infect someone else, which is a very responsible outlook on your part. Read our lesson on transmission. You get all of the basics there. Essentially sexually the risk is about unprotected intercourse, whether vaginal or anal. Everything else is pretty much theoretical but in the real world of HIV it doesn't happen from giving blowjobs and other activities which people often worry about.

We're here to support you. So please feel free to ask questions and to discuss anything that's on your mind. Getting adjusted to having HIV as a part of your life is challenging. You'll find a lot of information here from people who have first hand experience at some of what you may be feeling and dealing with.

Cheers,

[PJC0510]

I beleive your question is, "Is there a risk?"  From the responses I have seem, the term "slight risk" was mentioned, so then yes there is a risk.

I would be concerned if the giver had bleeding gums which can then be infected should you unload in their mouth.

Be good always!

[David_CA]

Welcome to the forums, Cory.

Kind of related... I've always wondered if it was safer to swallow.  By that, I mean that if ejaculation occurs at the back of one's throat (versus right up front in the mouth area), would this be even 'safer' than spitting where the semen would be in the mouth area.  I'm sure it's all pretty irrelevant, as it's a theoretical risk anyway, but I always wondered about the bleeding / bad gums thing, too.

As to theoretical risks, I'm going to get into my air bag equipped car and put on my 3-point safety harness (seat belt).  Theoretically, I should be safe driving across town to visit my mom and sis!   

David