Author Topic: Sorry...yet another oral sex question (Read 6373 times)

piercedpete · « **on:** July 21, 2009, 08:20:52 pm »

I have searched the internet trying to find information on insertive oral sex risks and genital piercings and found an old report of a man in Australia with a prince albert who says he was infected from receiving oral. Last year I had one encounter in which I received unprotected oral and that was it. I too have a prince albert piercing and although it is several years old and well-healed I can't help but wonder if there is some validity to this claim out of Australia. I did come down with what I thought was the flu several weeks after this encounter and have had some weird health concerns which I just chalked up to getting older and my body changing. Should I be concerned or is there still no risk regardless of have a piercing or not. Thanks!!

RapidRod · « **Reply #1 on:** July 21, 2009, 08:36:17 pm »

At no time were you at risk of contacting HIV with a prince albert or not.

Andy Velez · « **Reply #2 on:** July 21, 2009, 09:23:43 pm »

A guy getting oral is one of the most common sexual acts. I don't know what you've been reading but I can tell unhesitatingly there has never been a confirmed case of transmission to a guy via his getting a blowjob. Not one. If you search long enough on the net you can find lots to feed your fears. Totally without a basis in HIV science of course.

It's safe to say you aren't going to make history by becoming the first to be infected that way.

There's no need for testing. If you have symptoms that are concerning you, discuss the matter with your doctor. This is not an HIV situation. Period.

piercedpete · « **Reply #3 on:** July 21, 2009, 09:30:34 pm »

Thank you both for your responses! I knew there was no cause for concern but in trying to determine another problem I of course ran into an HIV connection & down the slippery slope I went. I guess having instant access to info via the Internet can be both good & bad. Luckily we have people like yourselves to keep the facts straight. Thanks again!

piercedpete · « **Reply #4 on:** December 11, 2009, 10:59:51 pm »

I guess I am still having trouble getting past my "no risk" encounter. I did get tested a few weeks after this encounter and was negative for everything except HSV1 which I was told some 80% of the population has and my doctor said they don't even like to test for it for that very reason. Would this put me at greater risk of contracting HIV? Since this encounter over a year ago I have had all kinds of weird symptoms with the most alarming being constant diarrhea which I realize could just be the result of worrying all this time. Also, it seems that those who post on this forum that they tested positive as a result of receiving oral aren't taken seriously at all and that makes me wonder if there isn't some bit of denial regarding transmission in this manner. I read this post in the just tested poz forum. http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=28076.0 I really don't want to go through the stress and worry of testing again but having read I wonder if I should. The guy I was with told me that he had just tested negative the month before but that is just his word. Do you think I have any reason to worry? Thanks!!

RapidRod · « **Reply #5 on:** December 11, 2009, 11:03:44 pm »

You were never at risk of contracting HIV.

piercedpete · « **Reply #6 on:** December 11, 2009, 11:04:48 pm »

I could not find the article from Australia regarding HIV from insertive oral with a prince albert but I did find mention of the article on another site.

Dear Dr. Eva,
Will getting my genitals pierced put me at greater risk for sexually transmitted infections?
Not pierced yet

Dear Not-Yet,
Until recently, it was thought that once a piercing completely healed, the pierced person was not at increased risk for STD’s. However, a report came out last month suggesting that might not be true. In a study from Australia based on interviews of 75 gay men who were recently infected with HIV, 5 men had picked up the infection by receiving oral sex. Of those 5, three had genital piercings. This suggests that for HIV at least, and likely other infections as well, having a piercing increases risk. This is probably because having genital jewelry causes constant microtrauma, resulting in small open wounds that become entry sites for infections.

This really has me concerned. I thought I was OK and now I am have to question that.

RapidRod · « **Reply #7 on:** December 11, 2009, 11:13:57 pm »

CDC knows of no instances of HIV transmission through tattooing or body piercing, although hepatitis B virus has been transmitted during some of these practices.

piercedpete · « **Reply #8 on:** December 11, 2009, 11:19:24 pm »

Is that addressing the risk of contracting it during the process of getting tattooed or pierced or as it relates to increased sexual risk after? I am concerned that having a prince albert has put me at risk during this one oral encounter. Thanks!

RapidRod · « **Reply #9 on:** December 11, 2009, 11:21:52 pm »

Saliva is NOT infectious and has over a dozen different enzymes and proteins that inhibit HIV transmissiion.

piercedpete · « **Reply #10 on:** December 11, 2009, 11:29:33 pm »

so the people that say they were infected this way aren't telling the truth?

RapidRod · « **Reply #11 on:** December 11, 2009, 11:39:03 pm »

Considering there are studies that HIV is not transmitted by oral sex then I would say yes.

Andy Velez · « **Reply #12 on:** December 12, 2009, 08:37:05 am »

Rather than say people aren't telling the truth, I would say sometimes people don't remember accurately. Alcohol and drug use can impair accurate recall. Memory can be imperfect sometimes. And then sometimes someone has done something which they are embarassed about and prefer not to acknowledge. Among other reasons for imperfect reporting about activities.

As far as giving oral is concerned, it's good to remember that theoretically transmission is possible even though the preponderance of evidence, including through longterm studies, is that it's not a real risk. But I also always recommend that each person decide what level of risk they are prepared to live with and limit their sexual behavior accordingly.

piercedpete · « **Reply #13 on:** December 12, 2009, 11:45:58 am »

Thanks Andy & Rod. So I can ignore this Australian article that I read and move on knowing that I did not have a risk in this situation? Why is there so much disinformation out there? you would think that given the serious and life-changing nature of this disease that "reputable" agencies would be careful about what they put out there for the masses to read or at the very least follow-up these reports with what you have just said. It's no wonder that so many of us freak out and have to bother you guys with these same no-risk scenarios.

Ann · « **Reply #14 on:** December 12, 2009, 12:08:50 pm »

Pete,

That's a damn good question, one that I've been scratching my head over for years now. We have studies which show oral sex to not be an hiv concern, yet the misinformation persists. That Australian article you cite was based on patient reporting, and patient reporting is notoriously unreliable as Andy has already discussed with you.

The studies which showed oral sex to not be a concern were not based on patient report. They were proper studies which followed serodiscordant (poz/neg) couples for years - one study went on for ten years. 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.

Just make sure you are using condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, correctly and consistently, and you will avoid hiv infection. It really is that simple! Read through the condom and lube links in my signature line so you can be sure you're using them correctly.

Ann

piercedpete · « **Reply #15 on:** December 12, 2009, 03:02:22 pm »

Thanks to all! you're providing an invaluable service for all. One that undoubtedly requires an inordinate amount of patience and compassion. We're all lucky to have you here to turn to when in doubt. Keep up the great work!

Andy Velez · « **Reply #16 on:** December 12, 2009, 04:17:41 pm »

You're welcome. We're glad you found the help you needed.

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Author Topic: Sorry...yet another oral sex question (Read 6373 times)