
Can HIV Be Contracted Through Oral Sex?

Question: Hi Doctor,
I recently had a risky sexual exposure and would like to get a risk assessment.
I had a sexual encounter with a high risk person (sex worker) while there was no penetration, she gave me oral with condom and I touched her vagina (wet with vaginal fluid)
I'm concerned because I had a cold sore and I might have touched it during the encounter with the same finger that was touching her vagina (with fluid still on the finger) The cold sore was fairly new and had no crust so I guess that's direct exposure to infected lip tissue.
Also she touched my penis before putting the condom on with her hands that she used on her vagina (again with vaginal fluid) and touched my scrotum and anus (I suffered anal fissure few days back)
So if I'm to summarize my question :
Does touching Cold sore, Penis, Anus (with possible fissures) with vaginal fluid (from labia and not cervical) pose risks for any STD ?
I'm more worried about HIV, Hepatitis, HSV-2.
Thank you for your time.
I recently had a risky sexual exposure and would like to get a risk assessment.
I had a sexual encounter with a high risk person (sex worker) while there was no penetration, she gave me oral with condom and I touched her vagina (wet with vaginal fluid)
I'm concerned because I had a cold sore and I might have touched it during the encounter with the same finger that was touching her vagina (with fluid still on the finger) The cold sore was fairly new and had no crust so I guess that's direct exposure to infected lip tissue.
Also she touched my penis before putting the condom on with her hands that she used on her vagina (again with vaginal fluid) and touched my scrotum and anus (I suffered anal fissure few days back)
So if I'm to summarize my question :
Does touching Cold sore, Penis, Anus (with possible fissures) with vaginal fluid (from labia and not cervical) pose risks for any STD ?
I'm more worried about HIV, Hepatitis, HSV-2.
Thank you for your time.
Brief Answer:
The risk of HIV or other STDs is very unlikely.
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXX,
Welcome to HCM.
HIV is not transmitted through touching of genitals or cold sore unless there is any cut or abration on the skin so the risk is very unlikely or practically nil in your exposure and nothing to worry about.
As such no testing is required but to relieve anxiety of HIV you can go for 4th generation Duo test after one month and the result will clear all your doubts. The risk of other STDs like hepatitis and HSV also is not there so allay, be relaxed and move ahead in life happily.
Thank You
The risk of HIV or other STDs is very unlikely.
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXX,
Welcome to HCM.
HIV is not transmitted through touching of genitals or cold sore unless there is any cut or abration on the skin so the risk is very unlikely or practically nil in your exposure and nothing to worry about.
As such no testing is required but to relieve anxiety of HIV you can go for 4th generation Duo test after one month and the result will clear all your doubts. The risk of other STDs like hepatitis and HSV also is not there so allay, be relaxed and move ahead in life happily.
Thank You
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Priyanka G Raj


Hi Doctor, thank you for your answer. However, I'm afraid that you might have misunderstood my question. It's not just touching. It's the contact of vaginal fluid (supposedly infected) with the penis head, open cold sore and anus with possible fissures. Isn't an open cold sore or a fissured anus considered as a cut or abrasion ? Perhaps you've understood my question, and in that case for my own education can you tell me why it can't infect that way ? Again thank you for your wonderful work, I'm grateful.
Brief Answer:
The risk with single exposure is very less.
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXX,
Welcome back and thanks for follow-up.
If there is direct contact of infected vaginal fluid to your penile head, open sore or fissured anus then also the risk is very less with such single exposure so don't get worried or anxious about HIV.
Thank You
The risk with single exposure is very less.
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXX,
Welcome back and thanks for follow-up.
If there is direct contact of infected vaginal fluid to your penile head, open sore or fissured anus then also the risk is very less with such single exposure so don't get worried or anxious about HIV.
Thank You
Note: Get personalized answers to your HIV related queries You can choose to talk face to face with your doctor. Book a Video Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj

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