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What Are The Chances Of An HIV Infection Post An Unprotected Oral Sex?

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Posted on Wed, 15 Feb 2017
Question: I have read several articles including information from CDC related to unprotected oral sex. I've always used protection prior to last Sunday. For a man receiving, it seems there is very low risk, zero and others say there is a risk.
So that's my questions:
1) Is there any risk for men to be infected by HIV if he receives an unprotected oral sex?
2) If that risk exists, in what circumstances this man can be infected? I received it and ejaculated into the giver' hand not mouth. There were no ulcers, cuts or bleeding gums as far as I could tell.
3). There is some slight discomfort on my penis. No issue urinating or burning sensation. I wonder if this related to std like herpes or stress?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Oral sex carries a low risk of HIV transmission

Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for writing to us

I am dr.kakkar (dermatologist and venereologist). I have gone through your query and I have noted your concern.

Unprotected receptive oral sex carries a low risk for transmission of Hiv as compared to vaginal or anal sex. In general, saliva is not conducive for the survival of HIV. The risk of transmission is not Zero though!
The exact risk has not been estimated because partners who practice oral sex also practice other forms of sexual activity during the same sexual encounter.
The risk of transmission through oral sex is more if there are any open sores or ulcers in the oral cavity of person performing oral sex. This is because local inflammation would mean more number of HIV infected white blood cells in the oral cavity and hence greater risk of transmission.
Similarly there is a low risk of trasmission of other STDs like herpes simplex infection with oral sexual contact as compared to vaginal or anal sex.

Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (20 minutes later)
There was no other sexual activity that night. My preliminary bloodwork with the exception of the herpes (which is being conducted and will know in another day) was negative so I was clean before the event occurred. How does that affect my chances of contracting HIV or a STD?

The giver told me they had been tested three weeks prior and everything came back negative.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Oral sex carries a negligible risk

Detailed Answer:
Hi. Thank you.

Your preliminary screening blood test which came out as negative rules out STDs from all of your previous sexual encounters 3-4 weeks prior to the screening test but not from any other recent sexual encounter (other than this oral sexual encounter) that you might have had.
There is a theoretical possibility that the person performing oral sex may have acquired an STD during those 3 weeks between testing negative for STDs and performing oral on you.
Since screening tests have a window period e.g a negative test would rule out STDs from sexual exposures that were at least 3-4 weeks prior to testing but not from exposues immediately prior or a few days prior to testing. Hence screening tests have to be interpreted in relation to sexual exposures. So even if your sexual partner tested negative 3 weeks before performing oral it does not rule out STDs that may have been acquired during the 3-4 weeks window period leading up to the tests and of course does not rule out a newly acquired infection during the intervening 3 week period between testing and performing oral on you.
These are theoretical possibilities. Oral sex anyways carries a negligible risk.

Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (8 hours later)
Based your answer. Should I still be worried? I am seeing my doctor on Monday about the RNA HIV Test which works 9-11 days after exposure.

What can I do to not worry about HIV or an std? I am scared that if I am positive especially from HIV it will my life will change forever.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (7 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Screen for HIV and likely it would be negative

Detailed Answer:
Hi.

As I said oral sex carries a negligible risk of transmission of HIV. So you should not worry that much. Go ahead with testing and very likely it would be negative.

Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (3 hours later)
Does the risk of hiv vary if the person who gave me oral was a guy or girl?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (10 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Oral sex and HIV risk

Detailed Answer:
Hi

No. It would not matter.

Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (43 minutes later)
Could you elaborate on that point?What about herpes through unprotected oral? When can I test for them?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (19 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Regarding Hiv and Herpes transmission through oral sex

Detailed Answer:
Hi.

For a purely oral receptive sexual contact, it does'nt matter whether the person giving oral sex is a male or a female sex partner because of similar surface area and anatomy of oral mucosa in both the sexes.
As I already suggested in my first reply, unprotected oral sex is also a risk factor for Herpes Simplex transmission. You may take an ELISA based blood test for HSV type 1&2 IgG (HerpeSelect) at 4 weeks and then repeat test at 12 weeks for a confirmatory diagnosis.

Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (5 hours later)
When do symptom for Herpes Simplex occur? I felt some slight pain on my penis head, redness yesterday but no problem urinating. I thought I saw some bumps appear on my head last night and started to panick. My preliminary bloodwork should determine prior status to Sunday.

It's only been less than five days since the event occurred.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (19 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Regarding herpes

Detailed Answer:
Hi.

Herpes simplex has a short incubation period which varies from 2-10 days. It usually presents as premonitory pain and burning sensation soon followed by painful genital sores. Genital sores in herpes are small in size, superficial erosions which are multiple, discrete and may coalesce to form polycyclic erosions.

Regards
Note: Consult a Sexual Diseases Specialist online for further follow up- Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Dr. Kakkar

Dermatologist

Practicing since :2002

Answered : 9612 Questions

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What Are The Chances Of An HIV Infection Post An Unprotected Oral Sex?

Brief Answer: Oral sex carries a low risk of HIV transmission Detailed Answer: Hello. Thank you for writing to us I am dr.kakkar (dermatologist and venereologist). I have gone through your query and I have noted your concern. Unprotected receptive oral sex carries a low risk for transmission of Hiv as compared to vaginal or anal sex. In general, saliva is not conducive for the survival of HIV. The risk of transmission is not Zero though! The exact risk has not been estimated because partners who practice oral sex also practice other forms of sexual activity during the same sexual encounter. The risk of transmission through oral sex is more if there are any open sores or ulcers in the oral cavity of person performing oral sex. This is because local inflammation would mean more number of HIV infected white blood cells in the oral cavity and hence greater risk of transmission. Similarly there is a low risk of trasmission of other STDs like herpes simplex infection with oral sexual contact as compared to vaginal or anal sex. Regards