STDs and Oral Sex

If some STDs aren’t visible, when is it safe to perform oral sex?

Thanks

The only STDs that are incurable are the viruses, such as HIV, HPV (genital warts), and HSV (herpes). Those are the ones to be especially worried about.

HIV is awfully hard (impossible, without cuts present?) to get orally — nothing to worry about, in my opinion.

HPV & HSV are much more easily spread when warts or herpes sores are visible, but you’re correct that they could still be contracted even if there aren’t any symptoms present.

Could someone who knows more about herpes and warts clarify whether there is danger in contact between infected genitals and the mouth? I only know about the genital-genital risks.

Hey Guys,

Our local newspaper just ran an article on the current sharp rise in HIV/AIDS infection cases in our county—we have a large gay population here—also a big group of intra-venous drug users.

The article claims that contrary to popular belief, HIV can be spread through oral sex. My question. Do you need some other STD infection (open sore, etc.)present in order to pass HIV. The article does not go into detail.

HH

HH - I’m not an authority on these matters, but my understanding is that HIV is extremely hard to contract orally unless there are open wounds (e.g., bleeding herpes sores) in the mouth. Heck, it’s even hard to transmit HIV through vaginal intercourse if no other STDs are present (source ). Anal sex is by far the riskiest sexual activity for HIV transmission.

Never

PG is right. HIV is hard to contract. But once a person gets, it’s for life no matter how short.
HIV virus is concentrated in blood, semen, and vaginal fluids. For a girl getting clap in her mouth from oral is not that uncommon for example.

So only perform oral sex after getting the all clear from a test?

HIV is a bloodborne pathogen. This means that the virus only lives in blood and can only be transmitted when infected blood comes in contact with your blood*. The virus is very fragile outside the body and will live for less than 8 hours without a host. When someone bleeds you should always use protective gloves and bleach to clean it up. In order to contract HIV the infected blood must somehow get into your blood stream. Keep in mind incredibly small cuts, even from just rough sex or a nick from a tooth could be enought to contract HIV. Also, getting a drop in your eye or nose could provide an entry point into your body.

* other body fluids may contain blood or are derived in some way from blood

Biffy, what I meant nothing is 100% safe. Use common sense. Do it with people you know and trust. Don’t get paranoid. Don’t do it during one night stands. Chances are you bump into someone with HIV are 1/200 at most, probably much less.

Also, watch for cuts on your hands, some people like to bite their fingernails, so if you do, don’t stick them you know where…

I don’t know, it still seems risky if there are no symtoms.

OneHung,

I have agree (Once I re-read your post) . HIV is indeed a bloodborne pathogen, however, it is carried in body fluids, not just blood. If you think, suspect that a potential partner is infected (and it is so fucking hard to tell) don’t take chances. I have to use universal precautions if I am going to have to work with a person with a soiled diaper or a wet one as the pathogen could be there. If you have a cold sore you can contract all sorts of stuff, its an open wound. A blister inside of the mouth can be a inlet for pathogens.

Allow me to clarify something, as substances enter the stomach, they then go into the small intestine, which in turn allows the nutrients etc to enter the blood system. Which then travels throughout the body. So, lets say that a female gives a blow job to an HIV infected male, she swallows, the semen and its friends enter the stomach and then the intestines, where the glucose from the semen enters the blood system, along with its friends. So can you contract HIV from oral sex, yes.

Sunny

Would the HIV virus survive in a stomach full of acid?

You can receive/transmit chlamydia through oral sex. HPV, most unlikely. Unless you have cuts or tears in various mucous membranes, it is not easy to transmit/receive HIV and Hepatitis C. HIV is actually a vary vulnerable organism. Hep C is very resilient and hard to kill. For example, sharing needles, even after drawing bleach through the needle, can still transmit Hep C, whereas HIV doesn’t survive that easily.

There are so many variables involved here it is impossible to say what is safe and what is not. I think the general consensus is to practice safe sex unless you are in a monogamous relationship with someone and you have both been tested and cleared.

Good point Dino. I don’t know if it would or not. Stomach acid has a ph of 1.2 (think battery acid).

We do know that so far nothing has proven effective against the HIV virus as far as medications are concerned.

On the HIV & oral sex issue: http://www.ncbi .nlm.nih.gov/en … t_uids=12441814

But I agree with others that you shouldn’t screw around with anyone you suspect to have an STD. Be especially wary of any visible signs of STDs — warts, herpes sores, etc.