Dear Doc,

I am a 31 year old male who is worried about a few things. I have a quesiton about my practices and behavior when it comes to "hooking up". All of my partners are random men I meet off the internet(I know, so classy huh?). Anyway, I have probably had 15-20 partners since my last negative text over 10 months ago. Most of these encounters only involve oral sex and I always quiz my partner on hiv status even thought I cant be 100% of course. I never swallow during oral and if it ever gets to anal(rarely) I always always always use protection.

So, that being said, am I really being that risky besides the having multiple random internet partners. If I am being as safe as I think I am is there any risk??

Finally, I know receptive oral does involve a very small risk, am I reducing this small risk to even smaller proportions by not having any ejaculate in my mouth?

Please please answer...I have read almost every post on this site..c'mon now that's quite a feat..and I think your cute..haha.

thanks!! ww candidate

Hello WW Candidate,

Oral sex is considered to have only a low-potential risk for acquiring HIV. (Other STDs are much more easily acquired orally.)

Protected anal sex is indeed protected, assuming the latex condoms are used properly and don't fail.

For sexually active dudes (and dudettes), routine HIV/STD screens every six months or so are recommended.

Regarding your Internet hookups, aren't you the guy whose online profile states he's a professional air-breather and describes himself as an absolutely unflawed (yet humble) dreamboat with a brilliant mind and "real good verbal skills" looking for someone who "has a pulse, is a non-bed-wetter, and has no outstanding warrants in the State of California"? Is that you? Yeah, I thought so.

Dr. Bob