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U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
What You Should Know about Oral SexJune 2009 Oral Sex Is Not Risk FreeLike all sexual activity, oral sex carries some risk of HIV transmission when one partner is known to be infected with HIV, when either partner's HIV status is not known, and/or when one partner is not monogamous or injects drugs. Even though the risk of transmitting HIV through oral sex is much lower than that of anal or vaginal sex, numerous studies have demonstrated that oral sex can result in the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Abstaining from oral, anal, and vaginal sex altogether or having sex only with a mutually monogamous, uninfected partner are the only ways that individuals can be completely protected from the sexual transmission of HIV. However, by using condoms or other barriers between the mouth and genitals, individuals can reduce their risk of contracting HIV or another STD through oral sex. Oral Sex is a Common PracticeOral sex involves giving or receiving oral stimulation (i.e., sucking or licking) to the penis, the vagina, and/or the anus. Fellatio is the technical term used to describe oral contact with the penis. Cunnilingus is the technical term which describes oral contact with the vagina. Anilingus (sometimes called "rimming") refers to oral-anal contact. Studies indicate that oral sex is commonly practiced by sexually active male-female and same-gender couples of various ages, including adolescents. Although there are only limited national data about how often adolescents engage in oral sex, some data suggest that many adolescents who engage in oral sex do not consider it to be "sex;" therefore they may use oral sex as an option to experience sex while still, in their minds, remaining abstinent. Moreover, many consider oral sex to be a safe or no-risk sexual practice. In a national survey of teens conducted for The Kaiser Family Foundation, 26% of sexually active 15- to 17-year-olds surveyed responded that one "cannot become infected with HIV by having unprotected oral sex," and an additional 15% didn't know whether or not one could become infected in that manner. Oral Sex and the Risk of HIV TransmissionThe risk of HIV transmission from an infected partner through oral sex is much less than the risk of HIV transmission from anal or vaginal sex. Measuring the exact risk of HIV transmission as a result of oral sex is very difficult. Additionally, because most sexually active individuals practice oral sex in addition to other forms of sex, such as vaginal and/or anal sex, when transmission occurs, it is difficult to determine whether or not it occurred as a result of oral sex or other more risky sexual activities. Finally, several co-factors may increase the risk of HIV transmission through oral sex, including: oral ulcers, bleeding gums, genital sores, and the presence of other STDs. What is known is that HIV has been transmitted through fellatio, cunnilingus, and anilingus. Other STDs Can Also Be Transmitted From Oral SexIn addition to HIV, other STDs can be transmitted through oral sex with an infected partner. Examples of these STDs include herpes, syphilis, gonorrhea, genital warts (HPV), intestinal parasites (amebiasis), and hepatitis A. Oral Sex and Reducing the Risk of HIV TransmissionThe consequences of HIV infection are life-long. If treatment is not initiated in a timely manner, HIV can be extremely serious and life threatening. However, there are steps you can take to lower the risk of getting HIV from oral sex. Generally, the use of a physical barrier during oral sex can reduce the risk of transmission of HIV and other STDs. A latex or plastic condom may be used on the penis to reduce the risk of oral-penile transmission. If your partner is a female, a cut-open condom or a dental dam can be used between your mouth and the vagina. Similarly, regardless of the sex of your partner, if your mouth will come in contact with your partner's anus, a cut-open condom or dental dam can be used between your mouth and the anus. At least one scientific article has suggested that plastic food wrap may be used as a barrier to protect against herpes simplex virus during oral-vaginal or oral-anal sex. However, there are no data regarding the effectiveness of plastic food wrap in decreasing transmission of HIV and other STDs in this manner and it is not manufactured or approved by the FDA for this purpose. This article was provided by U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Comment by: Danny
(DC)
Wed., Sep. 2, 2009 at 2:45 pm EDT I agree with everyone. The article is very general. It also doesn't address the risk for the guy who is receiving oral sex. I don't suck but boy do I love being sucked. So what's the risk for me? I am Latino and uncut. Does being uncut puts me at risk? Let's look at the issue from both end, the giver and the receiver. Us guys who enjoy being sucked also worry about it.
Comment by: Jalil Fahad
(new york usa)
Tue., Jul. 28, 2009 at 12:17 am EDT That is why I watch porn and masturbate.. No worries....guys use some imagination...
Comment by: Kitty
(Tokyo)
Tue., Jul. 14, 2009 at 11:17 am EDT I read this, because tomorrow I will recieve my HIV test results. Very nervous. I performed oral sex on a boy whom I found out to be bi-sexual. Although Im not sure the level of HIV infections in Tokyo amongst which group or whatever. The point is previously I had been tested because I though I had gotten it from a past boyfriend and I had do the same and performed oral sex. The health consultant I called about chances told me you cant get HIV through oral sex. So I felt safe to and gave the boy I met in a club oral sex. Now it says on the internet that its possible to get it that way. I never noticed any pre-cum on him. He also didnt ejaculate. Well everyone is right to say this page wasnt helpful, it just made me worry more actually. Wish we had some real statistics if you know what I mean, seems like surely by now 2009 they would have done some research that had some answers.
Comment by: picaro
(spain)
Sat., Jul. 11, 2009 at 3:05 am EDT I agree with most others here, this article says nothing of use. In my case, the question is if, as a positive individual I can easily transmit HIV to my negative partner by performing oral sex on him. Such information is not offered in this article and actually reads like a general-information piece for the national media. Especially disturbing is the assertion: "Abstaining from oral, anal, and vaginal sex altogether or having sex only with a mutually monogamous, uninfected partner are the only ways that individuals can be completely protected from the sexual transmission of HIV." in the first paragraph. Makes me want to not read any more at The Body. Bad work here, guys and gals. Give us useful stuff not more of the same old "go hide in a closet and weep" dung that we've been getting for decades.
Comment by: Matt
(Texas)
Fri., Jul. 10, 2009 at 9:52 pm EDT This leaves so much out such as the reliability of the reporting parties, whether or not ejaculation occurs, the action of saliva as found in other research, the studies that show people on HAART therapy non detectable/ low viral load's % and that im pact alone VS someone who was recently diagnosed that would of had a higher VL, presence of other VD. By not addressing ejaculation / non ejaculation the whole study is meaningless in it's findings unless we are going back to the days when saliva and tears were believed to cause aids. This wasn't much more helpful than the advice I got from a friend in the mid 80's who said I couldn't get " IT " If I didn't sit on some the leather seat of a biker dud's motorcycle and so long as I avoided having sex with men with moustaches.. Please a little more research would help addressing men performing oral sex on each other without sores, or open cuts, and with the probability of pre-seminal fluid but no ejaculation. A little less of open sored mouthed individuals going down on someone while they hemorrhage into their partners big open gash in the throat.
Comment by: Mark
(NYC)
Fri., Jul. 10, 2009 at 3:15 pm EDT Of course, the CDC can't tell the whole story, and The Body should add more to this minimal fact sheet. Yes, we can't quantify the risk, so how do you make a decision? You look at the info we have, look at the studies that are out there, and decide what level of risk you're comfortable with. I'm positive, and my boyfriend has given me head for 7 years, He remains negative, even though my viral load has been as high as 750,000. I made sure he read the studies before he made the decision that was right for him - I didn't push him at all. It was his choice.
Comment by: JIM
(Mexico City, Mexico)
Thu., Jul. 9, 2009 at 7:17 pm EDT The plastic food wrap is a cheap, easy to find and to use barrier when performing oral sex. If there are no studies regarding the efectiveness of the food plastic wrap, well, we should also remark the lack of studies regarding the efectiveness of latex dental dams for the same purpose, or for the use of cut-opened condoms, whatsoever. Latex dental dams are so extremely expensive, specially when compared with food plastic wrap. I`m surprised for these support to the no-proved-efectiveness latex dental dams...
Comment by: Chris
(Los Angeles)
Thu., Jul. 9, 2009 at 1:49 pm EDT This article is worthless because it provides absolutely no data whatsoever. As Frank asked, there are too many variable to draw any conclusions here. In addition to Frank's question, what about the probability if someone is undetectable. Cut or uncut. Yes, it is possible, but that may be .0000001. Its also possible to get struck by lightning. Until the scientific community gets off their *#@ and actually provides meaningful data, I don't know what purpose this article serves other then to create fear. Being positive, my last 3 boyfriends all performed oral sex on me and none of them are positive today. Yes, I guess if I was bleeding from a wound pouring into their throat, the probability probably changes. How often does that happen? Stop creating fear until you have some meaningful data to back it up.
Comment by: Frank
(Copenhagen, Denmark)
Thu., Jul. 9, 2009 at 6:09 am EDT Hello there, thank you for this very nice fact sheet on Oral Sex! I'm surprised though, that it doesn't mention anything specific about ejaculation/semen. I mean: does it make any difference whether or not the guy ejaculates in your mouth or not. When we talk about HIV Risk, does it make sense to distinguish oral sex with ejaculation from oral sex without? Or is the risk just about the same in any case? Looking forward to your comments :-) /Frank
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