The chances of HIV being passed on during fellatio are low, but it can sometimes happen.
On the other hand, several sexually transmitted diseases, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, syphilis, genital warts (HPV) and hepatitis B can be passed on when either your penis is sucked or you suck someone else's penis.
Even without the exchange of body fluids, many sexually transmitted diseases can be passed on during close or intimate contact. You could use a condom during oral sex to reduce this risk, but you can't completely eliminate the risk.
Scientists characterise the risk of HIV transmission through fellatio as far lower than the risk from anal or vaginal sex. But the risk is not as low as zero.
Sucking the penis of a man who has HIV, with ejaculation in the mouth, is an activity that may occasionally involve HIV transmission. (Other forms of oral sex, including cunnilingus, are extremely low risk for HIV.) When sucking a penis, the risk of HIV transmission rises if there are bleeding gums, oral ulcers, genital sores or other sexually transmitted diseases.
It's important to have regular check-ups for sexually transmitted diseases, especially if you've had several sexual partners since you were last tested. If you're feeling anxious about a recent sexual encounter that may have exposed you to HIV, the best way to deal with the issue is by taking an HIV test.
More on Oral Sex at TheBody.com
To find out more about the risk from oral sex, we recommend the following articles:
In addition, our Q&A experts sometimes address questions about oral sex in our "Ask the Experts" forums. Here are some of those questions and our experts' responses:
- Sucking with Condom On
Is is safe for a girl to suck a penis with condom on? What are the chances of getting infection from the male and vice versa? - Oral sex without condom
I had oral sex with a HIV infected girl on 24 May 2014. I did lick, suck and bite her nipple twice; she too licked and sucked my penis for a long time and got my semen to her mouth. I am so concerned and confuse about this case.