There is an ongoing lingering question amongst us and our readers and that question is if HIV can be spread through oral sex.
I mean we probably don’t know of anyone who uses a condom to get head and we never ever see condoms used in porn when it concerns oral sex. So of course the question prevails…”Can HIV be spread through Oral Sex”?

Well let me start with the information from the CDC:

Yes, it is possible for either partner to become infected with HIV through performing or receiving oral sex, though it is a less common mode of transmission than other sexual behaviors (anal and vaginal sex). There have been a few cases of HIV transmission from performing oral sex on a person infected with HIV. While no one knows exactly what the degree of risk is, evidence suggests that the risk is less than that of unprotected anal or vaginal sex. (Read more about risk percentages at the bottom).

 

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If the person performing oral sex has HIV, blood from their mouth may enter the body of the person receiving oral sex through;

-The lining of the urethra (the opening at the tip of the penis)
-The lining of the vagina or cervix
-The lining of the anus; or
-Directly into the body through small cuts or open sores.

If the person receiving oral sex has HIV, their blood, semen (cum), pre-seminal fluid (pre-cum), or vaginal fluid may contain the virus. Cells lining the mouth of the person performing oral sex may allow HIV to enter their body.

The risk of HIV transmission increases
-If the person performing oral sex has cuts or sores around or in their mouth or throat;
-If the person receiving oral sex ejaculates in the mouth of the person perform in oral sex; or
-If the person receiving oral sex has another sexually transmitted disease (STD).

Not having (abstaining from) sex is the most effective way to avoid HIV.

If you choose to perform oral sex, and your partner is male;

-Use a latex condom on the penis; or
-If you or your partner is allergic to latex, plastic (polyurethane) condoms can be used.

Studies have shown that latex condoms are very effective, though not perfect, in preventing HIV transmission when used correctly and consistently. If either partner is allergic to latex, plastic (polyurethane) condoms for either the male or female can be used. For more information about latex condoms, see “Male Latex Condoms and Sexually Transmitted Diseases.


If you choose to have oral sex, and your partner is female,

-Use a latex barrier (such as a natural rubber latex sheet, a dental dam, or a cut-open condom that makes a square) between your mouth and the vagina. A latex barrier such as a dental dam reduces the risk of blood or vaginal fluids entering your mouth.

Plastic food wrap also can be used as a barrier.

 

If you choose to perform oral sex with either a male or female partner and this sex includes oral contact with your partners anus (analingus or rimming);

-Use a latex barrier (such as a natural rubber latex sheet, a dental dam, or a cut-open condom that makes a square) between your mouth and the anus. Plastic food wrap also can be used as a barrier.

 

Picture Well what about kissing…Can HIV be spread through Kissing?

It depends on the type of kissing. There is no risk from closed-mouth kissing. 

There are extremely rare cases of HIV being transmitted via deep “French” kissing but in each case, infected blood was exchanged due to bleeding gums or sores in the mouth.

Because of this remote risk, it is recommended that individuals who are HIV-infected avoid deep, open-mouth “French” kissing with a non-infected partner, as there is a potential risk of transferring infected blood. Summary: 

There is no risk of transmission closed-mouth kissing. There is a remote risk from deep, open-mouth kissing if there are sores or bleeding gums and blood is exchanged. Therefore, persons living with HIV should avoid this behavior with a non-infected partner.

As far as the percentage goes, the risks are very low…I site the two reports below:

http://www.aidsmap.com/Oral-sex-has-near-zero-HIV-risk-according-to-new-San-Francisco-study/page/1414855/

The study was conducted amongst 239 men.  Although over 10,000 men attended for testing and completed the survey, only 239 reported having oral sex exclusively and were eligible for the study.

The San Francisco researchers were also keen to identify the population-attributable risk percentage of oral sex, as even a very small individual risk of HIV transmission from oral sex for an individual could result in a substantial number of infections in the population as a whole.

On average, the men in the study had had receptive oral sex with three different men in the past six months
(range 0 – 400). The overwhelming majority, 98%, of oral sex was without a condom and 35% of men reported getting semen in their mouths, 70% of whom swallowed.

None of the men in the study tested HIV-positive, meaning that the individual risk of being infected with HIV by oral sex was zero. As the average number of oral sex partners in the past six months was three, the investigators also calculated the population attributable risk percentage for men with one, two and three partners. Although the population attributable risk
percentage increased with the number of partners, it remained extremely low, at 0.18% for one partner, 0.25% for two partners and 0.31% for three partners.

See also… http://www.aidsmap.com/Oral-sex-risk-very-low-but-not-zero-concludes-systematic-review/page/1432786/

In a nut shell, the risk is very low but is not zero.  Proper oral hygiene along with condoms seems to be the key in preventing HIV infections orally.

Interesting information to say the least?  What do you think?

-Octavius