Oral sex - risk of HIV?

[DougLA]

Question: How concerned are escorts and clients about contracting HIV from oral sex?

[buckguy]

Zero--within the limits of finding samples of people who only engage in oral sex in major epicenters, oral transmission has never been proven. OTOH, regular STIs like chlamydia are efficiently transmitted orally.

[Griffin Donavon]

Buckguy

 

I disagree, you can transmit HIV through oral. If your partner has a cut, cancor and the sperm touches that cut.. It then can enter your blood stream. Even though its rare, it can happen.

[whipped guy]

...you can transmit HIV through oral. If your partner has a cut, cancor... It then can enter your blood stream.

GD... You are basically on target... and may I add gingivitis and periodontitis which are characterized by inflammed and bleeding gums not to mention the ramifications of having had recent dental procedures or basicslly anything that can result in bleeding and irritation to the soft tissues of the mouth. There is always the potential for risk.

[Guest Starbuck]

The hard thing to answer from the original question rests in the words HOW CONCERNED ...

 

Is it safe to assume that some oral action is a part of MOST escort-client encounters? I'm guessing it probably is ... and. so, however concerned we are, most of us are NOT CONCERNED ENOUGH to not do it. Personally, I have more concern about garden-variety STDs than about contracting HIV from oral sex. That said, it is always a proceed-with-caution and with your eyes wide open situation. Although it's not my choice, I respect the decision some guys make to find alternative routes to sexual pleasure (that is, activities that involve absolutely no exchange of fluids).

[rvwnsd]

Buckguy

 

I disagree, you can transmit HIV through oral. If your partner has a cut, cancor and the sperm touches that cut.. It then can enter your blood stream. Even though its rare, it can happen.

 

GD... You are basically on target... and may I add gingivitis and periodontitis which are characterized by inflammed and bleeding gums not to mention the ramifications of having had recent dental procedures or basicslly anything that can result in bleeding and irritation to the soft tissues of the mouth. There is always the potential for risk.

 

I recently attended a presentation on HIV transmission conducted by a public health agency. One of the topics covered was transmission via oral sex. Although possible, the probability of HIV being transmitted through oral sex when a person has a small cut or recently brushed his teeth or has gingivitis is next to zero. This is because of the small amount of fluid that would pass through to the bloodstream and the inhospitable nature of the mouth in relation to the HIV virus. The presenter noted that the size and nature of the mouth wounds required to transmit HIV to the bloodstream would most likely preclude you from performing oral sex.

[whipped guy]

To go one step further it has been noted that saliva can have an inhibitory and antiviral effect and that is the reason for seemingly low transmission rates of HIV via oral activity. However, I personally am still "concerned"... and am also "concerned" when I have issues that can lead to potential bleeding in the mouth. I make a judgement call depending on the situation... but as in all things I prefer to err on the side of caution. We all have our own standards and make the appropriate choices with which we feel comfortable. I have other ways with which to satisfy my oral cravings... and I am sure others do as well.

[Guest verymarried]

and to belabor the point, could someone go on to discuss any difference in risk for sucking without climax, for receiving climax orally, and further for swallowing? This whole question is a huge issue with me.

[whipped guy]

Yes, the spit or swallow... or should I even go there conundrum!

 

When one swallows there are enzymes that will most likely kill the virus in the digestive tract. Of course if one spits that will remove the majority, but not all and what is swallowed will theoretically be deactivated. However if one savors the taste and let's it sit in the oral cavity there is greater risk due to any mouth sores etc. as noted above.

 

There is a saying: SPIT OR SWALLOW.... DON'T MAKE IT WALLOW!!

 

Still, from my perspective there are too many risks for potential bleeding in the mouth... and in spite of the "protective" properties of saliva... to go that far... Just my HIV comfort level.

[buckguy]

You're turning oral into a blood born infection, but this misses the point. Oral sex, by itself carries no demonstrable risk, but is very effeicient at transmitting other STIs. The dynamics of anal transmission (which is very efficient) are not fully understood, but it's clear that mucosa are part of the transmission link for vaginal sex.

[whipped guy]

Of course there is a MUCH greater chance of getting "traditional" STDs from oral sex... However, the OP was asking specifically about HIV, hence the emphasis. As for HIV, it is indeed a bloodbourne disease and as long as there is the potential for bleeding, however small, there is risk... and it all boils down to an individual's concern and comfort level.

 

Life is a series of choices...

[DougLA]

Also important is that apparently there is a greater concentration of the virus in pre-cum than in semen.