Can HIV Be Contracted Through Unprotected Oral Sex?

Posted on Thu, 14 Jan 2016

Question: I am 28 M and my partner was 30 F. I was engaged in unprotected Oral sex (Received Fellatio) from her. its been 10 days now. It last for only 1 min and during this I did not remember i have ejaculated in her mouth. Considering she had multiple partners, what are the chances to get affected with all STDs , HIV, HPv etc. I am really worried and stressed, depressed and regret it now. Can you guide me on this? I have no symptoms so far for bacterial infection expect feels some burning at urethra during Pee. But it last for some time only. I asked my partner also about she had previous history of any STDs or any serious disease but she said she is fine and ok. considering all possibilities please guide me. I am very much in stress and have lot of anxiety. Thanks

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Risk is low but not Zero

Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for writing to us

I have gone through your query and I have understood your concern.

Unprotected receptive oral sex though believed to have a very low risk of STD's is not considered to be entirely safe. Almost all the STDs can transmit through oral sex including herpes, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia and even HIV.
Herpes virus commonly gets passed on through oral route however the likelihood depends on the presence or absence of sores. Presence of oral sores makes transmission more likely.
Similarly, it is possible to acquire gonorrhea Or chlamydia through oral sex if the other partner had throat infection with these organisms.
Syphilis can have oral lesions in its course, specially during secondary stage of syphilis e.g mucous patches which are teeming with Treponemes, therefore theoretically if someone has mucous lesions of syphilis he/she can pass it on through oral sex.
Hiv is a risk only if the sexual partner performing oral sex had oral sores which would increase the likelihood of blood mixed oral secretions coming in contact with genital mucosa.
Therefore i would suggest that you get yourself screened with with full panel of STD tests at appropriate intervals to exclude whatever little risk that is associated with Oral sex.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Sonia Raina

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (55 minutes later)

Thank you doctor. As you said HIV is risk only if sexual partner had oral sores. In that case does partner having oral sores and HIV + will be the only chance of transmission or only oral sores and HIV -ve is also a risk.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (3 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Oral sores of herpes increases the risk of herpes

Detailed Answer:
Hi.

If the oral sores are due to herpes then it increases the risk of transmission of herpes as compared to other times when the mucosa is intact, because more virus is being shed if there are oral sores.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (20 minutes later)

but yes what about HIV and oral sores. for ex if partner has oral sores (could be of anything) and she is HIV -ve in that case is there any chance of getting HIV to other partner.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (13 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
No chance of Hiv transmission if she is Hiv negative

Detailed Answer:
Hi.

If she is Hiv negative, absolutely not.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Sonia Raina

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (10 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
You are welcome

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for writing to us

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Sonia Raina

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (0 minute later)

Thank you doctor. That really helped me a lot. I will get my STD check done.

Hello Doctor. Its now exactly 10 days after my exposure today and I went to clinic and asked for full STD check up. Doctors did some physical exam on my penis and told everything is good. No signs as off now. But yesterday I caught bad throat and experiencing some cough and feeling of fatigue. Today doctor said that throat is not too bad. it will heal its own and there is no fever. Is there any reason to worry about this?

I also forget to mention one scenario. I did fingering in her vagina and later she licked it and after that she performed oral sex on me which was unprotected. Is the vaginal fluid can cause any harm in this case?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (2 days later)

Brief Answer:
Screening at 4 weeks would be reliable

Detailed Answer:
Hi.

I suggest you to screen for HIV at 4 weeks from your sexual encounter with a 4th generation, P 24 antigen and antibody, screening HIV test. Screening just 10 days after exposure is too soon to be taken as reliable.
Sore throat can be due to common viral infections of respiratory tract and is not a defining symptom for HIV
Not a lot of vaginal fluids would have been involved in this process of fingering, licking and then she performing oral sex on you and I don't think it would be a problem.
However, I reiterate that you should get screened at 4 weeks with a 4th generation, P 24 antigen and antibody screening test.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Sonia Raina

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (32 minutes later)

Sure doctor. I will do that as well and will keep you posted.
Thank you so much.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (22 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Sure. Keep me informed

Detailed Answer:
Thank you.

Regards

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Sonia Raina