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INFOVIHTAL /ORAL SEX AND HIV
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ORAL SEX
AND HIV
¿TIENES DUDAS
SOBRE EL TEMA?
PREGÚNTANOS
Tel. 93 458 26 41
INGLÉS
Oral sex is a practice that generally entails a very low
risk of HIV transmission. There are nonetheless diffe-
rent factors that could increase or diminish this risk.
FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE
THE RISK OF TRANSMISSION
When giving a fellatio, if a person’s fluids come into contact with the
mucosa or with cuts, sores, or open wounds on the other person’s skin it
theoretically involves a chance of HIV transmission. The actual probability
of it happening is, however, extremely low.
Regardless of other factors, when the person with HIV takes antiretroviral
treatment and their viral load is undetectable, the risk of transmitting the
virus is zero.
In general, the risk of HIV transmission is higher for the person giving oral
sex than for the person receiving it. The few documented cases of HIV
transmission through oral sex have only been recorded in gay men giving
a fellatio. There are no documented cases of HIV transmission in people
with penises who have a received a fellatio.
Cunnilingus (oral-vaginal sex) is also considered a low-risk sexual practice.
However, if the person with a vulva has HIV and her viral load is detectable,
this risk may increase during menstruation, as the virus could be present
in high amounts in the blood.
Receiving ejaculation in the mouth could increase the risk of transmission,
as semen contains a high concentration of the virus.
HIV can also be present in pre-ejaculate fluid. Concentration, however, is
very low and not high enough for transmission to occur. This is because
the oral mucosa is more resistant than genital and rectal mucosa and
because of the diluting effect of saliva and the short exposure time before
the pre-ejaculate fluid is swallowed.
Although oral sex is a low-risk practice, the risk can be reduced further
through the use of barrier methods such as condoms or polyurethane or
latex sheets placed between the mouth and the vulva or anus. In addition
to barrier methods, antiretroviral medication prevents transmission in oral
sex and in other sexual practices.
MAIN POINTS
Oral sex generally involves a low risk of infection, particularly for the
person receiving it.
An undetectable viral load eliminates the risk of HIV transmission
through oral sex and by any other sexual practice.
Barrier methods are a good tool for protecting against HIV transmis-
sion in oral sex.
If you are a sexually active person, testing for HIV and other STIs in your
routine health checks may be a good self-care strategy.
EDITION 2020
