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To ask "Educator" a question, click here to send her an e-mail and we'll post your question and provide an response on the website. Dear Educator, I remember hearing that there were no actual documented cases of people getting HIV through oral sex. Is this true? I know there is some risk, especially for other STDs. But if you had oral sex with a male and he did not ejaculate in your mouth and you do not think you had any sores in your mouth, should you be very concerned about HIV? Is there enough risk to get an HIV test if you have never had any other type of sexual intercourse except for that? Thank you, Concerned Dear Concerned, Actually there have been documented cases of HIV being spread through oral sex even when that was the only type of sexual activity. However, the chances of getting HIV from oral sex are still considered very low. But you do need to consider the basic science behind it. First of all HIV can be present in both semen and pre ejaculate, or pre cum. The inside of the mouth is a mucous membrane, meaning it's thinner than the skin that covers our body. HIV can pass through a mucous membrane. Additionally, if you have cuts or sores in the mouth this further increases your chances of getting HIV. You should definitely be concerned about STD's through oral sex. We are seeing an increase in people getting STD's this way. I'm glad you asked whether or not a person should get tested if oral sex is their only possible exposure. That's a debate we constantly have in our testing department. So, I tracked down some professional sources to get their opinions. Basically the jury is still out. Some say yes, some say no. So I think it is probably best to lean on the side of caution and get tested if you have put yourself at risk from any of the three types of sex. It is best to test three months after a possible exposure and if that test comes back negative test again in another three months. If someone has HIV it will definitely show up in the blood in six months. The other thing I strongly recommend is to use protection during oral sex in the form of condoms and dental dams. If you have any other questions or concerns feel free to write back. Be SAAF, Educator P.S. We do HIV testing here at SAAF from 8:30am to 4pm Monday through Thursday. How long does it take before your test shows positive. I had protected sex three weeks ago but now I have a sore throat. Could it be anything? Sore Throat Dear Sore Throat, It can take anywhere from 3 to 6 months for HIV to show up on a test. If a person has it, they'll most likely show positive within three months. We always recommend that if the three month test comes back negative, the person should return in another three months for testing just to be on the SAAF side. Don't get paranoid about a sore throat. There are many things that can cause a sore throat. If it persists you should consider seeing a doctor. If you have any other questions, please feel free to email again. Be SAAF, Educator
Hi Educator, I am due to get married soon. However the thought of getting HIV is driving me crazy. I do not know whether my would be husband has had sex before. I would like him to get an HIV test done but do not want to offend him. Considering that both of us are virgins, is it still required to get an HIV test done? Kindly help. Regards, Worried soul Dear Worried Soul, Today it is "PC" (politically correct) to get tested before entering a sexual relationship with anyone. Not to cast doubt on your fiancé, but are you 100% sure he is a virgin? A lot of times people don't realize that oral sex counts as sex and you can get HIV that way. Sure, it's a smaller chance, but there still is a possibility. A person can also get HIV through blood-to-blood exposure like tattoos and body piercings. I see nothing wrong with you talking to your fiancé about BOTH of you taking the test together. He may be offended or suspicious at first but explain that you want to do this because you value your relationship with him. You can simply tell him that you want to spend the rest of your life with him and you want to start everything out right. Talking about HIV is one of many things every couple should talk about. When you go for a test there will be counselors who are trained to handle situations just like yours. They can hopefully put you at ease and make both of you comfortable about taking the test. Feel free to make an appointment with us for the Oraquick 20 minute test at (210) 225-4715. Congratulations on your upcoming wedding...save me a piece of wedding cake! Be SAAF, Educator
Dear Educator, Dear Starting Over,
Dear Educator, Sincerely, Dear Nicole, First of all, I don't want you to “freak” out, but it is understandable that you're worried. First of all, yes, you can get pregnant AND get HIV/STD's after having sex for the first time. Secondly, There is no age requirement for HIV or STD testing. You do not have to have parental consent. Your tests results and the fact that you tested would be completely confidential and results could not be given to anyone without your consent. However, it's probably a good idea to have someone go with you. You should take someone you can trust and who will be supportive. Taking these tests can be pretty scary. Lastly, let's talk about prevention. Abstinence is, of course, the only 100% effective way of not getting an STD or HIV. After abstinence comes monogamy, which is having sex with only one partner for the rest of your life. After monogamy comes latex condoms. When used correctly, latex condoms are at least 98% effective. It's important to remember that having sex is a big responsibility nowadays. You can't tell by looking at someone if they have an STD or HIV. If you decide that you want to wait a while before you have sex again – that's okay too! Keep SAAF, Educator Dear Educator, I have been living with HIV for the past 18 years. I am healthy and doing well. My only problem is dating. At what point in the relationship should you tell someone you are positive for HIV? I am a professional in the community and I don't want it to get out to everyone that I have HIV. I met this really great guy and we went out the other night. At the end of the night he wanted to kiss me but I wouldn't let him. I told him I didn't want to rush into anything. I was afraid I would have to tell him. I know you can't get it from kissing but I felt it wasn't right to not tell him. You can't get it from kissing, right? What is the politically correct way to handle this situation? Thanks, Lonely in S.A. Dear Lonely, First of all I want to applaud you for being very responsible with your HIV. Currently prevention is the only cure. This is the first time I have ever been asked this question. I hate to tell you this but I don't have an answer. Then again, I don't think anyone has THE answer for such a question. I completely understand your concern. One thing I do know is that the chances of you getting it from kissing are pretty low. Now, I don't recommend kissing someone that has visible sores inside or outside their mouth. Bleeding gums are also a definite no-no. YUCK! Okay now back to that other question. The only one that can make the decision on when to tell someone your status is you. Yes, some people might reject you because of it. Just remember you HAVE to tell someone your status if there is a possibility of contact with body fluids, (blood, semen, vaginal fluids, or breast milk). Have you talked to anyone else who is HIV+ about how they handle this situation? That might be a good starting point for you. There is a support group that meets here at the Foundation every Friday from 11 a.m. untill 12 p.m. The group facilitator is Liz Richardson. You might want to give her a call at 358-5965. Hopefully she can steer you in the right direction. If that doesn't help feel free to write back and I can hook you up with some people who are living with HIV and might be able to give you some advice. Good luck! Stay SAAF, Educator
To ask Educator a question, please send an email to cnovak@txsaaf.org and we'll post your question and provide an response on the website. |
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