[Question #5747] HIV and ORAL SEX while using braces

73 months ago

Hello. I have a question to make. I'm a 22 yo male.

I went out with some friends and ended up drinking too much alcohol last friday. I met a guy at the party and went to his house right after. We didn't have anal intercourse. I performed oral sex on him. But I use braces and my mouth had cuts and apthous ulcers at that time. He didn't ejaculated in my mouth as far as he told me. Should I be concerned with the risk of HIV? Should I start PEP? I don't know his status.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

73 months ago

The risk of HIV from oral sex is very low; the estimate from CDC for performing oral sex on an infected male, with ejaculation in the mouth, is around 1 in 10,000. That's equivalent to giving BJs to infected men once daily for 27 years before infection might be likely. And you don't even know your partner was infected. Having braces makes no difference. You should not start PEP; you don't even need HIV testing on account of this event.

Here is all you need to know about avoiding HIV from sex: without a penis entering another person's vagina or rectum, the risk fo sexually transmitted HIV is extremely low or zero. You needn't ask about any other kinds of exposures: our answers always will be the same.

HHH, MD

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73 months ago

So, just to recap, even with the cuts e the aphtous sores, I shouldn't be concerned with some risk of tranmission of HIV, right?

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

73 months ago

Correct. Since canker sores and other oral sores or inflammation are extremely common, the extremely low risk of oral sex obiously includes people who have such conditions. If there is any increased risk because of your canker sore, it is too little to worry about or to make any difference in my advice.

Please re-read the warning in your previous thread, several months ago, about repeated anxiety driven questions. This isn't exactly the same topic, but like your others it reflects heightened anxiety about HIV. No need to ask again, if no unprotected sex! Thanks for your understanding.

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