Can you give or get HIV from oral sex?

Receiving Oral Sex From Someone With HIV

If the person performing oral sex is infected with HIV, it is possible that the virus could enter their partner's bloodstream through the lining of the urethra, vagina, cervix or anus. The risk of contracting HIV increases if the person performing oral sex has cuts or sores in or around the mouth or throat, or if the person receiving oral sex has cuts or sores on their penis, urethra, vagina, anus or uterus.

Saliva is thought to either not contain HIV, or contains HIV in such small quantities to not be a viable mode of transmission. The issue, however, is that mucous membranes are very easily cut or otherwise damaged. Cuts and sores can contain blood, which in a person infected with HIV can also contain the virus. A cut or sore large enough to expose blood and HIV can easily be too small for the person to feel, so relying on the perception that you or your partner don't have any sores or cuts is not a safe practice.

Performing Oral Sex on Someone With HIV

If the person receiving oral sex is infected with HIV, it is possible that the virus could enter their partner's bloodstream through the lining of the mouth or through cuts or sores in or around the mouth, tongue or throat. The risk of contracting HIV increases if the person receiving oral sex has cuts or sores on their penis, urethra, vagina, anus or uterus, and further increases if the person performing oral sex has cuts or sores in or around the mouth or throat.

The risk of contracting HIV from semen is thought to be higher than contracting HIV from the vagina, urethra, anus or cervix because semen is a "blood product" and is likely to contain the disease. However, it's possible to be exposed to HIV through contact with any body part that has microscopic cuts or sores, which can be the case with the vagina, anus or cervix.

HIV and Sex Toys

As an aside, it is also possible to contract HIV from sex toys. The risk factors and transmission methods are the same for sex toys as they are for oral sex, with the exception that the sex toy is the contact between partners.

How To Protect Yourself

The best way to protect yourself from HIV, of course, is abstaining from activities that put you at risk. However, there are some things you can do to reduce the risk of contracting HIV through oral sex.

Studies show that latex condoms and dental dams are effective at preventing the spread of HIV. They aren't perfect, but they are more effective than using no protection at all. If you're concerned about contracting HIV or any other disease from sharing sex toys such as a vibrator or dildo, be sure that each partner uses the toy with a condom and that you wash the toy between each use.