Oral sex is the sucking or licking of someone’s external genitalia (penis
or vulva) or anus. Most experts agree that having unprotected oral sex is not
as risky as having unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse. But oral sex is
not risk free.
Unprotected oral sex is less risky than unprotected intercourse because the
skin inside the mouth is stronger and thicker than the skin inside the vagina
or anus. The skin inside your mouth is less likely to tear during oral sex,
allowing fewer opportunities for HIV to enter the bloodstream. Also, it is believed
that there is a substance in saliva that actually inhibits HIV.
Remember, even though the risk is low for HIV transmission during oral sex
with someone who is HIV positive or whose HIV status is not known, many other
sexually
transmitted infections (STIs), including gonorrhea, chlamidya and herpes
can be spread through unprotected oral sex.
Who is at risk?
Body fluids that can transmit HIV include pre-ejaculate fluid, semen, vaginal
fluids and blood (including menstrual blood). The receptive partner (the person
performing the oral sex act) is at more risk than the insertive partner (the
person being stimulated orally). This is due to the fact that the receptive
partner comes into contact with more fluids that can transmit the infection.
What increases the risk of HIV getting into my bloodstream?
The risk of HIV entering your bloodstream increases if:
- You have any cuts or sores in your mouth, even if they are unnoticeable.
These tiny cuts could be caused by disease, dental work, flossing, brushing
or even from eating “sharp” foods like chips.
- The skin in your mouth or on your partner’s genitals is torn (even
unnoticeably) during rough, very penetrative or prolonged oral sex.
- You have a throat infection or other STI.
How do I reduce the risk of getting or spreading HIV through oral sex?
- Use an unlubricated latex condom (try flavoured condoms) for oral sex on
a man.
- Use a dental dam (or a condom, cut lengthwise) for oral sex on a woman.
- Don’t have oral sex right after brushing or flossing your teeth; wait
at least 30 minutes.
- Try to avoid getting body fluids in your mouth.
- After oral sex, rinse with water or an anti-bacterial mouthwash.
There’s no evidence that spitting is more or less risky than swallowing.
It is clear, however, that the longer infected fluids remain in the mouth,
the more possible it is for infection to occur.
For more information, contact your local
AIDS service organization or health care practitioner.
Additional resources
Intimacy in adolescent sexual relations: the distinctive features of orogenital relations – Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec (MSSS)
Oral sex and the risk of HIV transmission – Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)
HIV transmission: guidelines for assessing risk: a resource for educators, counsellors and health care providers: fifth edition – Canadian AIDS Society (CAS)
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