Question: Is it possible to become infected with HIV through Oral Sex?

Answer: Yes, it is possible to become infected with HIV through Oral Sex. In terms of risk, as far as it is known, there has been no research conducted to establish exactly what the rate of transmission is, through oral sex. Some opinions are that oral sex is Low to Medium Risk, while other opinions have rated it as Medium to High Risk.

It should be remembered that it is by being exposed to the high risk body fluids of a person infected with HIV and by getting these body fluids into one's bloodstream, that one could become infected with HIV also.

The mucus membrane starts at the mouth and lines all our internal organs. Infection can occur when there is injury to the mucus membrane. If the mucus membrane lining is intact i.e., undamaged, HIV cannot be transmitted. This lining is very delicate and can be easily injured. A practical example of how fragile this mucus membrane is: If one were to take a mouthful of hot coffee, the mucus membrane in the mouth would be scalded, become tender and inflamed. This injury could be a place of entry for HIV into the bloodstream, if the person were to engage in unprotected oral sex with an HIV infected partner.

It is a known fact that at least 68% of people in any given population has oral disease of one kind or another. Oral disease, such as decayed teeth, mouth ulcers, gingivitis etc causes injury to the mucus membrane in the mouth. Therefore, anyone who has damage to the lining within their mouths could be at risk of contracting HIV infection, were they to be exposed to the high risk body fluids of an infected person during oral sex.

For the purpose of oral sex, the high risk fluids are: Blood, Semen and Vaginal fluids.

BLOOD: Due to the fact that some of the injuries to one's genitals are often unseen with the naked eye (tiny cuts or hidden sores) one cannot always tell whether the genitals of one's sexual partner is healthy. Therefore one could be taking small amounts of blood into one's mouth without realising it.

If one's partner has a sexually transmitted infection on the genitals where there is either a discharge or a sore, one would be exposed to blood, pus etc, which could contain HIV. Other Sexually Transmitted Infections could also be transmitted to the mouth in this way e.g. Blisters (Herpes) or Syphillis or Warts. Fever blisters on the mouth could also be transmitted to the partner's genitals during unprotected oral sex.

SEMEN: Since HIV is found in the semen of an HIV infected man, if he were to ejaculate into his partner's mouth, the HIV contained in the ejaculatory semen could infect the partner.

VAGINAL FLUID: HIV is known to be found in vaginal fluid, therefore, if a person were to practise oral sex and there was injury to the tongue or mouth (e.g. chapped lips), HIV in the vaginal fluid could be transmitted through the place of injury on the lips or tongue of the partner performing the oral sex on the HIV positive woman.

From our counselling we have concluded that the number of people who practise oral sex is increasing.