ALANL%BROWNVM.BITNET@oac.ucla.edu (Kodak) (04/05/90)
A question about the safety of oral sex was posted recently. I believe the person wanted to know if oral sex could transmit HIV. I don't believe anyone can give you a definitive answer on this (yet), for several reasons, but from a theoretical point of view the risk is quite real. the danger would depend on several things including the sero-status of the persons involved, the sex of the receiver (an infected man's semen is probably more infectious than an infected woman's vaginal sections) , the status of the giver oral membrane, and the actual sex practices involved. To be more concrete: Is the persons you're "going down on" infected? If you're going down on a man, do you take the glans (head ) into your mouth (i.e., where pre-ejaculate is) Do you let the man ejaculate into your mouth? Is there any rough-play (i.e. enough to abrade the skin or draw blood) ? this applies to men and women, both. If you are "giving", are there cuts or scrapes in mouth? Risk will be dependent on all these factors. Data on oral sex transmission are difficult to interpret, since most people who have oral sex also have other kinds of sex. But HIV can obviously be transmitted by infected semen and blood, and it would be foolish to risk contact with these substances. HIV obviously infects rectal mucosa (lining) and though the mouth is more hostile to invading microbes, it seems likely that oral mucosa is also vulnerable to infection, particularly if there are, say, cuts, canker sores, or abrasions. IN RESPONSE TO THE "EEEEEYYECH !! ORAL SEX WITH A CONDOM ON !" reply, there *are* ways to get around this. Not coming into contact with the tip of the penis or the ejaculate is one way. Alternatively, you might try the flavored condoms made by Ansell, specifically for oral sex. They are flavored with mint, and unlubricated, brand name :Kiss of Mint. I don't know how widely available they are yet (sorry, but I can't send freebies from the office. try your local AIDS service organisation). For oral sex on a woman, you should really try to use a thin, latex sheet, sometimes called a rubber dam or dental dam. Remember that if the woman is involved ! It IS possible to have safer oral sex. Take a look at the situation, consider if there is a real risk, and decide how much protection you need to or want to take. Joseph Copeland Brown University AIDS Program Memorial Hospital of Rhode Is.