Can I firstly say thank you so much for providing this forum, as other posts have stated it really does provide valuable information to people concerned about STI infection, specifically HIV.
I am very concerned about putting myself at risk of HIV infection from unprotected oral sex. I have given oral sex to 8 different men since I last tested at your clinic at the end of September last year. On one of those occassions I did allow a guy to ejaculate in my mouth.
Roughly a week after my final exposure I started suffering from bad sinusitits (which I've never had before) as well as a very slight fever, a very slight sore throat and sometimes a very slight headache (comes and goes very quickly) I have also been suffering from waking up with a dry mouth during the night and been suffering from aches in my joints and muscles. Additionally, again a week after my final exposure, I woke up to find that a mole on my arm had bled overnight (very unusual) plus I have had blood when blowing my nose recently (also very unusual). I'm very concerned about whether these might be indications of HIV infection? I haven't suffered from any rashes as yet, but think I might do soon considering the huge anxiety I am suffering.
I would like to come in to do a DUO test at your clinic next Thursday, which would be 26 days post exposure just because I am so anxious about this and dont feel I could wait any longer. Will there be a big statistical difference between 26 and 28 days?
I know you have written that oral sex is zero to very minimal risk but a lot of other sites states that it is a substantial risk - this is causing me to re-think my whole approach to sexual relations. Have you, in your experience had any gay man test positive who has solely had unprotected oral sex?
Apologies for the long email - like most other people I am just incredibly anxious at the moment.
Hello Gavin,
The estimated risk of contracting HIV by performing a blow job on a HIV positive man with ejaculation is less than 0.04% (1 in 2,500), knowing for sure that the other guy is definitely positive; not knowing the status (in London) this would be less than 0.006% or 1 in 17,000. As you can see, this is negligible and in many years of medical practice, I have never come across with anybody becoming infected solely this way.
However you might hve contracted throat Chlamydia or Gonorrhoea, which can cause sore throat, mouth dryness and discomfort and even sinusitis. If you have not been tested for this, my advice is for you to get tested. Also there is a risk of contracting syphilis this way and at some stage you should be tested for this. You do not really need a HIV test, but if you really want one because of your anxiety, having a Duo test at 26 days would be practically as reliable as at 28 days, with no significant statistical difference in the result. Perhaps you could also have the other tests done at the same time.
None of those symptoms are striclty typical of HIV sero-conversion.
Best wishes,
Jose
Many thanks for your prompt reply. It's really appreciated that you take the time (especially on your weekend) to reply to people's queries and to raise money for charity in the process.
Thanks for letting me know about the DUO issue and I will contact your clinic this week to make an appointment for Thursday.
One final question. I notice that the estimated infection risk for receptive oral sex is 0-0.04%, but that the risk for unprotective insertive anal sex is about 0.06%. I guess that on a psychological level that just freaks me out because it seems there is little difference between the two in terms of risk? For me, unprotected anal sex is a line that I haven't ever crossed (even in long term relationships) and I've been sexually active for 14 years now, hence my level of anxiety due to minimal difference in estimated risk between the two.
Many thanks again for your help, it's been really appreciated.
Hi Gavin,
At the end of the day, these are only numbers and statistics. What I can say though is that in many years of clinical experience I ahve never had any case of HIV infection contracted by receptive oral sex. That must mean something.
Everything we do in life can involve certain risks, but we still do things. We always have to make choices. Driving a car is certainly more dangerous than performing a blow job, but I am sure that you are still going to continue driving. It is up to the individual to decide what risks are reasonable to take and what are not.
Regarding the figures, in your case you did not know the status of the different guys. Therefore the risk is between 0 to 0.006%. In the case of penetrative insertive anal sex, in the case of unkown status is 0.06%. However if the other person is positive, the risk increases to 0.1% (1 in 1,000), which with receptive oral with a HIV individual, this risk would still remain 0% to 0.04% (between 0 to 1 in 2,500). This is a huge difference!!
Best wishes,
Jose
Oral sex concern
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