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Cunnilingus
Weighing it up: low risk or no risk?
There is a detailed discussion of the risks of HIV transmission through oral sex in HIV transmission: Oral sex.
The risk of HIV transmission through the mouth is much smaller than through vaginal or anal intercourse or through sharing injecting equipment.
Very few cases of transmission have been reported through oral sex on a woman.
Nevertheless, since some people claim that this is how they may have been infected with HIV, although oral sex seems to be safe compared to anal or vaginal intercourse, there are some factors which may increase the risk of HIV infection. These are:
Minimising any possible risks
If you decide you are going to opt for even safer oral sex then it helps if you can talk about your safer sex limits beforehand rather than trying to stick to them unannounced during sex itself. it is always much harder to stick to your original intentions in the heat of the moment and especially so with oral sex.
There is a detailed discussion of the risks of HIV transmission through oral sex in HIV transmission: Oral sex.
The risk of HIV transmission through the mouth is much smaller than through vaginal or anal intercourse or through sharing injecting equipment.
Very few cases of transmission have been reported through oral sex on a woman.
Nevertheless, since some people claim that this is how they may have been infected with HIV, although oral sex seems to be safe compared to anal or vaginal intercourse, there are some factors which may increase the risk of HIV infection. These are:
- Broken skin, cuts, sores or bleeding gums around and in the mouth
- Inflammation caused by common throat infections, allergies or sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhoea
- Higher levels of HIV in the woman being licked, because of (any) sexually transmitted diseases, recent HIV infection and symptomatic disease and perhaps menstruation or ovulation.
Minimising any possible risks
- You may decide that the pleasure you gain from oral sex outweighs any possible low risk of transmission
- You may decide to indulge in oral sex except when you have any obvious broken skin, cuts, sore, or inflammation in or around the mouth
- You may decide to avoid licking a woman's clitoris and vagina, during her menstrual period, or asking her to use a sponge or diaphragm to contain the blood near the cervix
- You may decide that you only do oral sex with barriers. Over the clitoris and vulva: use clingfilm or a `dental dam' (see below)
- You may decide you are happier not doing oral sex at all because of the low but possible risk.
If you decide you are going to opt for even safer oral sex then it helps if you can talk about your safer sex limits beforehand rather than trying to stick to them unannounced during sex itself. it is always much harder to stick to your original intentions in the heat of the moment and especially so with oral sex.