Can I get HIV from oral sex?

Eve for Life

with Rosie Stone

Monday, September 06, 2010

Dear Eve,

I am HIV-negative and my husband is HIV-positive. What I want to know is, if he does oral sex on me can I get HIV, and if yes, what do you recommend that we use?

Faithful Wife

Dear Faithful Wife,

There are four body fluids important to HIV transmission. They are blood, semen (including pre-ejaculate), vaginal fluids and breast milk. The risk of getting HIV from unprotected oral sex is very low but there is a risk nevertheless. Dental dams (a square of latex) are recommended. A condom cut open and spread flat can also be used. Please remember that for HIV transmission to take place there has to be an opening or break in the skin or mucus membrane to facilitate transmission to the blood stream.

Does medication always work?

Dear Eve,

I would like to know if the medication always works, because I heard that some people's body can reject the medication. Is it wise for a person who is infected with the virus to get pregnant? There are a lot of things that are bothering me, like how do you tell someone, especially a new partner, that you are infected. I eagerly await your response. Thanks in advance.

Confused.

Dear Confused,

I hope that you have spoken to your doctor and you have done the tests (CD4 and Viral load) that he or she suggested. It is always a good idea to have a good relationship with your health-care providers so that you can feel comfortable to share your concerns.

The medicine that an HIV-infected person is required to take -- Antiretrovirals (ARVs) -- is not always tolerated well by some persons. Always remember that the fact that your health-care provider suggests that you go on ARVs must mean that you need it and that your immune system needs some help to strengthen it, so that you are not prone to opportunistic infections which could make your immune system be compromised even further.

There may be a temptation to default on the medication when your CD4 (T cells or fighter cells) count falls and you do not even feel ill, or when taking the medication and you might not feel well. You have to be patient, see the bigger picture, your overall future health.

Remember, ARVs help with reducing your viral load; which is the amount of the virus that is in your system.

It is easier for someone who is very ill to be convinced that one has to take the ARVs. My personal experience in taking these medicines was that initially it was probably the hardest thing I did up to that time in 1997. My body reacted badly to them, possibly because I hated the idea of being on medication for the rest of my life so badly. Or, it might have been the fact that I was very ill. But I persevered, and the medicines worked for me and many others who are alive today because of them.

It is instructive to note that most pregnant women who are HIV-positive take their ARVs to ensure that their babies are not infected, but many of them stop taking them as soon as they have their babies. This should only be done after advice from your doctor.

You have the right to have children, but not at the expense of infecting your partner. It is the responsibility of persons who know that they are infected to use a condom as a barrier to protect their partner. There are ways to do this and I will share my ideas with you next week, as well as deal with the other part of your question.

You can send your questions or comments relating to HIV or related issues to info@eveforlife.org or write to Eve for Life, C/O Jamaica Observer.

Did you watch American football's Super Bowl on Sunday?
	Yes, but just for the advertisements
	Yes, just for the game itself
	Yes, for both the game and advertisements
	No, I did not watch the Super Bowl.

View Results
Results published weekly in Sunday Finance

Username:
Password:

Brazil jet makes forced stop after pilot attack

Can I get HIV from oral sex?