Question
Should someone have to say that s/he is HIV+ when only engaging in oral sex?
21 August 2007. Related: All topics, HIV transmission.
Should someone have to say that s/he is HIV+ when only engaing in oral sex?
Answer
Your question can be taken two ways – whether this is a moral question or a legal question. For example, even though some countries make laws on this, it is not usually very effective for laws to try to govern the type of sex that consenting adults choose.
An example of how ridiculous this can be, include the substantial list of US states where oral sex of any kind is illegal.
So, because I do not know you, or know your individual situation, your gender or country it is difficult to comment other than very generally on risk.
HIV can be passed and caught by oral sex, so although it is a much lower risk than penetrative sex without a condom, the risk is not zero. Some estimates suggested 5% of infections may be from oral sex.
Disclosure should be a personal choice for HIV-positive and HIV-negative people alike – just like choice of informed sex and the risks that people chose to make are also individual choices.
HIV is a weird infection though, and people are not very logical about this. If you think your partner would be shocked if they knew you were HIV-positive after the event, this is a reasonable arguement that life would be easier if you said this beforehand, or chose a partner who was more informed about life and their own health.
There are a lot of stupid HIV-negative people out there (or people who think they are HIV-negative) who behave one way if they don’t know your status, and another if they know you are HIV-positive. These are the people who are most likely to become HIV-positive at some stage.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
Hey, thanks for the Q.
Your doctor is giving you good advice. You have a good immune system and your body is doing very well at fighting HIV without treatment.
Although on average people loose about 50 CD4 cells a year if they are not on treatment, there is a lot of variation. You may need treatment in the next few years, or given your current good health, you may even get a few years longer than that.
Until then, enjoy the time you have without needing to take meds, but make sure you still monitor your CD4 and viral load in case it changes.
It sounds like you’re doing really well at staying clean – which will help your long term health as much as your healthy diet.
Hello, I am a PHA since 2001 & have just seen a specialist. He tells me I am too healthy to treat as my CD4s are at 844 and viral load is 3,500. My Q is what treatment if any can i start?
How long will it take for my CD4s to fall to 500 so i can start HAART treatment?
I take a multi vit & selenium tab, eat a lot of fruit & yogurt & drink green tea. I am also on a methadone program & I’ve been clean for 3 years off of coke, heroin & speed. Thanks & have a good day eh!