Question
I had sex with a guy who came in my mouth…
25 June 2007. Related: All topics, HIV transmission.
I had sex with a guy I hardly new. He came in my mouth and I swallowed his cum. We had unprotected sex several times for three months. Could I have been infected? I don’t know if he is HIV positive.
Answer
Yes, you can catch HIV from oral sex.
The risk is pretty low, but some studies think perhaps up to 5% of cases of HIV may be from oral sex.
If your partner does not have HIV, then the risk is zero.
The low risk increases with two major factors:
1. Whether you have any cuts, grazes, sores, bleeding gums etc. This gives any infection a route into your blood. Not brushing your teeth for at least two hours before oral sex (mouthwash is fine) is a long standing recommendation as brushing your teeth with cause your gums to bleed.
2. The viral load of the HIV-positive person. Whether this is in cum or pre-cum, the amount of virus is a direct risk factor for transmission. This is highest during the first weeks or months of infection, and for many people this is when then do not know they are HIV-positive (and think they are still HIV-negative.