QUESTION
Around four days ago I received unprotected oral from a woman. Now, I know that she is HIV+. She had ulcers in her mouth but I am not sure of any bleeding. She was only giving me head for about 8 seconds and I only put my genitals in her mouth three times. I did not see any bloodstains on my genitals. Is there any chance of getting infected in this way? Does saliva contains HIV viruses?

ANSWER
Not likely. HIV is rarely spread through oral sex and it is not spread from an HIV-infected blow-job giver to an uninfected partner. There are case reports—descriptions by doctors in scientific magazines—that suggest HIV can be spread by swallowing the cum of someone with HIV-infection during oral sex. Our experience in San Francisco supports that such spread of HIV is a very rare event. While HIV can be found in the saliva, the saliva also has special factors that block the growth of the virus. Other STDs like gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis and herpes can be much more easily spread through oral sex. For your piece of mind, you should get an STD check-up. For more information on STD testing, visit City Clinic, STDTest.org or HIVTest.org.

To your health,
Dr. K