Do you know whether HIV can be transmitted through oral sex? If you aren't sure, you're not alone. In a national survey of teens conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation, 15% didn't know whether or not you could get HIV through oral sex. Even more troubling? 26% of sexually active 15- to 17-year-olds surveyed thought that you could not contract HIV through unprotected oral sex.
Here's the thing: you can. According to the most recent CDC publication on the matter, the 2009 fact sheet Oral Sex and HIV Risk:
"The risk of HIV transmission from an infected partner through oral sex is much less than the risk of HIV transmission from anal or vaginal sex. Measuring the exact risk of HIV transmission as a result of oral sex is very difficult. Additionally, because most sexually active individuals practice oral sex in addition to other forms of sex, such as vaginal and/or anal sex, when transmission occurs, it is difficult to determine whether or not it occurred as a result of oral sex or other more risky sexual activities. Finally, several co-factors may increase the risk of HIV transmission through oral sex, including: oral ulcers, bleeding gums, genital sores, and the presence of other STDs."
You can read more about oral sex and HIV and how to protect yourself here...Keep Reading