HIV Transmission

At Citydoc we offer a premium 60 second HIV test in London and as such receive a large amount of enquiries every day on the subject of HIV risk and whether a particular activity, sexual or otherwise, might lead to infection with HIV. Most of these enquiries are questions about very low risk to zero risk activities, some not involving any sexual activity at all.

One of the most common questions is about the risks associated with having oral sex. It seems from current knowledge and reporting that oral sex represents a very small to zero risk of HIV transmission. However, this is limited to the risks involved with HIV and we must stress that there is still a risk from Chlamydia, gonorrhoea, herpes, syphilis which are much more easily transmissible. At Citydoc we offer private GUM clinics in London and Brighton for you to monitor your complete sexual health.

Oral sex represents a negligible to very low risk of transmission of HIV due to a number of different complimentary factors. These include the fact that cells lining the mouth and throat tend to be resistant to HIV infection; that saliva contains HIV inhibitory enzymes; and that the chemical composition of saliva interferes with the chemistry inside cells which do become infected.

Of course, there are factors which may increase the likelihood of infection and these include poor oral hygiene with lots of damaged areas inside the mouth; a high viral load in the semen of the male being ingested (this is highest usually when primary HIV infection is present - i.e. in the few months after initial infection); presence of other diseases, particularly diseases which damage the oral lining.

So visit Citydoc for a quick and private hiv test London.