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Can HIV be transmitted through oral sex?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I had oral sex with someone who has HIV, but it is undetectable. Should I be worried about catching it? I am worried that I am gonna catch HIV, but when I researched it online, it said that if the person is undetectable, it is very unlikely for it to be transmitted. Also, it is said that oral sex is also very rare for the disease to spread, but I am still worried. Please help.

Thank you.

Answered by Dr. Rachit Maan

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I went through your case. As you said, you had oral sex with an HIV (human immunodeficiency syndrome) positive individual. I want to tell you that HIV is transmitted through body fluids, which definitely exchanged in oral sex. And if a person is undetectable, then they also have the potential to transmit infection as HIV also transmits in the window period when it is undetectable. But you should not be anxious, as not all encounters lead to the transmission, which is further less likely in your case. You should go and take an HIV ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) test and repeat it after six weeks. Until then, you should start antiretroviral therapy to nullify any possibility of infection. It will be available in a nearby clinic with the name of Post-exposure prophylaxis antiretroviral therapy.

I hope this helps.

Thank you.

Patient's Query

Thank you doctor,

So should I just take the medicine and it will eliminate it?

Answered by Dr. Rachit Maan

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

First, you should go for a test and start medication. Even if transmission happens, most probably it will go with medications. But you should go for a test after six weeks.

Thank you.

Patient's Query

Thank you doctor,

Can I take the over the counter test? Will it work the same?

Answered by Dr. Rachit Maan

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Actually, over the counter test are not reliable in HIV and not in such primitive stages. You need to go for elisa test and if there is a false result in over the counter result it will misdiagnose the case.

Patient's Query

Thank you for the reply doctor,

No, I have to get medical insurance in order to get the prescribed medication.

Answered by Dr. Rachit Maan

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

But try to get insurance as fast as you can because as the time passes, the level of virus increases in the body, and then the efficiency of medication increases. Ideally you should start it as soon as possible.

Thank you.

Answered byDr. Rachit Maan

Medically reviewed byDr. Vinodhini J.

Published At July 1, 2020
Reviewed AtNovember 26, 2025

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