Can you contract AIDS from receiving head/a blow job?
Signed,
Joe, 18, PA
Dear Joe,
Safer sex and knowing about and taking the steps to keep yourself healthy are very important issues and you show how smart you are in thinking about these things and in asking questions in order to keep yourself safe.
The most common ways that HIV/AIDS is contracted is by having unprotected (that is without a condom) anal and vaginal intercourse. The risk for the person who is the receptive partner (the bottom) is greater than the risk for the person who is the insertive partner (the top) but both are very risky. Unprotected oral sex (blow jobs) carries less risk for contracting HIV/AIDS, but still has some risk. Receiving a blow job is less risky than giving one but still caries risk. Masturbation-(jerking off) has no risk. It’s important to remember that HIV/AIDS is not the only illness that can be gotten sexually. There are other STI’s (sexually transmitted illnesses), each with their own complications and dangers, which can be contracted by having unprotected intercourse (anal and vaginal) as well as by having unprotected oral sex. They include syphilis, gonorrhea, herpes and chlamydia. If you are currently sexually active or are thinking about having sex, it would be important to educate yourself as thoroughly as possible on the relative risk of specific sexual acts. One website that would be helpful is www.goaskalice.columbia.edu which has information about sexuality and sexual health. Another valuable website is “Its Your Sex Life” at http://www.itsyoursexlife.com/. This site offers young people articles and fact sheets on HIV and STI’s, as well as information about communicating with sex partners. Another useful website is http://kidshealth.org/teen/sexual_health/stds/std.html which talks about the way STI’s are transmitted as well as ways to prevent and treat STI’s. To learn more about HIV transmission, you could also call the confidential Centers for Disease Control and Prevention hotline at 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636) 24 hours, 7 days a week.
If you have further questions or concerns, please call the Trevor helpline at 1-866-4-U-TREVOR (1-866-488-7386) 24 hours, 7 days a week. Our counselors would welcome your call to talk about your questions. Please remember that we’re always here for you at The Trevor Project.