Risk of HIV transmission by oral sex is low.(Sex Research Update)

To date, over 60 million people have been infected with HIV, 20 million of whom have died from AIDS. Worldwide, AIDS is the fourth leading cause of death. Most people infected with HIV are unaware that they carry the virus. Among infected individuals, HIV is present in blood, semen, vaginal fluid, and saliva. The vast majority of HIV infections occur through transmission by sexual activity, primarily vaginal and anal intercourse. The risk of transmission of HIV through oral-genital contact has been difficult to establish since there are relatively few HIV+ individuals who have practised only unprotected oral sex to the exclusion of all other sexual activities that carry a risk of HIV infection. Campo, Perea, del Romero, et al. (2006) reviewed the existing literature to address a number of key questions concerning oral sex and HIV transmission including "Can HIV be transmitted by saliva and by unprotected oral-genital or oral-anal contacts?" (p. 220).

From their review of the epidemiological literature, Campo et al. (2006) suggest that oral sex ".... does not appear to be definitely risk free" (p. 220) and that there have been cases of seroconverted individuals who have ".... probably become infected by unprotected oral sex" (p. 220). In addition, some studies have suggested that individuals with oral ulcers, oropharyngeal inflammation or other STIs in the oropharynx are at increased risk of HIV acquisition from oral sex. In addition,

 
   Active oral-genital contact (i.e., performance 
   of fellatio) could be expected to carry a higher 
   risk of HIV acquisition compared to passive 
   contact (i.e., receipt of fellatio) because of a 
   series of possible cofactors, such as the 
   presence of oral and/or genital ulcers, 
   gingival bleeding (gingivitis or periodontitis) 
   or the ...