How safe is sucking?

It's not clear how many men have got HIV from oral sex, but we do know it happens. The vast majority of gay and bisexual men with HIV got it from unprotected fucking, with a much smaller number getting it from sucking. We think most guys who got HIV this way got cum in their mouths while sucking off a man with HIV. Being sucked off by him is basically considered risk-free.

HIV is in the cum and pre-cum of men with HIV. Used properly, a condom can stop HIV being passed on during cocksucking. Flavoured ones taste better.

There's a possibility cock piercings increase the risk of HIV being passed on during oral sex. For more information visit the www.Aidsmap.com website and search for genital piercings.

Sucking without condoms?

HIV negative

If you're HIV negative and condoms for sucking aren't for you, you can reduce the risk by not getting cum in your mouth and not by sucking cock if:

• you have cuts or ulcers in the mouth or a throat infection, even if it doesn't feel sore, such as with gonorrhoea of the throat
• you have bleeding gums, or have had dental work in the last couple of weeks
• he has cuts or sores on his cock.

It's probably better not to brush or floss your teeth less than an hour or so before sex, especially if your gums tend to bleed.

If you have HIV

If you have HIV and condoms for sucking aren't for you, you can reduce the risk by:

• not coming in his mouth
• not getting sucked if your cock has cuts or sores, you have an STI or your viral load is high
• being sucked less often and by fewer men.

Spit or swallow?

There's probably little difference between spitting and swallowing. Spitting out may bring HIV into contact with bleeding gums as cum leaves the mouth. Swallowing gives it chance to enter through the lining of the throat. Stomach acid kills HIV, but the reality is that any virus would enter the bloodstream through the mouth or throat long before cum got as far as the stomach.

Avoiding pre-cum and cum in the mouth is safest. The longer cum stays in the mouth, the greater the risk.

You can find out more about the risks of sucking here