A service provided by the BC Centre for Disease Control
In the years since SmartSexResource launched, we have developed a library of questions asked by you, and answered by our expert sexual health nurses.
Our answered questions library cover a broad range of sexual health topics and common questions we hear at our clinics.
Hi.
It’s great that you have been using condoms. When they are used correctly and they don’t break or fall off they offer good protection for many STIs.
There are some STIs, including warts, syphilis and herpes that are passed through skin to skin contact. Since condoms do not cover all skin areas, it is possible for these STIS to be passed with Russian (from behind) and ball licking.
Gonorrhea, Chlamydia and HIV are not passed with covered oral sex. Warts (HPV), herpes and syphilis are not commonly passed this way.
Gonorrhea, Chlamydia and HIV are not commonly passed with covered vaginal or anal sex. It is possible to pass warts, herpes and syphilis this way.
Viruses such as HIV and Hepatitis B and C, could be passed when blood comes in contact with mucous membrane (rectum, urethra, vagina), open skin or sores. Blood contact with unbroken skin is not considered a risk for HIV or Hepatitis B and C. It was a good idea to wash the blood off right away.
Many times people have no symptoms, so not seeing sores does not always mean a person does not have an STI.
If you are not getting routine testing, it may be a good idea to get tested. Check out our clinic finder for a STI clinic in BC.
Please leave a comment to let us know if this answers your questions or if you need more info.
Health Nurse
For other readers, please feel free to leave a comment, or let us know if this was helpful.
The most common STIs passed with condomless oral sex are gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia and human papillomavirus (HPV).
Herpes can be passed from the mouth or genitals to a partner’s mouth or genitals.
The chances of getting HIV is considered low. If you had a throat infection, bleeding gums or sores in your mouth, your chances of getting HIV may increase.
Have a look at our ‘Oral sex’ and ‘My chances’ pages for more information.
Hi.
The chances of getting or giving HIV from rimming are low. Blood on or around the anus or mouth could increase the chance of passing HIV.
There are other STIs that are more easily be passed through rimming including hepatitis A, herpes, syphilis and HPV. It is possible but not common to pass gonorrhea and chlamydia.
It is also possible to pass or get intestinal parasites.
Barriers, such as dental dams can provide good protection against STI’s.
Please leave a comment to let us know if this answers your question or if you need more info.
Health Nurse
Hi.
The risk for getting or passing HIV when you give a blow job is very low, but there are some things that could increase the chances. These include bleeding gums,sores in your mouth or a sore throat.
It is hard to say whether getting dental work would increase the risk for HIV. It may depend on the health of your gums, the kind of dental work you had and the amount of time between seeing the dentist and the blow job.
There is a higher chances of getting or passing other STIs with blow jobs including gonorrhea, chlamydia or syphilis. Herpes and HPV can also be passed from mouth to genitals and vice versa.
If you are getting or giving blow jobs, it is a good idea to get routine testing. Often STIs have no noticeable symptoms and the only way you know you have one is to get tested.
Check out our clinic finder, if you need a place for regular testing.
Please leave a comment to let us know if this answers your question or if you need more info.
Health Nurse
Hi.
Yes, it is possible to get HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) from a sex toy if it is shared between people and a condom is not used, or if it is shared before it is properly cleaned.
For there to be a risk, the toy would need to come in contact with vaginal fluid, pre cum, semen, blood or rectal mucous.
Once outside the body HIV does not survive for long. There is a higher chance of passing HIV or other STIs when sex toys are passed directly between people.
Click here for more information on the care and cleaning of sex toys.
Please leave a comment to let us know if this answers your question or if you need more info.
Health Nurse
