So this week I viewed Silverlake Life and Common Threads. Both these films expanded my knowledge on HIV/AIDS and in a strange why put a human face on the disease. Watching Tom and Mark love each other, but struggle with the disease together was hard to watch at times. Seeing how the KS took over both their bodies and the wasting that occurred to Tom was extremely hard to watch. However, from this film I learned how hard it is to actually battle this disease. In one part of the film Tom has trouble going into the store and buying an item. Instead, he has to go back to his car and rest until he gets enough energy to continue on with his day. Common Threads was also very interesting in that it showed how anyone can get HIV/AIDS. It showed how a gay individual, a black individual, and a little child were all at the hands of this terrible disease. This film really touched me in that how this disease does not care at all who you are. Watching David Mandell and "How full of life he was" and all of that taken away at such an early age really hit home to me. In all I enjoyed and was very educated from both of these films.
This week I will be writing about HIV and Oral Sex. Can someone get the HIV virus from giving or getting oral sex? Well I always wondered this and if you have too, then keep on reading because I have the answer. Yes! Someone can get HIV from either giving oral sex or getting oral sex. The CDC states "If the person performing oral sex has HIV, blood from their mouth may enter the body of the person receiving oral sex through the lining of the urethra (the opening at the tip of the penis), the lining of the vagina or cervix, the lining of the anus, or directly into the body through small cuts or open sores" (Can I get HIV from oral sex?, 2006). On the other side or the getting end, "if the person receiving oral sex has HIV, their blood, semen (cum), pre-seminal fluid (pre-cum), or vaginal fluid may contain the virus" and through this the "cells lining the mouth of the person performing oral sex may allow HIV to enter their body" (Can I get HIV from oral sex?, 2006). The risk of HIV transmission increases if the individual giving oral sex has cuts or sores surrounding or in their mouth or throat, if the individual on the receiving end ejaculates in the mouth of the individual performing oral sex, or if the individual on the receiving end has a sexually transmitted disease (STD) (Can I get HIV from oral sex?, 2006). So what if I want to give or receive oral sex and abstaining from it is not an option? Well one can use condoms to significantly decrease their chances of getting HIV from oral sex. I hope you enjoyed this HIV knowledge on a topic about sex, I know I did!
Source:
Can I get HIV from oral sex?. (2006). In the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved October 5, 2009, from http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/qa/qa19.htm
When I went to have my HIV test done, one of the questions they asked me was if I had had oral sex within the past 12 months. I thought that it was kind of a strange question, and I started asking myself "Can one contract HIV through oral sex?". So, I am glad that I came across your blog because it was very educational and it makes a lot of sense that one Could catch the virus via oral sex.
ReplyDeleteI, too, was extremely moved by Common Threads and Silverlake Life. I cannot believe how hard it is just to perform daily tasks such as going to the hardware store. It gave me a different perspective.
I like how in this class a light has been shined on the emotional affects HIV has and not just the science of it all. That was my one hope coming into this class, that I would see a different side of the disease. Being a science major I have taking biology and chemistry and have only thought about the science of HIV. I can see that through your reaction to the movies, you are seeing the emotional side of HIV as well.
ReplyDeleteI too wondered about contracting HIV through oral sex but your "did you know" column answered that question for me, very interesting and informative!
That is very informative. I know how sometimes we don't think that oral sex can fully be considered as sex because there is no penetration of a sexual organ. That's something everyone needs to get through their head.
ReplyDeleteWatching Tom was incredibly difficult, but putting a face that you can get to know a little bit was a very eye opening experience. I hope that we get an opportunity to perhaps talk with some people that are a little further progressed in the virus at the panel discussions that are to take place during the semester. David's story was the one that affected me the most, especially when the mother said after his heart stopped beating he took two more breaths as if to try and still get the most out of life. I think when people hear oral sex the misconception of kissing can easily come into play. One other thing that was not mentioned above would perhaps be the use of "dental dams" for females when it comes to oral sex and prevention of not only HIV but other STDs.
ReplyDeleteFor women you can use a dental dam to keep the vaginal fluids at bay while oral sex is being performed. Using condoms or dental dams kinda defeat the purpose of oral sex, but if it is your life in the balance, I wouldn't hesitate to use either.
ReplyDeleteGood post, Jaime.