Important note: Information in this Q&A was accurate in 2008. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.Can HIV be passed or put one at risk by placing ones tongue in the anus of another who is HIV positive? Please help.
Mark H. Katz, M.D.
Department of Internal Medicine
Assistant Chief, Hospitalist Division; Kaiser Permanente of West Los Angeles
This activity is very very low risk, as far as we know; there is no scientific or epidemiologic data, so the best we can do is conjecture. So remember that if a person who has HIV has a higher (as opposed to an undetectable) viral load, then it is more possible that transmission could occur than if the viral load were low. If the anus has no blood in/on it, then transmission would be most unlikely.
But do remember that there are other sexually transmitted infections which are even easier to contact, much easier, than HIV--such as syphilis and gonorrhea. So oral-anal contact may be very low in terms of HIV transmission, but could bring on another condition.
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