Doctors are being urged to inform patients that sexual activities other than intercourse—such as oral sex——carry some degree of risk for transmitting HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, Reuters reports. Researchers from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recently published their findings in the journal, Obstetrics & Gynecology.
“Most people, including adolescents, are unlikely to use condoms during oral sex, which places them at risk for acquiring an STD,” Richard Guido, MD, said in an ACOG statement. This unlikelihood is partly because of a greater perceived safety compared with intercourse.
While researchers note that oral sex is generally safer than vaginal or anal sex, the viruses that cause genital herpes, genital warts and hepatitis can be transmitted via oral sex. Bacterial STDs—including syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia—can also be transmitted this way.
ACOG notes that while generally considered low-risk for transmission when compared to receptive anal or vaginal sex, HIV cases have been linked to oral sex.
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Robert Garrett, Ft Laudedale, 2008-09-18 16:02:08
Prove transmission. Don't just say "have been linked to oral sex." Name some cases where transmission has actually taken place.
Tim, Birmingham, 2008-09-09 12:17:25
Poz does a disservice to its readers by saying that"HIV has been linked to oral sex" when in fact the medical literature says just the opposite. There is ONLY anecdotal evidence of HIV transmission orally. Yet, there are scientific studies that have done that have proven that not one person in a sero discordant relationship out of over 3500 relationships studied over a five year period, converted to a sero positive HIV status. POZ needs to detail their statements about HIV vs. STD transmission.
Beth Benne, RN, is HIV negative, but
the virus has impacted her life. She currently supervises a biannual HIV/AIDS awareness week as
the director of the student health center at Pierce College, a
community commuter school in Woodland Hills, California.
Woman of the Month is supported by exclusive advertising from Gilead.
Overheard in the Women's Forum
"I recently met a guy who is negative. I did tell him about my status and he decided to kiss me anyway (we didn't go further than that). But a day later, he called and said that he actually had a mouth ulcer that time when we kissed and he was very worried. Asked if he can get the virus from me that way. For that moment, I felt so insulted and yet I felt so bad. It was my first time having a contact with a "negative" guy."
