Oral Sex Practices Research Articles

Epidemiology of an outbreak of gonorrhoea in Salford

We explored health care professionals' beliefs and methods for counseling patients about risks for transmitting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) through oral sex and HIV-seropositive patients' beliefs and practices regarding oral sex behavior. Health care professionals used divergent counseling strategies, avoided specific recommendations, and expressed ambivalence about recommending barrier protection for oral sex. Patients expressed differing beliefs about oral sex risk; the majority have engaged in unprotected oral sex since diagnosis. Few professionals or patients mentioned oral sex risk for other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), which can be cofactors for HIV. Although scientific evidence indicates a potential risk for transmitting HIV via oral sex, and patients in our sample want more information about this risk, the health care professionals we interviewed have adopted a largely noncommittal approach to communicating potential risk to patients. Health care professionals should consider discussing more specifically with patients the oral sex risk for transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.

Perceptions of health care professionals and patients about the risk of HIV transmission through oral sex: a qualitative study

We explored health care professionals' beliefs and methods for counseling patients about risks for transmitting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) through oral sex and HIV-seropositive patients' beliefs and practices regarding oral sex behavior. Health care professionals used divergent counseling strategies, avoided specific recommendations, and expressed ambivalence about recommending barrier protection for oral sex. Patients expressed differing beliefs about oral sex risk; the majority have engaged in unprotected oral sex since diagnosis. Few professionals or patients mentioned oral sex risk for other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), which can be cofactors for HIV. Although scientific evidence indicates a potential risk for transmitting HIV via oral sex, and patients in our sample want more information about this risk, the health care professionals we interviewed have adopted a largely noncommittal approach to communicating potential risk to patients. Health care professionals should consider discussing more specifically with patients the oral sex risk for transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.

Oral sex and transmission of non-viral STIs.

OBJECTIVES: To review the literature on the role of oral sex in the transmission of non-viral sexually transmitted infections (STIs). METHOD: A Medline search was performed using the keywords oro-genital...

Risk factors for urethritis in heterosexual men. The role of fellatio and other sexual practices.

Nonchlamydial nongonococcal urethritis (NGU) is a common sexually transmitted disease (STD) in heterosexual men. Prior studies have suggested that NGU may be acquired by insertive oral sex. To assess the association of oral sex and other sexual practices with nonchlamydial NGU in heterosexual men in order to better understand this syndrome and to guide its prevention and treatment. Risk factors for urethral gonorrhea and chlamydial infection were explored to contrast with NGU. A retrospective case-control study was conducted among heterosexual men attending as STD clinic during 1993 and 1994. The study included 4,848 men who were sexually active within the prior 2 months and had urethral specimens obtained for Gram's stain, culture for Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and culture for Chlamydia trachomatis. Insertive oral sex was not shown to be an independent risk factor for NGU. Independent predictors of nonchlamydial NGU by multivariate analysis included African-American race (odds ratio [OR] 3.71, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 3.06 to 4.50) and having > or = two sex partners in the prior 2 months (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.20 to 1.75). History of using condoms "always" was negatively associated with NGU (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.43 to 0.79), gonorrhea (OR 0.31, 95% CI 0.17 to 0.56), and chlamydial infection (OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.44 to 1.03). This study supports the sexually transmitted nature of nonchlamydial NGU but did not confirm an association with oral sex. However, the analysis was compromised by the rarity of insertive oral sex as patients' only sexual exposure. Consistent condom use protects against all causes of sexually acquired urethritis.

Human immunodeficiency virus infection in sexually active wives of infected hemophilic men

Because of past multiple exposures to contaminated coagulation factor concentrates, the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among adult hemophilic men in the United States is reported to range from 75 to 90 percent. The risk of HIV transmission through a long-term monogamous heterosexual contact can be estimated by studying the spouses of hemophilic subjects since these couples generally do not abuse intravenous drugs, usually maintain stable monogamous relationships, and are usually free of other risk factors. Our purpose was to gather data on the risk of heterosexual transmission of HIV infection in the context of long-term monogamous relations according to the duration of HIV antibody seropositivity and of HIV antigenemia in HIV-infected hemophilic men, and their sexual habits. Infection with HIV was studied in 14 sexually active spouses of infected hemophilic men who had been HIV antibody reactive for a mean of 46 +/- 23 (SD) months. One half of the hemophilic men studied had overt HIV antigenemia for a mean duration of 27 +/- 23 (SD) months; six of the men studied fulfilled clinical criteria for the diagnosis of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). All 14 couples were sexually active in a strictly monogamous fashion, in marriages of 13.5 +/- 10.5 (SD) years with an average reported frequency of four sexual encounters per month (range: one to 12). Plasma samples of the hemophilic husbands were retrospectively analyzed for HIV and hepatitis B virus markers. Blood samples were obtained from female spouses on at least two occasions, six months apart. Comprehensive questionnaires regarding sexual habits and other risk factors were filled out by each couple; during this interview, the couple was counseled about safe sexual practices. None of the couples studied used condoms prior to January 1986. Antibodies to HIV developed in only one of the 14 wives. At the time when this seroconversion was detected, her husband, in whom AIDS developed, had been reactive for HIV antibody for 49 months, and showed positive findings for HIV antigen for 26 months. No additional risk factors were identified for this couple. The infected female spouse, however, has a 14-year history of multiple sclerosis, and had been treated with immunosuppressant intermittently. Despite a significantly reduced number of CD4 lymphocytes, she has remained clinically asymptomatic for 17 months since seroconversion. HIV antibodies did not develop in any of the 13 remaining wives, despite the frequent practice of oral sex by six couples and reports of occasional anal intercourse by another couple.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)