Oral Sex A Significant Source Of HIV Infection
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 02
(Reuters Health) -- Oral sex appears to be an important risk factor for HIV infection, US
researchers report.
A study of gay men in San Francisco recently infected with HIV-1 suggests that in about 7%
of cases, the virus was transmitted during oral sex, according to a report presented
Tuesday at the 7th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections.
Dr. Frederick M. Hecht of the University of California, San Francisco, and colleagues
there and at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia,
evaluated 122 individuals who were diagnosed with recently acquired HIV-1 infection
between June 1996 and June 1999. Of these cases, they determined that 20 were potentially
acquired through oral sex.
Upon further evaluation, and elimination of cases in which HIV-1 transmission may have
occurred through another means, Hecht's group classified 8 cases (6.6%) as likely due to
oral HIV-1 transmission.
All eight cases were men who reported that they thought oral sex carried no risk or only
minimal risk of HIV-1 transmission.
Based on these findings, Hecht and colleagues conclude that even though oral sex is
associated with a lower risk of transmission compared with other sexual behaviors, it may
be an important mode of HIV-1 transmission because of its frequency.
More study is needed "to understand the epidemiology and risk of this behavior,"
the team concludes.
"In AIDS Project Los Angeles' prevention efforts, oral sex has always been considered
a risky behavior," Craig E. Thompson, the organization's executive director,
commented in a press release. "Studies over the years have told us that oral sex is
low risk, but low risk does not mean no risk."
The new CDC study reveals that oral sex has "significantly contributed" to HIV
transmission in recently infected gay men in San Francisco, he continued. "It is also
important to remember that women are at risk for HIV infection through this sexual
behavior as well."
"This kind of information is important because it helps people make informed and
responsible decisions when negotiating sex," Thompson added. "And it reminds
people that the AIDS epidemic is not over."
Information available at the CDC website (www.cdc.gov) notes that the blood, semen,
pre-seminal fluid, or vaginal fluid of an infected person may contain HIV. The risk of
transmission of HIV during oral sex increases when there are cuts or sores in the mouth
and throat, if ejaculation occurs in the mouth, or if a sexual partner has another
sexually transmitted disease.
CDC officials note that a latex or plastic barrier reduces the risk of blood or vaginal
fluid entering the mouth during oral sex. To reduce the risk of HIV transmission during
oral sex, they advise using latex or polyurethane condoms on the penis, or a latex barrier
such as a dental dam or a plastic food wrap barrier between the mouth and the vagina. More
information is available from the CDC National AIDS Hotline at 1-800-342-2437.