ciphergoth | Go to the source for information about HIV and fellatio

The BBC news report

adjectivemarcus quoted about HIV and fellatio is actually a bit misleading.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/newsid_1422000/1422582.stm

and note that when they say "oral sex", they mean "cocksucking". Go to the source: the press release from which they drew the article:

http://www.phls.co.uk/news/pressreleases/01pr/010705pr.htm

and find that where the BBC say "up to 8%", the press release says "3-8%" of infections.

Note also that this does not mean that you have a 3-8% chance of getting the virus every time you suck cock! The 3-8% figure is their estimate of the proportion of infections that come from fellatio rather than more common sources such as fucking without a condom or IV drug use with shared needles. That figure tells you very little indeed about how risky fellatio is, except to say that the risk isn't zero.

Later this week they'll be publishing more of the report on their website. Hopefully they'll give enough information for us to make an informed choice about the risks we take...

I'd just like to add one important postscript:

waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Well this is much better news.

Though not useful, it's slightly higher than zero chance. We knew that already.

Oh well, I guess we'll have to wait for the report in full.

Why can't they make a cock flavoured condom?

M xx

In all honesty, I'm going to find it very hard to think rationally about this. I can see myself gearing up to pore through as much research as I have to until I find the conclusion I want to hear. Or maybe I'll just investigate what precautions there are short of using a condom, like nonoxynol-9 or something...

Well, yes. 'Safer' sex is a much more attainable goal than 'safe' sex, anyway. As long as I and the people I'm having sex with are as informed as possible about the risks, I shall continue to take risks that I consider are acceptable.

Mind you, I'll be the first to admit that I'm not likely to be the person directly at risk. I recieve fellatio far more often than I give it, and no one seems to have done studies about cunnilingus (which I'd miss far more, frankly) at all.

Long-term but non-fatal STDs like HSV2 and HPV (5% of which can be precancerous) can be spread through cunnilingus and fellatio, and HPV especially can be very hard to spot. People can not know themselves that they have it, and it can be fairly simply misdiagnosed by doctors. (I know at least one person who was told it wasn't HPV ... until she was told it was.)

I'm fluid-bonded with exactly one partner. In fairness to that partner, I use dental dams or condoms for oral sex with any other partners. It's one thing for me to take responsibility for any STDs I contract. It's another thing entirely to share them with others.

This is the best condom I've found for fellatio -- least latexy tasting, nicest for the blowee:
http://store.yahoo.com/safesense-wholesale/insp1000.html
http://www.condomsexpress.com/express/condoms/i1223.html

I'm all for other people doing what they want, but I need to protect me and someone else.

Google can't seem to find the good information on HSV2 and HPV; do you have any sources to recommend?

I'll try to remember to do a search later today. First thing in the morning it's hard enough to type -- my hands are fairly arthritic.

(And I'll check my bookmarks. I researched like crazy a few weeks ago.)

Mary

Go to the source for information about HIV and fellatio

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