Misconception: Oral Sex Can't Spread Syphilis
Updated 10/22/2004 2:31:19 PM


By Miranda Hitti


Oct. 21, 2004 -- People falsely believe that unprotected oral sex is safe, according to a new study.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report shows that a substantial proportion of syphilis cases occurred through unprotected oral sex. The CDC recommends that people should use condoms during oral sex to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted diseases.

Syphilis, a sexually transmitted disease, and can be transmitted through oral sex. Infection with bacteria can cause serious problems. Called 'the great imitator,' syphilis can cause problems ranging from a painless sore, occurring on the genitals, lips, or mouth, or a rash in its later stages of infection.

If untreated, syphilis can eventually cause problems in blood vessels or the heart, as well as mental disorders, blindness, nerve system problems, and even death.

Syphilis can also be a gateway for HIV transmission. Syphilis lesions around the mouth increase the risk for HIV transmission, and syphilis "might also increase progression of HIV disease," says the CDC in the Oct. 22 issue of its publication, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

A recent study by Chicago's Department of Public Health showed that syphilis is more common than people may think.

From 1998-2002, the city of Chicago had a total of 1,528 cases of primary and secondary syphilis. That's more than any other American city.

During much of the 1990s, most of those cases were reported among heterosexuals. But since 2001, men who have sex with men have accounted for nearly 60% of the city's primary and secondary syphilis cases, according to the CDC.

To find out what caused the change, officials from the Chicago Public Health Department interviewed people with syphilis.

Overall, almost 14% of the participants surveyed said that they only had oral sex during the time frame when they were likely infected with syphilis.

Among male syphilis patients with male sex partners, 20% said oral sex was their only sexual exposure during the transmission period.

In contrast, 6% of heterosexual male syphilis patients and 7% of heterosexual women with syphilis said they only had oral sex around the time they got syphilis.

Many people think oral sex is "safe" sex that doesn't need a condom. However, the CDC says that's a misguided belief.

"Persons who are not in a long-term monogamous relationship and who engage in oral sex should use barrier protection (e.g., male condoms or other barrier methods) to reduce the risk for sexually transmitted diseases and HIV transmission," reports the CDC.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SOURCES: Centers for Disease Control, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Oct. 22, 2004; vol 53: pp 966-968. News release, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise: "Syphilis: Topic Overview." WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise: "Syphilis: What Happens."

So, what is the incidence of syphilis in our favorite vacation spots (Chicago is not one of them)?

Syphilis is curable. Thus, who gives a shit? If I ever got Syphilis from a BBBJ I'd just go down to the county STD clinic on Rosecrans. Pay my $15, take my pills, and be done with it. No worries there.

The problem is if you don't get tested, you may never know. And so you won't get cured. And sometime later you might go insane. And start posting nonsense on the CH political threads. I therefore think it is useful for all us hombres to know about the CDC report.

Good point, Laguy. And it's well known that syphilis is epidemic in Thailand...

I agree that Hombres here shouldn't take this information too lightly. The assumption was that it can be detected early, when it's curable, but what if you don't catch it early as often times there are little or no symptoms? The higher susceptability to HIV infection caused by this affliction, and the serious potential problems to the brain, heart, etc. is simply numbing and not worth it.

For me, this means that I will test myself more regularly and be more discerning when it comes to getting BBBJ from providers (realistically, I enjoy BBBJ way too much to totally eliminate it).

Here's a link to a home test kit that I ordered.

http://www.hstkits.com/index.php?affid=goo

Clinics are a bit inconvenient for me since it is a long wait time, not anonymous, etc. Despite the strong medical privacy laws, I know some medical records can be obtained by legal proceedings or inadvertence.

Merlin

Most counties have health clinics that are free or available at a reduced rate. I've been to the local one and found that I was NOT alone in the STD clinic, but I was the oldest!!

Just give them a false name and go get your tests.

There are other clinics that offer FREE testing for STDs once or twice a week. They scan for EVERYTHING from the drip, to the burn, to the itch, to the chancre, to the inconvenient, to the fatal. If you need someone to accompany you for a STD run we could both hit a place next week and get the "guns" cleaned.

E

I hit up the one down on Rosecrans in SD about 4 to 6 weeks after every trip (to give everything a good chance to kick in first). It's easier than seeing my own doctor. Costs $15 for the whole set of tests which you could even weasel out of paying if you are a really cheap bastard. And if you call first and ask if there is a wait, you can usually manage to get in in 20 minutes or so. Plus the professional dick inspectors are all female. One white chick and one Filipina so no need to be shy about dropping your pants in front of them and their spot light. It's about the most efficient operation I ever saw the government do. Free Hep B vaccinations too, and free antibiotics and antifungals given out on the spot if you do turn up with something simple.

Like Epi says, they do ask for names, phone numbers and addressed but they don't verify any of it. I gave them my real name though so if I ever run for public office, my opponent could have a field day.

If anyone named "I am sancho" appears on the ballot, I will be sure to vote for him to compensate for any grief he receives from his history of VD clinic usage.

What's the address on Rosecrans, is it in LA/Inglewood?

I think wrong city. I was talking about Rosecrans in San Diego. The one in San Diego is at 3851 Rosecrans st. Down in the Midway area. (619)692-8550. I'm sure they have similar in LA/Inglewood but I just know about San Diego.

In O.C. they have a free county clinic in Santa Ana, but you gotta wait at least 2 hrs to see someone, 1 week for the results (another 2 hour wait) and the waiting room is full of weirdos and less than upscale people. One tattoed beauty, obviously receiving some bad news, had a major hissy fit as she was leaving the doc's office. I'd rather pony up for a home test kit.

Thanks for the info. There are anonymous clinics in LA that are also free. although, some may be busier than others.

You can also go to a "doc-in-the-box" and pay cash, and use a fake name. Lots of ways to get tested, and occasional testing is a good idea if you enjoy the hobby we do, as none of the methods of protection are foolproof, and sometimes diseases can develop and spread without showing major symptoms for males.