2016-06-10 13:00:00
Every day around the world, more than a million people contract a sexually transmitted infection (STI), the majority of which is asymptomatic. “However, when they are not treated, they can have serious consequences : blindness and other neurological manifestations, sterility, mother-to-child transmission or congenital malformations, for example,” indicates the World Health Organization (WHO) (source 1).
What is an STI or STD? How do you catch it?
An STI is a sexually transmitted infection, formerly called a sexually transmitted disease (STD) is a infection caused by bacteria, viruses and parasites.
Transmission during vaginal or anal intercourse but also oral intercourse (fellatio, cunnilingus)
It is mainly transmitted during unprotected sex (anal, vaginal or oro-genital intercourse). “There are several sexually transmitted infections. While most are easily treated, some, if not treated, can lead to graves complications », notes the Aquitaine Regional Health Agency (ARS) (Source 2).
It is often wrongly thought that an STI cannot be transmitted through oral sex. Gold, the mouth is a sexual organ in its own right, wanted to remind the French Dental Association. She can transmit diseases or become victims of them.
Often an absence of symptoms in men and women
“STIs are often asymptomatic », warns the WHO. “If they come forward, symptoms of these four curable infections include vaginal discharge, urethral discharge in men, genital ulcers, painful urination and abdominal pain.”
Of these eight infections, four can be cured : syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis. The other four are incurable viral infections : hepatitis B, herpes virus (Herpes simplex virus or HSV), HIV, human papilloma virus (HPV). To date, there are vaccines once morest three STIs (hepatitis A and B viruses and certain HPV responsible for cervical cancer), reports the Question Sexualité site (source 3).
Genital herpes (Herpes simplex virus)
There are two types of herpes: Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2).
HSV-1 is mainly transmitted by contact with oral mucous membranes. A person who has oral sex with a person carrying this virus can therefore be contaminated in their mouth or lips. This contamination causes orofacial/labial herpes (one of the symptoms of which can be the “cold sore”), but also thegenital herpesnote l’OMS.
In fact, a person carrying the cold sore virus can transmit it to their partner, who can then contract it.genital herpes. What you need to remember: oral sex promotes reversal of the localization of herpes viruses.
HIV
Although there are few studies on this subject, it has been established by researchers that the risk of transmission of HIV through oral sex is weak, more it exists. “The transmission of HIV by fellatio appears very rare, or even non-existent in the absence of other STIs or pre-existing oral lesions: risk estimated at 0.01% in the case of active oral intercourse (fellator) and 0.005% in the case of passive oral intercourse,” reports the Review Swiss medicine in 2014 (Source 4).
Overall, the labial or oral lesions (“vigorous” tooth brushing, dental care) might increase the risk of transmitting an STI. The best way to avoid the risk of contamination is to wear a condom, even if it seems rarely used during fellatio.
On the other hand, the cunnilingus is not a risky practice for HIV, explains Sida Info Service (Source 5). “A woman who receives cunnilingus cannot be contaminated because his/her partner’s saliva does not transmit HIV. A person who performs cunnilingus can be contaminated by certain STIs such as syphilis or gonorrhea.
Human papillomavirus (HPV)
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is mainly transmitted by sexual contact and most people are infected at the very beginning of their sexual activity, recalls the WHO (Source 6). It is transmitted “during sexual intercourse, even if there is no penetration. Skin-to-skin genital contact is a recognized mode of transmission.”
While most types of HPV are benign and at the origin of warts in the genital areas, certain others can cause Cervical canceror one cancer oro-pharyngé. It has also been proven that there is a link between oral sex practices and throat cancer.
Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide. Every year in France, nearly 3,000 women develop cervical cancer and 1,000 women die from it, reports Santé Publique France (source 7).
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a viral infection of the liver caused by the virus B(VHB). She is often asymptomatic, causing 1,500 deaths per year in France, notes Hépatite Info Service (Source 8). This highly contagious hepatitis can be transmitted during oral sex.
THE sex unprotected represent the main mode of contamination of hepatitis B. “In France, the transmission of hepatitis B occurs mainly in adulthood, through blood and during sexual relations. vaginal, anal or oral-genital penetration », continues the organization.
“The risk in the event of fellatio exists for both partners. In case of cunnilingus, the risk is very low unless cunnilingus is practiced during menstruation.”
Syphilis
Due to bacteria Treponema Pallidumsyphilis is usually transmitted during sexual relations (including genital, oral-genital and anorectal contacts) (Source 9). The risk of transmission is approximately:
- 30% during a single sexual contact with a person suffering from primary syphilis;
- 60 to 80% of an infected mother to her fetus.
It can also be transmitted without sexual intercourse by skin contact. This resurgent disease can affect all organs and have serious consequences if not detected and treated.
THE symptoms The most common include genital ulcers, skin lesions, meningitis, aortic disease, and neurological syndromes. It is treated by antibiotics.
Gonorrhea (gonorrhea)
Also called gonorrhea or more commonly hot-piss or tickle, gonorrhea is an STI caused by a bacteria, gonocoque, which can infect “the inner lining tissue of the urethra, cervix, rectum, throat, and membranes that cover the front part of the eye,” describes Dr. Sheldon R. Morris in a article on the subject (Source 10). This disease is also increasing for ten yearsparticularly in men.
Gonorrhea is almost always transmitted by vaginal, oral or anal sexual contact. “After vaginal intercourse without a condom, the risk of an infected woman infecting a man is regarding 20%. The risk of an infected man infecting a woman or another man can be higher », notes the doctor.
The treatment by antibiotics is effective, even if resistance to the antibiotics used becomes more frequent.
La chlamydiose (Chlamydia)
Chlamydia, more commonly called “chlamydia infection”, is a very common STI caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomata. This very common STI is well treated by antibiotics. Untreated, it can cause infertility.
In 2021, 2.3 million people aged 15 and over were tested at least once for chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) infection, a national screening rate of 42 per 1,000 population aged 15 and over, reports Public Health France (Source 11).
The transmission of chlamydia is caused sexually and can occur during unprotected sex with an uninfected person (genital, anal, oral-genital or oral-anal intercourse) – or by contact with infected vaginal secretions or semen.
An infected person can transmit chlamydia even if there are no symptoms.
And the Zika virus
Zika virus (ZV), like dengue, yellow fever and chikungunya viruses, is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes which reproduce in regions with stagnant water such as Central and South America, the Caribbean, etc. (Source 12).
Although the Zika virus is primarily transmitted by mosquitoes, other modes of transmission are possible, including likely sexual transmission.
This may seem surprising, but the case in 2016 of a young French woman infected because she had performed fellatio on her partner returning from a trip to Brazil argues very strongly in favor of transmission of the virus in the event of oral sex.
“The Zika virus is present in sperm and can be transmitted by men to their sexual partners during sexual intercourse, vaginally, through anal sex, and probably oral sex (fellatio) even when men do not have symptoms,” notes Dr. Thomas M. Yuill (Source 13).
“The Zika virus persists much longer in sperm as in blood, vaginal secretions and other bodily secretions. Male-to-female and male-to-male transmission during unprotected sexual activity (no condoms) has been observed.”
No oral sex if there is injury or inflammation in the mouth
These STIs can develop in the absence of clearly identifiable symptoms. To protect itself and its partner, the French Dental Association advises once morest any practice of oral sex in the event of injury or inflammation in the mouth, teeth or gums.
Another recommendation: avoid brushing and flossing within an hourpreceding and following oral sex.
let’s remember that the condom remains the best way to prevent an STI and that it is therefore recommended in certain oral sex practices such as fellatio. Even if this means of protection remains little known, be aware that there are also dental damsto be used as a condom to prevent STIs during cunnilingus.
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