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Originally Posted by iblade
Still on the very fact of transmission of STD through Oral, I remain dubious. I've found statistics that show that the transmission rate through Oral Sex is very low. Plus I know that Health Organizations try to scare people with exaggerated statistics to prevent the disease. I'd really like to talk to a specialist about this.
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Any responsible doctor is going to tell you the same thing we've told you here, repeatedly. Trust me on this--I've studied STDs as much as any health education teacher, nurse, or doctor.
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Approximately 300,000 new cases of hepatitis B are diagnosed per year [25]. Ten thousand of those cases require hospitalization. Six to ten percent of infected persons become chronic carriers and may infect others despite showing no signs of illness themselves. These numbers are unconscionably large given that HBV can be fairly easily prevented. HBV can be transmitted through contact with blood, semen, and saliva. Following the safer sex guidelines to prevent HIV transmission will help in avoiding HBV transmission as well, but those guidelines are not enough. It is important to note that because hepatitis B virus is more contagious than HIV, oral sex and deep kissing are much higher risk activities for the transmission of HBV. While, historically, homosexual men have had a higher prevalence of HBV infection than any other single group [26], the advent of safer sex practices among gay men has decreased the number of new cases among gay and bisexual men in this group. On the contrary cases attributable to heterosexual activity have increased 77% between 1982 and 1988 [27].
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from:
Hepatitis B & HIV Infection
Gay Men's Health Crisis: Treatment Issues - Volume 5 no. 4, May 15, 1991
Gabriel Torres, M.D.
http://www.aegis.com/pubs/gmhc/1991/gm050404.html
From the FAQ of the Hepatitis Foundation International:
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Hepatitis B is often sexually transmitted. The virus is 100 times more infectious than AIDS and is found in blood, semen, and vaginal fluids. Sexual partners of an infected person should practice safe sex and be vaccinated for hepatitis B.
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As someone who has spent a considerable amount of time around health professionals and studying health education, I do assure you that the "safe sex" umbrella term means oral sex in addition to vaginal and anal intercourse.
From: The Virtual Naval Hospital,
http://www.vnh.org/PreventionPractice/ch59.html
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...indicating that partners can transmit infection even if males withdraw before ejaculating. Infection can be transmitted during all forms of sexual intercourse, including oral sex.
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According to a very informative Power Point presentation from Virology-Online, HBV can even be present in moderate levels in saliva, as well as semen and vaginal secretions. The bodily fluids that give off the most HBV are blood, serum, and exudate from wounds. But even urine, sweat, and tears can have low levels of HBV present.
As said in the first quote, HBV is 100x more transmittable than HIV. You are, essentially, a loaded gun. Put the safety on. Please.