It is often forgotten, but the condom does not completely protect against gonorrhea, which can be transmitted by oral contact.
In gay or bisexual men, the simple act of kissing can transmit gonorrhea of the throat (oropharyngeal), according to a new study published in the journal Sexually Transmitted Infections. However, current prevention campaigns mainly target the use of condoms.
In this research, 11,442 men were asked to respond to a brief survey about their sexual practices with male partners in the past three months. They were then classified into three groups: those who had only kissed their partner, those who had sex without mouth contact, and those who had sex with mouth contact.
Use antibacterial mouthwashes
The median age of the cohort was 30 years, and 6.2% suffered from oropharyngeal gonorrhea. Among them, men who had only kissed their partner were more likely to suffer from STDs compared to men who had sex without mouth contact.
Our results suggest that kissing with or without intercourse may be a risk factor for oropharyngeal gonorrhea. For them, prevention should also focus on antibacterial mouthwashes.
Some strains of gonorrhea have become resistant
Bacterial in origin, gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease that infects 78 million people each year worldwide, a figure that is increasing. It can infect the urethra (the tube through which urine and semen exit the body), cervix, rectum, throat, mouth and eyes. Symptoms may include vaginal pain, pain with urination (urination) and abnormal discharge from the vagina, urethra or rectum*.
To detect gonorrhea, samples are taken from the sites of suspected infection and tested for the presence of the bacteria. Gonorrhea can be treated and cured with antibiotics, but some strains of gonorrhea have become resistant.
*Source: CATIE.
.