SSHA

Society of Sexual Health Advisers

Unite the union
  • About us
    • JOIN SSHA
    • Code of Professional Conduct
    • National Organising Professional Committee
    • National Organising Professional Committee Structure
    • Constitution and Rules
    • Council Reports
    • NPC ACCESS ONLY
  • News
  • Regions
    • London
    • North East, Yorkshire & Humberside
    • Ireland
    • Scotland
    • South West
    • East Midlands – VACANT
    • North West
    • South East
    • Wales
    • West Midlands
  • Resources
    • I Want To Be A Health Adviser
    • SSHA Manual
    • Conference Presentations
    • Competency Framework for Sexual Health Advisers
    • WeSSI: West Sussex Sexual Health Structured Interview
    • Research
    • Unite – Union
    • Publications
  • Jobs
    • Current Jobs
    • Sample Job Descriptions
  • Links
Home ยป STI increases mean ‘more caution is needed’ over oral sex

STI increases mean ‘more caution is needed’ over oral sex

March 14, 2016 By SSHA Leave a Comment

14th March 2016
By Rick Kelsey / Newsbeat reporter

There’s a warning not enough is being done to stop the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) through oral sex.
Some of the UK’s leading sexual health doctors fear people who change partners frequently may not be adequately protecting themselves.
The British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) says it’s causing the spread of STIs like genital herpes, chlamydia and drug-resistant gonorrhoea.
Most recent numbers show sharp rises in genital herpes, gonorrhoea and syphilis.
“We’ve only really just noticed that a lot of infections are passed on from oral sex,” Dr Peter Greenhouse, who advises on UK government sexual health policy, told Newsbeat.

The majority of new STI cases are among under-25s and gay men.

People are passing on more infections through oral sex than previously thought, BASHH says.
“Very, very few people are using condoms for oral sex,” says Dr Greenhouse.
“They don’t know that you can get chlamydia and gonorrhoea in the back of your throat without trying very hard.”
Oral sex is now believed to be the main way people get genital herpes.
But is it unrealistic to expect people to use condoms and dental dams, which cover the vagina, for oral sex?

‘Tinder-place’
“If you’re out there, in what we might politely describe the sexual market place, or the Tinder-place, there are two ways to go,” says Dr Greenhouse.
“Get yourself down to the clinic to get yourself tested regularly or be meticulous about condom use, including for oral sex.”
Dr Greenhouse says there’s a reason the new advice is being issued now.
“We realise that oral sex is now the principal mode of transmission of drug-resistant gonorrhoea.”
Clinical testing suggests antibiotics used to treat gonorrhoea don’t penetrate the throat as well as the rest of your body.
“So you can have it cured in your genitals but still might have it in your throat,” he explains.
“So you can pass it on.”

Oral sex and under-25s

Newsbeat asked three students in Newcastle whether they take precautions for oral sex.
Sam, Adam and Daniel were happy to talk to us.
Adam says most people don’t even think about oral sex and condoms.
“I haven’t thought about it with oral sex [but] I know my friend has. But I don’t change partners as much.”
For Sam it’s not something people associate with STIs.
“I wouldn’t say so. People don’t really think about that. I think that would be the last thing on your mind.
“When you’re out in Newcastle you don’t really think about an infection like that from someone’s mouth.”

Sam does think people under 25 are more likely to use condoms than older people, but only when it comes to genital sex.
“I think some people would get a condom out or whatever but not for oral sex.”
Daniel thinks it’s embarrassing when people ask to use a condom.
“When I got asked to have oral sex with a condom on, I was absolutely livid. It just doesn’t feel the same.”

Filed Under: Latest SSHA News, Media Watch Tagged With: BASHH, bbc newsbeat, chlamydia, drug resistance, genital herpes, gonorrhoea, herpes, oral sex, peter greenhouse, STI, syphilis, tinder

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

About SSHA

The Society of Sexual Health Advisers (SSHA) is a UK national organisation with approximately 300 members out of an estimated 350 sexual health advisers in the country. It provides an opportunity for members to meet and work towards further professional development.

Recent Posts

  • Helping People to Reduce Sexual Health Risk: A Motivational Interviewing Approach February 28, 2023

Useful Links

  • BASHH
  • HPV Action
  • NAM
  • Public Health England
  • Public Health Scotland
  • Terence Higgins Trust
  • UNITE the Union

Copyright © 2023 · SSHA - Society of Sexual Health Advisers

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT