Aladdin@f462.n204.z1.fidonet.org (Aladdin) (10/15/90)
Friends, I have been reading what appear to be conflicting statements
on the subject of HIV transmission via male-male oral-genital sex.
Some well-informed people seem to say that the risk of transmission
is negligible (comparable to mutual masturbation, say). Others seem
to feel that the risk is not negligible, but don't give any kind of
evidence for this. Some say no cases of oral transmission have been
found and documented. Others say that a very few cases have been
found. The latter reports that I've read seem to quote these cases
as a fraction of *total AIDS cases*, not as a fraction of *all male-
male oral sex*, i.e., they don't provide the basic information for
estimating risk. On just about every other aspect of the AIDS
epidemic, I feel pretty well informed (for someone who isn't a medical
professional), but on this one I really feel confused. I know that
"play it safe, always use a condom for oral sex" is one possible
response to this uncertainty, but it's not one that I'm willing to
adopt: I dislike condoms for oral sex so much that I'd rather forego
cock-sucking altogether than use one. So I'm asking for information,
not for advice. Thanks in advance -
ALADDIN
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