Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Oral Intercourse

Excerpt

To the editor: Although the most efficient means of transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have been identified (anal and vaginal intercourse, needle sharing) (1), doubt remains concerning the role of other forms of sexual contact, such as oral intercourse, in transmitting the virus. Because persons may engage in many different sexual practices (2), it is difficult to document transmission of HIV by oral exposure even when it occurs.

Recently, Kingsley and colleagues (3) reported that of 95 seroconversions that occurred in a 6-month interval among 2507 homosexual men, 58 occurred among 548 men who reported anal intercourse with