STI Risks Chart

[Health Nurse]

We have finally finished our STI risks chart.

This chart will give you an idea of what risks are involved with different types of sexual activities

Here is the link.
http://healthnurse.wordpress.com/faq-about-sexual-health/sti-risks-chart/


We welcome any questions or comments.


HN
www.healthnurse.wordpress.com
www.bccdc.ca
www.stiresource.com

 

[Health Nurse]

Thanks.

Many people had asked us for a chart in the past. It has just taken us awhile to get all the info together.

We would really appreciate any feedback on the chart. You can leave a comment here or on the blog.

HN
www.healthnurse.wordpress.com
www.bccdc.ca
www.stiresource.com

 

[sonoman]

Helpful chart. Is it possible to include an addendum for digitial penetration?

 

[amar696969]

health nurse:

i read before that you can get clamidia/ghonnarhea even with a condom on, even if the condom is worn correctly and not broken etc.

I am wondering why there is "no risk" then for this. Am i misinformed, or am i not understanding something properly.

Thanks for the chart!

 

[Health Nurse]

Helpful chart. Is it possible to include an addendum for digitial penetration?

Hi sonoman

Thanks for the suggestion. We had digital penetration under the heading of fingering, I have added digital penetration as well.
http://healthnurse.wordpress.com/faq-about-sexual-health/sti-risks-chart/

HN

 

[Health Nurse]

health nurse:

i read before that you can get clamidia/ghonnarhea even with a condom on, even if the condom is worn correctly and not broken etc.

I am wondering why there is "no risk" then for this. Am i misinformed, or am i not understanding something properly.

Thanks for the chart!

Hi amar696969

I have also read the same thing in a few studies that have shown that people have gotten chlamydia and gonorrhoea while using a condom. I think the main problem is that all of these studies require people to fill out questionnaires saying what type of sex they are having and if they used condoms. As you can imagine there can be certain errors that take place.

People can put that they used a condom when in actual fact the condom broke, slipped off or they did not use a condom at all.

Also from examples in the clinic we have always wondered other more likely ways that chlamydia gonorrhea have spread, here are a few.

- People seem to forget that they had unprotected oral sex (bbbj) while having vaginal sex with a condom.

- If a man touches the tip of his penis with his finger and gets some fluid on it like pre cum and then puts this it the vagina.

- A woman gets vaginal fluids on her finger and then touches the tip of the penis with this fluid.

- A man touches the tip of his penis around the entrance to the vagina, fluid to fluid before putting a condom on.

- A man puts a condom on, try's to roll it down the penis but finds he put it on the wrong way. If he just flips it over and rolls it down there is a chance some fluid could be on the outside.

When we went with no risk it was mainly from looking at the possibility of chlamydia transferring through latex given that a condom was used correctly, every time, did not break or slip off and none of the above happen.

I would be interested if anyone had any additional information about this. We can always change the categories if we get some new information.

In preventing gonorrhea and chlamydia we have found that the best thing is to go for a regular urine test.

HN
www.healthnurse.wordpress.com
www.bccdc.ca
www.stiresource.com

 

[amar696969]

Hi Health nurse,

Thanks very much; this makes a lot of sense!

Just a further question: i notice that "Hand Job" is also a No Risk. What about if the woman uses her own spit as lubricant for the hand job? Would this pose a threat?

 

[susi]

health nurse, your site rocks!!! thank you all for your hard work!! the chart is really clear and useful.it's nice to see it laid out in plain language.

love susieXXXO

 

[Health Nurse]

Hi Health nurse,

Thanks very much; this makes a lot of sense!

Just a further question: i notice that "Hand Job" is also a No Risk. What about if the woman uses her own spit as lubricant for the hand job? Would this pose a threat?

Hi amar696969

Sorry I missed the question you asked a few weeks ago.

I am not sure how much risk this would add. What I can do is look at how much risk there is with saliva and certain infections.

With HIV we know there is no risk with saliva unless there is visible blood in the saliva.

With Hepatitis B we know it can be in the saliva and has transmitted to people if they get a deep bite. I don't know what the risk would be if rubbed into unbroken skin but would be much lower than being bitten. Getting the hepatitis B vaccine would get rid of this risk.

With herpes they have detected it in saliva but I am unsure how much is there when compared to a herpes sore. I can't imagine this would be a large risk.

With chlamydia and gonorrhea I have seen research studies that have detected these two when getting people to gargle small amounts of water and testing it, but given how we don't really see these two pass with DATY I don't think there would be enough bacteria there to cause transmission.

With HPV I have not been able to find any information on how much risk this would be.

Given the above most of the risk would be unknown, but I don't think it would be very large if at all. It would be a good idea to get the hepatitis B vaccine.

If concerned about the risk I would just suggest using a different type of lubricant than saliva e.g. Any type of lube, moisturizer etc...

HN
www.healthnurse.wordpress.com
www.bccdc.ca
www.stiresource.com

 

[papillion]

Very useful chart, really appreciate how you are educating the public; keep up the good work.
I'm wondering if being uncut\circumcised has a factor in STI transmission during unprotected sex

 

[aznbabes]

What about unprotected genital rubbing? (Having the girl rubbing her vaginal against my penis) does it fall under "bodyslide" in the chart? Thanks.

 

[Health Nurse]

What about unprotected genital rubbing? (Having the girl rubbing her vaginal against my penis) does it fall under "bodyslide" in the chart? Thanks.

Hi aznbabes


No I wouldn’t put that one under body slide.

With body slide your just rubbing two piece’s of skin together that is not the genitals.

This would be similar to if someone gave someone a back massage e.g. hand rubbing on the back. With this activity we don’t see STI passing.

With genital to genital rubbing, STI can be passed.

Infections like herpes, syphilis and HPV (genital warts) can be passed with skin to skin contact of the genitals.

There could also be a risk to HIV, gonorrhea, chlamydia and hepatitis B if fluids are shared.

It really depends on how much rubbing/grinding happens and how much fluid is shared.


HN
www.healthnurse.wordpress.com
www.bccdc.ca
www.stiresource.com

 

[***Sweet Cami***]

I disagree with the Health Nurse about "fingering."

Fingering per se, no risk, yes.

HOWEVER!!!

Fingernails are like little blades: I've bled after being fingered.

Also, any woman who's had a PAP smear knows it doesn't take much pressure to scrape the cervix, and break the skin.

Any broken skin, especially in the genitals or genital region, increases your chances of transmitting and receiving STIs.

 

[Health Nurse]

I disagree with the Health Nurse about "fingering."

Fingering per se, no risk, yes.

HOWEVER!!!

Fingernails are like little blades: I've bled after being fingered.

Also, any woman who's had a PAP smear knows it doesn't take much pressure to scrape the cervix, and break the skin.

Any broken skin, especially in the genitals or genital region, increases your chances of transmitting and receiving STIs.

Hi Sweet Cami

That is a really good point.

Any activity that is going to damage the skin or the inside of the vagina would increase your chances of a virus getting into your body.

What do people find is the best way to avoid this when fingering? e.g. Don't finger, trim those nails, finger cots etc...


HN

 

[Health Nurse]

Very useful chart, really appreciate how you are educating the public; keep up the good work.
I'm wondering if being uncut\circumcised has a factor in STI transmission during unprotected sex

Hi papillion

I have been able to find an article written by three doctors at John Hopkins university. They reviewed 3 studies (since 2005) that looked at your question, does male circumcision reduce a man's risk to sexually transmitted infections.

This is what they found.

Male circumcision will reduce mens risk:

HIV between 53% to 60%
Herpes simplex virus type 2 between 28% to 34%
Human papillomavirus (HPV) between 32% to 35%


Among female partners of circumcised men:

Bacterial vaginosis was reduced by 40%
Trichomonas by 48%


In regard to syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia the result are still unknown, some of the studies showed a benefit while others did not. Looks like they need more research.

All the above information is from studies that have been conducted on heterosexual couples. In the article they stated that there has not been enough research conducted on men who have sex with men to see if there is a benefit with circumcision.

HN
www.healthnurse.wordpress.com
www.bccdc.ca
www.stiresource.com