According to the American Sexual Health Association, over 80% of sexually active youth and adults ages 15-44 years reported having had oral sex at least once with a partner of the opposite sex. The same survey found that 45% or more of teenage girls and boys (ages 15-19 years) report having had oral sex with a partner of the opposite sex. The World Health Organization has warned that cases of untreatable, antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea are on the rise due to unsafe oral sex and a decline in condom use.
Data from 77 countries showed that when someone contracts the common sexually-transmitted infection — which infects roughly 78 million people each year — it is now “much harder, and sometimes impossible, to treat,” according to the WHO.
Every day, there are more than 1 million new cases of curable sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among people aged 15-49 years, according to data released today by the World Health Organization. This amounts to more than 376 million new cases annually of four infections – chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, and syphilis.
“We’re seeing a concerning lack of progress in stopping the spread of sexually transmitted infections worldwide,” said Dr. Peter Salama, Executive Director for Universal Health Coverage and the Life-Course at WHO. “This is a wake-up call for a concerted effort to ensure everyone, everywhere can access the services they need to prevent and treat these debilitating diseases.”
Published online by the Bulletin of the World Health Organization, the research shows that among men and women aged 15–49 years, there were 127 million new cases of chlamydia in 2016, 87 million of gonorrhea, 6.3 million of syphilis, and 156 million of trichomoniasis.
These STIs have a profound impact on the health of adults and children worldwide. If untreated, they can lead to serious and chronic health effects that include neurological and cardiovascular disease, infertility, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirths, and an increased risk of HIV. They are also associated with significant levels of stigma and domestic violence.
Syphilis alone caused an estimated 200 000 stillbirths and newborn deaths in 2016, making it one of the leading causes of baby loss globally.
How Do I prevent Sexually Transmitted Infection During Oral Sex?
- Practice safe sex and use a condom if you’re going to have oral sex where a penis is involved.
- Remain Faithful to your faithful partner as multiple sexual partners significantly increase your risk of infection.
- Do not brush your teeth after oral sex because abrasions during brushing can provide an easy orifice for disease-causing microorganisms to gain entrance into your body and cause disease. Washing your mouth with water is safer. SEE: Side Effects of Sexual Intercourse With Animals
However, washing or brushing your teeth after oral sex does not completely stop you from contracting an STI. SEE: How To Get Rid Of Black Gums
