Urethritis in Men Linked to Oral Sex

Common sexually transmitted disease may be caused by germs in mouth, study says

By Randy Dotinga
HealthDay Reporter

FRIDAY, Jan. 6 (HealthDay News) -- New research suggests that the gonorrhea-like condition known as urethritis, perhaps the most common sexually transmitted disease, can spread to men when they're on the receiving end of fellatio.

"This one really nails it down," said Dr. Hunter Handsfield, a professor of medicine at the University of Washington who wrote a commentary about the findings.

Urethritis, a condition related to a number of health problems, such as urinary tract infections and some sexually transmitted diseases, causes inflammation of the urethra. It can lead to genital discharge, burning during urination and redness and swelling at the tip of the penis, said Dr. Jeffrey D. Klausner, director of STD Prevention and Control Services with the San Francisco Department of Public Health. The symptoms "usually signify an infection due to a germ, like a bacteria or virus," he said.

Urethritis usually goes away on its own or is easily treated with antibiotics, Klausner said. But in some cases, it can result in serious complications, including permanent damage to the urethra in both men and women, especially if it's not treated.

According to Handsfield, urethritis brings more men to sexually transmitted disease clinics in the United States than any other condition or disease, and it may be the most common STD among both men and women.

In the new study, Australian researchers recruited 329 men with urethritis symptoms that weren't related to gonorrhea and 307 healthy men. The researchers tested the men and asked them about their sexual habits.

About five percent of the cases were directly related to germs from the mouth, including adenoviruses and a form of herpes. The researchers also found that urethritis without an apparent cause was more common in men who were on the receiving end of oral sex from their female or male partners.

The study findings appear in the Dec. 28 online edition of the Journal of Infectious Diseases.

The research points to the potential influence of normally innocuous germs in the mouth, Handsfield said. "It suggests that some of these cases might be due to bacteria that are entirely normal when they're in the mouth but cause inflammation in the urethra."

This also suggests that men shouldn't assume that getting a case of urethritis from a partner is a sign that she or he has been unfaithful, Handsfield said. The urethritis may have simply come from normal mouth germs.

By contrast, there's no evidence that urethritis is easily passed to women during cunnilingus, Handsfield said. In fact, he said, cunnilingus seems to be safer when it comes to STD transmission than fellatio.

What does the urethritis finding mean for sexually active men? "Men who receive oral sex need to be concerned about STDs and talk to their doctor about what screening tests might be appropriate or how to reduce their risk for getting infections," Klausner said.


SOURCES: Hunter Handsfield, M.D., STD researcher, Battelle Research, and professor of medicine, University of Washington, Seattle; Jeffrey D. Klausner, M.D., M.P.H., director, STD Prevention and Control Services, San Francisco Department of Public Health; Dec. 28, 2005, online edition, Journal of Infectious Diseases

Last Updated: Jan. 6, 2006

The human mouth is far from the most anti-septic place you can imagine. It is not suprising that some of the bacteria found there can cause some problems.

Egads man...is anything safe anymore?

you are just learning that
you should run and get checked

every1 should learn about STD and how they are contracted.
i did some research years back, some of that shit is scary.
made me leery about having sex for a while.  throwing 2 jimmys on.

My wife must've already known this several years ago.

She is VERY concerned with my safety.

No problems here. So what are they saying, that my wife can't please me anymore?  If it's bad, i don't want to be good.  

wife must've already known this several years ago... she is VERY concerned with safety.

Sad, but true fact of marriage. (or so I hear from other married types!)

Before engaging in her craft, have the fellatio artist gargle with Listerine.  Done.

Proceed to hummage.

Quoted: throwing 2 jimmys on.

In all that learning did you learn that using 2 condoms is more likely to cause a rupture and thus is less safe than using one condom?

Quoted: Before engaging in her craft, have the fellatio artist gargle with Listerine.  Done. Proceed to hummage.

I was wondering how long it would take for someone to suggest that.

It would work, by the way, for most bacterial problems that the story is talking about.

Wash your dick after you get a hummer.

Quoted: Wash your dick after you get a hummer.

H1, H2, or H3?    Or any of them?  

Gotta die from something!  

Its worth the risk.................................well, sometimes anyway.

Quoted: In all that learning did you learn that using 2 condoms is more likely to cause a rupture and thus is less safe than using one condom?

never happened

This news blows.

Quoted: Quoted: Before engaging in her craft, have the fellatio artist gargle with Listerine.  Done. Proceed to hummage. I was wondering how long it would take for someone to suggest that. It would work, by the way, for most bacterial problems that the story is talking about.

Hokie will not mislead you.  I recommend blue peppermint.

Quoted: This news  blows.

Enjoy it, since now your SO can't...........

Quoted: My wife must've already known this several years ago. She is VERY concerned with my safety.

lol yes i think that this is some how instinctive in all women

This is a risk I am willing to take...

Quoted: Quoted: throwing 2 jimmys on. In all that learning did you learn that using 2 condoms is more likely to cause a rupture and thus is less safe than using one condom?

You need an 8 ply steel belted all weather radial.

cunnilingus seems to be safer when it comes to STD transmission than fellatio.

I think this study was conducted by a bunch of female researchers.

Quoted: wife must've already known this several years ago... she is VERY concerned with safety. Sad, but true fact of marriage. (or so I hear from other married types!)

Not everyone.

Quoted: cunnilingus seems to be safer when it comes to STD transmission than fellatio. I think this study was conducted by a bunch of female researchers.

Yeah, especially when they say it's okay for the women to continue receiving oral sex........

The next time these women are at the gym, maybe they should go up to a lean, mean hottie and ask her what her secret really is.

Hey, if women want to give up all the muscular toning and weight loss benefits that go with giving blow jobs - it's no sweat off my balls.  Well, maybe it is - I don't know, but I do know that I won't even get into what other fantastic things this simple, friendly act can do for their skin, hair, IQ - hell, even their career.

Quoted: cunnilingus seems to be safer when it comes to STD transmission than fellatio. I think this study was conducted by a bunch of female researchers.

Exactly.  Who was the author of this study?

Quoted: Quoted: cunnilingus seems to be safer when it comes to STD transmission than fellatio. I think this study was conducted by a bunch of female researchers. Exactly.  Who was the author of this study?

A Ms. Aneita Lick I believe.

This just in! Life kills you!

Seriously, peeing and washing shortly afterwords will also help reduce the risk.

Quoted: Quoted: Wash your dick after you get a hummer. H1, H2, or H3?    Or any of them?

Not my fault they named an auto after a sex act.

Quoted: This news blows.

I kinda think it SUCKS too

Quoted: My wife must've already known this several years ago. She is VERY concerned with my safety.

<cleans smoothie off keys>
Dammit Jake!!!!

I am "up" for the risk .... all is well, move along ...

Adding a POLE.  

I've always enjoyed living on the edge.

Just make your wife uses mouthwash before.

Both of us use mouthwash before we go to bed so I'm not real worried.

Quoted: Quoted: wife must've already known this several years ago... she is VERY concerned with safety. Sad, but true fact of marriage. (or so I hear from other married types!) Not everyone.

My man is happy!

Quoted: Before engaging in her craft, have the fellatio artist gargle with Listerine.  Done. Proceed to hummage.

Is that like one of those "Sandwich Artists" from Subway?  If they're one and the same, then count me out.  I've seen what they do to a perfectly good sub and take my chances with the pros.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Before engaging in her craft, have the fellatio artist gargle with Listerine.  Done. Proceed to hummage. I was wondering how long it would take for someone to suggest that. It would work, by the way, for most bacterial problems that the story is talking about. Hokie will not mislead you.  I recommend blue peppermint.

Does it impart a cool, minty sensation?

Quoted: cunnilingus seems to be safer when it comes to STD transmission than fellatio. I think this study was conducted by a bunch of female researchers.

Their research funding either came from NOW or the women of Good Housekeeping.  End result is the same.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Before engaging in her craft, have the fellatio artist gargle with Listerine.  Done. Proceed to hummage. I was wondering how long it would take for someone to suggest that. It would work, by the way, for most bacterial problems that the story is talking about. Hokie will not mislead you.  I recommend blue peppermint. Does it impart a cool, minty sensation?

If that's your thing...Altoids...Wintergreen. That's all I am saying.

Quoted: Quoted: My wife must've already known this several years ago. She is VERY concerned with my safety. <cleans smoothie off keys> Dammit Jake!!!!

Funny.......... that's the same thing my wife said when last I mentioned her obvious double standard.


(which, according to her testimony, apparently wasn't "obvious" to her )


ETA: As much of a bitch thing this is to do, one of my New Year's resolutions was to "keep score".  That'll go over well.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Before engaging in her craft, have the fellatio artist gargle with Listerine.  Done. Proceed to hummage. I was wondering how long it would take for someone to suggest that. It would work, by the way, for most bacterial problems that the story is talking about. Hokie will not mislead you.  I recommend blue peppermint. Does it impart a cool, minty sensation? If that's your thing...Altoids...Wintergreen. That's all I am saying.

It's like humping a snowball

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Before engaging in her craft, have the fellatio artist gargle with Listerine.  Done. Proceed to hummage. I was wondering how long it would take for someone to suggest that. It would work, by the way, for most bacterial problems that the story is talking about. Hokie will not mislead you.  I recommend blue peppermint. Does it impart a cool, minty sensation? If that's your thing...Altoids...Wintergreen. That's all I am saying. It's like humping a snowball

<cleans smoothie off keys AGAIN>

I'll take my chances.

Some of the wimminz I know would find this news hard to swallow!

listerine

Quoted: It's like humping a snowball

holy shit


As for me, i've always had a strong immune system.

Bring it on!

Quoted: Quoted: Before engaging in her craft, have the fellatio artist gargle with Listerine.  Done. Proceed to hummage. Is that like one of those "Sandwich Artists" from Subway?  If they're one and the same, then count me out.  I've seen what they do to a perfectly good sub and take my chances with the pros.

So the wimmenz should be wearing those plastic food handler gloves too? Interesting...

I'll risk it thank you.

+1, I love to live dangerously, especially if it feels nice doing it!!

Quoted: I'll risk it thank you.

Quoted: +1, I love to live dangerously, especially if it feels nice doing it!! Quoted: I'll risk it thank you.

+1 you only go around once. the good life is all about risk management. for the rest of you, fingers crossed for BJs in heaven hu.