Journal
JAIDS-JOURNAL OF ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROMES
Volume 50, Issue 2, Pages 162-167Publisher
LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS
DOI: 10.1097/QAI.0b013e31819388a9
Keywords
homosexual; saliva; lubricant; anal intercourse
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Funding
- NCI NIH HHS [R01 CA119903, U01 CA078124] Funding Source: Medline
- NIAID NIH HHS [P30 AI027763] Funding Source: Medline
- NICHD NIH HHS [K01 HD052020, K01 HD052020-01] Funding Source: Medline
- NIMH NIH HHS [T32 MH019105, T32 MH19105, P30 MH062246] Funding Source: Medline
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Objectives: Compared with other sexually active adults, men who have sex with men (MSM) are more frequently infected with several pathogens including cytomegalovirus, hepatitis B virus, and Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus. Because one common element between these organisms is their presence in saliva, we evaluated saliva exposure among MSM in a heretofore relatively unrecognized route-via use of saliva as a lubricant in anal sex. Methods: MSM in a San Francisco population-based cohort were interviewed regarding use of saliva by the insertive partner as a lubricant in various anal sexual practices. Results: Among 283 MSM, 87% used saliva as a lubricant in insertive or receptive penile-anal intercourse or fingering/fisting at some point during their lifetime; 31%-47% did so, depending upon the act, in the prior 6 months. Saliva use as a lubricant was more common among younger men and among HIV-infected men when with HIV-infected partners. Even among MSM following safe sex guidelines by avoiding unprotected penile-anal intercourse, 26% had anal exposure to saliva via use as a lubricant. Conclusions: Among MSM, use of saliva as a lubricant is a common, but not ubiquitous, practice in anal sex. The findings provide the rationale for formal investigation of whether saliva use in this way contributes to transmission of saliva-borne pathogens in MSM.
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