OROGENITAL SEX AND THE TRANSMISSION OF HIV AMONG HOMOSEXUAL MEN

Objective: To investigate the possibility of orogenital transmission of HIV. Design: Cohort study on HIV infection among homosexual men. Setting: The Municipal Health Service, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Patients, participants: Homosexual men for whom the date of HIV seroconversion was known (n = 102) were included in our study. Main outcome measures: Data on the sexual behaviour of our subjects in the 6-9 months preceding HIV seroconversion were collected. In order to identify those men who consistently denied practising receptive anogenital intercourse, information was retrieved from written questionnaires and from face-to-face interviews. Results: Receptive anogenital intercourse in the 6-9 months before seroconversion was denied by 20 seroconverters in their written questionnaires. However in face-to-face interviews, 11 men later reported this sexual practice. Conclusions: Orogenital transmission of HIV appears to occur, but its frequency may be overestimated because of reluctance to report the practice of receptive anogenital intercourse.