Correlates of recent engagement in unprotected oral sex among patients presenting for genital herpes testing

Objectives: To identify correlates of recently engaging in unprotected oral sex (UOS) among people volunteering to be tested for HSV-2.

Methodology: A cross sectional study conducted from May 2005 – January 2007 at an urban STD clinic and an urban college campus. Participants were sexually active, over the age of 18, and had not been previously diagnosed with genital herpes (N=301). Participants completed a self-administered survey including a 5-item scale assessing fear of herpes (α=.83) after which they underwent HSV-2 antibody testing (Fisher Sure-Vue HSV-2 Kit).

Results: 81.4% reported engaging in UOS in the last three months; 18.6% reported using condoms for oral sex at least once in this time period. Caucasians were significantly more likely to recently engage in UOS than African-Americans (P=.0001) as were younger participants (defined as age 23 or less; P=.001), participants from the college campus (P=.0001), and people testing positive for HSV-2 (P=.02). Participants who used condoms for penile-vaginal sex were more likely to use condoms for oral sex (P=.0001). Partner relationship status was not associated with UOS (P=.86), nor was gender (P=.57), number of partners (P=.44), or fear of herpes (P=.24). In multivariate logistic regression, only three variables retained significance: race (P=.0001), condom use with penile-vaginal sex (P=.0001), and age (P=.001).

Conclusions: Among asymptomatic people willing to be tested for HSV-2, findings suggest that younger people and Caucasians may be at risk for UOS. Also, among this population, those not using condoms for penile-vaginal sex may be more likely to engage in UOS.