More than one-quarter of teenagers in a recent survey did not know that sexually transmitted diseases can be passed through oral sex, reported Ms. Nicole Stone, at the Centre for Sexual Health Research, University of Southampton, England, and her associates.
In contrast, only 2% of the teens were unaware that sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) can be transmitted through “vaginal intercourse with ejaculation” (Perspect. Sex. Reprod. Health. 2006;38:6–12).
The study included a survey of more than 1,300 British teenagers and analysis of sexual event diaries of more than 100 of the teenagers. Knowledge of STD transmission improved among older girls. Only 5% of 18-year-old girls did not know that STDs could be transmitted during oral sex, compared with about 22% of 16-year-old girls.
“It is essential that those charged with teaching youth about sexual issues—whether in schools, in clinics or in homes—be encouraged to broaden the scope of their coverage,” the researchers wrote.