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MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Thanks. The UC Santa Barbara site illustrates a good point, a nuance on my initial reply. Health information seekers should distinguish advice, risks, etc that are clearly described as data-based from common sense statements that may (or may not) have data behind them.
"Slim" is not a quantitative word; there is a range of interpretations. My guess that if it were suggested, the writer might be equally happy with "exceedingly low", "rare", "small", or any of several other words. People with scientific backgrounds typically hestitate to describe anything in absolute terms. Notice that even in my certain-sounding explanation, I qualified it with "to my knowledge" and allowed for some small (slim, if you wish) possibility.
Bottom line 1: There are no data suggesting STD transmission through clothing, and there is no reason to suspect enough risk to worry about. My guess is that a person who had clothing-protected "outercourse" once a day with a new, high risk partner would go his or her entire life without acquiring gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes, HIV, syphilis--and probably even HPV, although I'm not so sure about that one.
Bottom line 2: Do not read anybody's health advice as if were absolute truth.
Bottom line 3: Don't go looking for discrepant statements on the web or in other health education materials, and then assume that one is wrong and the other is right. You always can find them, and usually the differences are more apparent than real. To the extent you need to make a judgement, consider the source, nuances of language, and whether the statements are data-based.
Cheers-- HHH, MD
"Slim" is not a quantitative word; there is a range of interpretations. My guess that if it were suggested, the writer might be equally happy with "exceedingly low", "rare", "small", or any of several other words. People with scientific backgrounds typically hestitate to describe anything in absolute terms. Notice that even in my certain-sounding explanation, I qualified it with "to my knowledge" and allowed for some small (slim, if you wish) possibility.
Bottom line 1: There are no data suggesting STD transmission through clothing, and there is no reason to suspect enough risk to worry about. My guess is that a person who had clothing-protected "outercourse" once a day with a new, high risk partner would go his or her entire life without acquiring gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes, HIV, syphilis--and probably even HPV, although I'm not so sure about that one.
Bottom line 2: Do not read anybody's health advice as if were absolute truth.
Bottom line 3: Don't go looking for discrepant statements on the web or in other health education materials, and then assume that one is wrong and the other is right. You always can find them, and usually the differences are more apparent than real. To the extent you need to make a judgement, consider the source, nuances of language, and whether the statements are data-based.
Cheers-- HHH, MD
A related discussion, Is this true even for HIV..... was started.
A related discussion, outercourse was started.
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Thank your for taking the time to answer and your swift response.
A link as requested, I have read a few like this- http://www.soc.ucsb.edu/sexinfo/?article=faq2&refid=006
To quote from this site "Is there a risk of Sexually Transmitted Diseases?
If there is no transfer of bodily fluids, the risk of most sexually transmitted diseases (except for pubic lice) is low. *If bodily fluid gets through the clothing barrier, STD transmission is possible.* Certain STI
A link as requested, I have read a few like this- http://www.soc.ucsb.edu/sexinfo/?article=faq2&refid=006
To quote from this site "Is there a risk of Sexually Transmitted Diseases?
If there is no transfer of bodily fluids, the risk of most sexually transmitted diseases (except for pubic lice) is low. *If bodily fluid gets through the clothing barrier, STD transmission is possible.* Certain STI
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
To my knowledge, no case of STD transmission through clothing has ever been reported. I suppose it is conceivable there is some small risk under the scenario you describe. There's also a risk of being hit by a meteorite.
I cannot imagine any responsible source saying there is a risk of STD transmission through clothing. I'll be happy to comment if you want to provide a URL. But most likely you misinterpreted something, or you found a source with an extreme, legally-driven CYA attitude. Or maybe a site with a political slant, trying to scare young people away from sex.
Regards-- HHH, MD
I cannot imagine any responsible source saying there is a risk of STD transmission through clothing. I'll be happy to comment if you want to provide a URL. But most likely you misinterpreted something, or you found a source with an extreme, legally-driven CYA attitude. Or maybe a site with a political slant, trying to scare young people away from sex.
Regards-- HHH, MD
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
