A Nigerian doctor, Victor-Bryan Nwala has taken to social media to enlighten the public on the dangers of using saliva during sexual intercourse.
In his Twitter thread where he explained further on the risks of using saliva as a sex lubricant, the doctor said bacteria in the saliva are very different from those found in the vagina and can, therefore, upset the natural conditions of the vagina, leading to onset of yeast infections.
He explained also that any STI present in the throat or mouth can be transmitted to the genitals through saliva, citing instances with the herpes virus.
“The bacteria in saliva are very different than the bacteria in your vagina,” Saliva also contains digestive enzymes that break down food. When you introduce these bacteria and enzymes into your vagina.
The result can upset your vaginal microbiome and leave you susceptible to developing a yeast infection or bacterial vaginosis.
“Any STI in the throat or mouth can be transmitted to the genitals through saliva,” In other words, if your partner has an active herpes lesion for example, using their spit to make things slick could leave you with genital herpes.
This scenario happens more than you might think—and it’s the most common way genital herpes is contracted. Even if you don’t see a cold sore on or around their mouth, the virus can still be transmissible.
“Herpes can present with blisters or sores, but it can also present asymptomatically,”.
Herpes isn’t the only oral STI you could contract. “Gonorrhea, chlamydia, HPV, syphilis, and trichomoniasis can also all be transmitted to the genitals through saliva,” And like herpes, these infections may not have any symptoms.
“Using saliva as lube provides a perfect storm to alter the vaginal or anal ecosystem enough to trigger one of these infections,”.
