New Study May Redefine High-Risk Sex

摘要

Researchers who set out to study mother-to-infant AIDS transmission in monkeys have, much to their own surprise, dragged a nettlesome AIDS question into public view and challenged definitions of "high-risk" sexual activities that have stood since the start of the AIDS era 15 years ago. The work began with an attempt to determine whether infant monkeys become infected at birth by ingesting blood from infected mothers. That led to a follow-up study suggesting that oral intercourse in humans may be riskier than the anal variety—contrary to a mountain of reports that identify unprotected anal intercourse as the likeliest route to an AIDS-abbreviated life.