I was a health educator--I need to post this

[mistergoat]

I'm reposting this from chilimuffin; I hadn't heard it before. But it's important info. If anyone knows anything related (either backing it up or contradicting it!), please comment

Comments

[chilimuffin]

So I've seemingly just disarmed my own argument, right? Well, maybe. Here's my main problem: manufacturing standards. Just as latex gloves aren't held to the same standards as condoms, plastic film wraps are held to even less of a standard. Moreover, they're thinner material than condoms (or gloves). There isn't any available information that I can find related to the specific quality measures of food wrap, but I very much doubt it's as regulated as something manufactured specifically for the prevention of fertilization/STI transmission. I can't imagine SC Johnson would tell me, if they even have data, on the number of microtears per square foot they find acceptable. I have no citations for that, nor do I think any are available. Until the study is done, I feel it is important for me to not lead my patients into a possibly false sense of security. If I had a lab, I'd do the study myself. Maybe someday.....

To be fair, the odds of transmitting most viruses during oral sex are relatively small (unless you're actively shedding HSV). But HSV I infections of formerly HSV II-only territory are definitely on the rise. I have only seen one picture of a possible HPV infection on someone's oral mucosa obtained from a partner, and I don't know if that'll pan out as anything significant. To that end, any barrier is better than no barrier. And odds are that food wrap is probably good enough for most people. I don't know if that's something I should ever say to my patients. The odds may be acceptable for you, in which case, that's your decision. But I do object to putting the line "saran wrap is totally safe!" out there without the caveat that "we don't know that with any sort of proof."

Hope that helps :).