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To: Polycarp
These results are surprising because they appear to contradict what we know about human sexual behavior. Cross-culturally, men are more promiscuous than women. They have more sexual partners before marriage and higher rates of marital infidelity. Moreover, some of their numbers patronize prostitutes, who are a prime vector for AIDS transmission. These are all behaviors which expose men to a greater risk of sexually contracting HIV/AIDS.

What the author conveniently forgets is that in any given encounter with an infected partner the women will always be at higher risk of infection than the man simply due to being the receptive partner.

HIV is most easily transmitted through minute breaks in the skin, exposing the blood supply to the virus. This is more likely to occur in womens vaginal mucosa than on the mans genitalia during sex.

And if what I've heard is true, that there is a preference in Africa for "dry" sex, this would make it even more likely to occur due to damage to the women's tissues.

So I wouldn't be surprised at all to see more women infected than men given the same amount of exposure.

LQ

7 posted on 04/29/2003 3:02:16 PM PDT by LizardQueen
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To: LizardQueen
The bit about preference for "dry sex" is apparently an attempt by prostitutes to deceive their customers into thinking that they are reluctant virgins rather than seasoned pros. This is supposed to be cultural, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's also due to the fact that a virgin is much less likely to have AIDS, and also because there is apparently a misapprehension in Africa that sex with a virgin cures AIDS.
12 posted on 04/29/2003 3:07:03 PM PDT by RonF
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