Skip to main content
NCBI home page
The British Journal of Venereal Diseases logoLink to The British Journal of Venereal Diseases
. 1981 Feb;57(1):1–6. doi: 10.1136/sti.57.1.1

The rectum as viewed by the venereologist.

R R Willcox
PMCID: PMC1045856  PMID: 6894100

Abstract

About 2-2 1/2 million people do, or will repeatedly, participate in ano-rectal sexual intercourse in Britain alone. The anus and the rectum of these individuals are thus vulnerable to all the sexually transmitted diseases (except trichomoniasis). Male homosexuals appear to be more prone to these conditions than female heterosexuals, possibly because a large minority is indiscriminately promiscuous. Over the last 20 years homosexually acquired infections--particularly syphilis--have increased in Britain; these are now more readily admitted to because of changes in the law and in public opinion. The frequent changes of sexual partner among male homosexuals is the most notable epidemiological factor in the spread of venereal disease.

Full text

PDF
1

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Cornthwaite S. A., Willcox R. R. Oral and rectal coitus amongst female gonorrhoea contacts in London. Br J Clin Pract. 1974 Sep;28(9):305–306. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Curry J. P., Embil J. A., Williams C. N., Manuel F. R. Proctitis associated with Herpesvirus hominis type 2 infection. Can Med Assoc J. 1978 Sep 9;119(5):485–486. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. DUNLOP E. M., JONES B. R., AL-HUSSAINI M. K. GENITAL INFECTION IN ASSOCIATION WITH TRIC VIRUS INFECTION OF THE EYE. III. CLINICAL AND OTHER FINDINGS. PRELIMINARY REPORT. Br J Vener Dis. 1964 Mar;40:33–42. doi: 10.1136/sti.40.1.33. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Dritz S. K., Ainsworth T. E., Back A., Boucher L. A., Garrard W. F., Palmer R. D., River E. Patterns of sexually transmitted enteric diseases in a city. Lancet. 1977 Jul 2;2(8027):3–4. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(77)90002-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Dritz S. K., Braff E. H. Sexually transmitted typhoid fever. N Engl J Med. 1977 Jun 9;296(23):1359–1360. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Fluker J. L. Recent trends in homosexuality in West London. Br J Vener Dis. 1966 Mar;42(1):48–49. doi: 10.1136/sti.42.1.48. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Frösner G. G., Buchholz H. M., Gerth H. J. Prevalence of hepatitis B antibody in prostitutes. Am J Epidemiol. 1975 Sep;102(3):241–250. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a112153. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Fulford K. W., Dane D. S., Catterall R. D., Woof R., Denning J. V. Australia antigen and antibody among patients attending a clinic for sexually transmitted diseases. Lancet. 1973 Jun 30;1(7818):1470–1473. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(73)91810-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. GOLDBERG J., BERNSTEIN R. STUDIES ON GRANULOMA INGUINALE. VI. TWO CASES OF PERIANAL GRANULOMA INGUINALE IN MALE HOMOSEXUALS. Br J Vener Dis. 1964 Jun;40:137–139. doi: 10.1136/sti.40.2.137. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. GOLDBERG J. STUDIES ON GRANULOMA INGUINALE. VII. SOME EPIDEMIOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS OF THE DISEASE. Br J Vener Dis. 1964 Jun;40:140–145. doi: 10.1136/sti.40.2.140. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. GREAVES A. B. THE FREQUENCY OF LYMPHOGRANULOMA VENEREUM IN PERSONS WITH PERIRECTAL ABSCESSES, FISTULAE IN ANO, OR BOTH. WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PERIRECTAL ABSCESSES OF LYMPHOGRANULOMA ORIGIN IN THE MALE AND INVERSION. Bull World Health Organ. 1963;29:797–801. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. HOLLINGS R. M. Syphilitic ulcers of the anus. Proc R Soc Med. 1961 Sep;54:730–731. doi: 10.1177/003591576105400907. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Heinz K. P. Amoebic infection of the female genital tract. A report of three cases. S Afr Med J. 1973 Oct 6;47(39):1795–1798. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. JENSEN T. Rectal gonorrhoea in women. Br J Vener Dis. 1953 Dec;29(4):222–224. doi: 10.1136/sti.29.4.222. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Jefferiss F. J. Homosexually-acquired venereal disease. Br J Vener Dis. 1966 Mar;42(1):46–47. doi: 10.1136/sti.42.1.46. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Jeffries D. J., James W. H., Jefferiss F. J., MacLeod K. G., Willcox R. R. Australia (hepatitis-associated) antigen in patients attending a venereal disease clinic. Br Med J. 1973 May 26;2(5864):455–456. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.5864.455. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Judson F. N., Miller K. G., Schaffnit T. R. Screening for gonorrhea and syphilis in the gay baths--Denver, Colorado. Am J Public Health. 1977 Aug;67(8):740–742. doi: 10.2105/ajph.67.8.740. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Lim K. S., Wong V. T., Fulford K. W., Catterall R. D., Briggs M., Dane D. S. Role of sexual and non-sexual practices in the transmission of hepatitis B. Br J Vener Dis. 1977 Jun;53(3):190–192. doi: 10.1136/sti.53.3.190. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. MARMELL M. Donovanosis of the anus in the male; an epidemiological consideration. Br J Vener Dis. 1958 Dec;34(4):213–218. doi: 10.1136/sti.34.4.213. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. MORSON B. C. ANORECTAL VENEREAL DISEASE. Proc R Soc Med. 1964 Mar;57:179–180. doi: 10.1177/003591576405700310. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Meyers J. D., Kuharic H. A., Holmes K. K. Giardia lamblia infection in homosexual men. Br J Vener Dis. 1977 Feb;53(1):54–55. doi: 10.1136/sti.53.1.54. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Mildvan D., Gelb A. M., William D. Venereal transmission of enteric pathogens in male homosexuals. Two case reports. JAMA. 1977 Sep 26;238(13):1387–1389. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Oates J. K., Greenhouse P. R. Retention of urine in anogenital herpetic infection. Lancet. 1978 Apr 1;1(8066):691–692. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(78)90802-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Oriel J. D. Anal warts and anal coitus. Br J Vener Dis. 1971 Oct;47(5):373–376. doi: 10.1136/sti.47.5.373. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Schmerin M. J., Gelston A., Jones T. C. Amebiasis. An increasing problem among homosexuals in New York City. JAMA. 1977 Sep 26;238(13):1386–1387. doi: 10.1001/jama.238.13.1386. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Sohn N., Robilotti J. G., Jr The gay bowel syndrome. A review of colonic and rectal conditions in 200 male homosexuals. Am J Gastroenterol. 1977 May;67(5):478–484. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Sohn N., Weinstein M. A., Gonchar J. Social injuries of the rectum. Am J Surg. 1977 Nov;134(5):611–612. doi: 10.1016/0002-9610(77)90446-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. WILLCOX R. R. An unusual case of vaginal tumour. Br J Vener Dis. 1961 Dec;37:284–284. doi: 10.1136/sti.37.4.284. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Waugh M. A. Letter: Sexual transmission of intestinal parasites. Br J Vener Dis. 1974 Apr;50(2):157–158. doi: 10.1136/sti.50.2.157. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. William D. C., Felman Y. M., Marr J. S., Shookhoff H. B. Sexually transmitted enteric pathogens in male homosexual population. N Y State J Med. 1977 Nov;77(13):2050–2052. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from British Journal of Venereal Diseases are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES