this is a story about sexuallytransmitted infections oral sex and underwear its the first time underwear has been authorized for this purpose and it provides a new choice for protection where the few options have been unpopularcreditjovelle tamayo for the new york timesmay 12 2022this is a story about infections sex and underwear more specifically its about sexuallytransmitted infections oral sex and ultrathin superstretchy vanillaflavored pantiesthe food and drug administration has authorized the panties to be considered protection against infections that can be transmitted from the vagina or anus during oral sex it is a first for underwearthe undies are part of an understudied but important area of sexual health where the few options for protection are considered cumbersome and hardly usedoral sex is not totally riskfree said dr jeanne marrazzo director of the division of infectious diseases at the university of alabama at birmingham she said the need for protective methods was of growing importance because more teenagers are initiating their first sexual activity with oral sex for people of all ages she added a protective barrier that is enjoyable to use could reduce anxiety and increase pleasure around that particular behaviorinfections like herpes gonorrhea and syphilis can be transmitted through oral sex according to the centers for disease control and prevention the risk of transmitting hiv from a vagina through oral sex is considered very low the cdc said but hpv human papillomavirus is more easily transmitted that way and mouth and throat infections from some types of hpv may develop into oral or neck cancer the agency saidhow often people transmit infections in this manner is unclear and difficult to study because most people who have oral sex have vaginal or anal sex in the same encounter said dr kenneth mayer the medical research director for fenway health a community health center in massachusetts that focuses on patients who identify as lgbtqthe fdas authorization of this product gives people another option to protect against stis during oral sex said courtney lias director of the fda office that led the review of the underwearthe only product previously authorized for protection during oral sex was a dental dam a thin rectangular sheet of latex or sometimes polyurethane that typically must be held in place with ones hands to form a barrier between the mouth and genitalsas the name suggests dental dams invented in 1864 and originally made of rubber were designed to isolate teeth during dental procedures but the aids crisis ignited concern about sexual transmission of infections and in the early 1990s an australian company glyde health created a dental dam that was primarily inspired by concerns of women who have sex with women an official with the company has saidalthough several brands of dental dams have received fda clearance for protection against sexual disease transmission the devices have not exactly been a hittheyre extremely unpopular dr marrazzo said adding i mean honestly could there be anything less sexy than a dental damimagecreditjovelle tamayo for the new york