Pornographic actors and STDs
Because of the nature of their work, usually involving sex without condoms, pornographic actors are particularly vulnerable to sexually transmitted diseases. Data suggest that pornographic actors have a higher rate of STDs (except for HIV) than the general American population. Among 825 performers screened in 2000–2001, 7.7% of females and 5.5% of males had chlamydia, and 2% overall had gonorrhea. These rates are much higher than in patients visiting family planning clinics, where chlamydia and gonorrhea rates were 4.0% and 0.7%, respectively.... Between January 2003 and March 2005, approximately 976 performers were reported with 1,153 positive STD test results. Of the 1,153 positive test results, 722 (62.6 %) were chlamydia, 355 (30.8%) were gonorrhea, and 126 (10.9%) were coinfections with chlamydia and gonorrhea. Less is known about the prevalence and risk of transmission of other STDs such as syphilis, herpes simplex virus, human papillomavirus, hepatitis B or C, trichomonal infection, or diseases transmitted through the fecal–oral route.[18] According to actress Chloe, "After you've been in this business for a while, you have herpes. Everyone has herpes."[8]
In the 1980s, an outbreak of HIV led to a number of deaths of erotic actors and actresses, including John Holmes, Wade Nichols, Marc Stevens, Al Parker. This led to the creation of the Adult Industry Medical Health Care Foundation, which helped set up a voluntary standard[19] in the U.S. adult film industry where erotic actors are tested for HIV every 30 days. All sexual contact is logged, and positive test results lead to all sexual contacts for the last three to six months being contacted and re-tested. The use of condoms became standard in films featuring homosexual anal sex. Thanks to accurate and mandatory medical tests HIV cases are nowadays extremely rare in the pornographic industry. Nevertheless, a few cases were reported.
In 1997, John Stagliano tested positive for HIV. He contracted the virus recreationally after having unprotected anal sex with a Brazilian transsexual in Rio de Janeiro.[20]
In 1998, a second outbreak occurred. Sharon Mitchell, Director of the Adult Industry Medical Health Care Foundation, announced on April 30, that Marc Wallice was HIV-positive. Wallice's career was effectively over, with rumors and speculation that he also infected several actresses, including Brooke Ashley, Tricia Devereaux, Caroline, Jordan McKnight, Barbara Doll, and Kimberly Jade. He denies the rumors, but they continue to resonate with many in the business; he had been caught with a fake AIDS certificate only months before the scandal broke.[21]
In 1999, another male performer tested HIV positive.[22]
In 2004, a male performer, Darren James, tested positive for HIV;[23] after engaging in a scene in the video "Split That Booty 2" in Rio de Janeiro.[24] By the end of the month it was discovered that three actresses who had worked with James shortly after his return to the United States (two of whom were involved in the same production) had also become infected with the virus. These were Canadian newcomer Lara Roxx, Miss Arroyo, and Czech-born Jessica Dee. Viral load tests showed that James was "Patient Zero,"[25] Following the release of this information the heterosexual porn industry voluntarily reduced their workload for the next 30 days, as various contacts with both individuals, as well as others within the industry, re-evaluated and expanded upon their original programs dealing with this possibility.
In June 2009, an unidentified female performer was announced as having tested positive for HIV.[26] After that announcement was made, Los Angeles County officials announced that there had been 16 previously unpublicized cases of HIV involving adult film performers which had not been publicized since the 2004 Darren James, and that a total of 16 men and 5 women who worked in the adult film industry performers contracted HIV between 2004 and 2008.[27] though officials later backtracked by stating that the agency did not know whether any of those people were performers. Sharon Mitchell, co-founder of the clinic that did the testing, has said that these people were either non-performers or aspiring actors who tested positive.[28] While there have been calls in the aftermath to mandate condom-only sex,[29] consensus in the industry currently appears to supports the existing format.[19] COURTESY WIKIPEDIA
Because of the nature of their work, usually involving sex without condoms, pornographic actors are particularly vulnerable to sexually transmitted diseases. Data suggest that pornographic actors have a higher rate of STDs (except for HIV) than the general American population. Among 825 performers screened in 2000–2001, 7.7% of females and 5.5% of males had chlamydia, and 2% overall had gonorrhea. These rates are much higher than in patients visiting family planning clinics, where chlamydia and gonorrhea rates were 4.0% and 0.7%, respectively.... Between January 2003 and March 2005, approximately 976 performers were reported with 1,153 positive STD test results. Of the 1,153 positive test results, 722 (62.6 %) were chlamydia, 355 (30.8%) were gonorrhea, and 126 (10.9%) were coinfections with chlamydia and gonorrhea. Less is known about the prevalence and risk of transmission of other STDs such as syphilis, herpes simplex virus, human papillomavirus, hepatitis B or C, trichomonal infection, or diseases transmitted through the fecal–oral route.[18] According to actress Chloe, "After you've been in this business for a while, you have herpes. Everyone has herpes."[8]
In the 1980s, an outbreak of HIV led to a number of deaths of erotic actors and actresses, including John Holmes, Wade Nichols, Marc Stevens, Al Parker. This led to the creation of the Adult Industry Medical Health Care Foundation, which helped set up a voluntary standard[19] in the U.S. adult film industry where erotic actors are tested for HIV every 30 days. All sexual contact is logged, and positive test results lead to all sexual contacts for the last three to six months being contacted and re-tested. The use of condoms became standard in films featuring homosexual anal sex. Thanks to accurate and mandatory medical tests HIV cases are nowadays extremely rare in the pornographic industry. Nevertheless, a few cases were reported.
In 1997, John Stagliano tested positive for HIV. He contracted the virus recreationally after having unprotected anal sex with a Brazilian transsexual in Rio de Janeiro.[20]
In 1998, a second outbreak occurred. Sharon Mitchell, Director of the Adult Industry Medical Health Care Foundation, announced on April 30, that Marc Wallice was HIV-positive. Wallice's career was effectively over, with rumors and speculation that he also infected several actresses, including Brooke Ashley, Tricia Devereaux, Caroline, Jordan McKnight, Barbara Doll, and Kimberly Jade. He denies the rumors, but they continue to resonate with many in the business; he had been caught with a fake AIDS certificate only months before the scandal broke.[21]
In 1999, another male performer tested HIV positive.[22]
In 2004, a male performer, Darren James, tested positive for HIV;[23] after engaging in a scene in the video "Split That Booty 2" in Rio de Janeiro.[24] By the end of the month it was discovered that three actresses who had worked with James shortly after his return to the United States (two of whom were involved in the same production) had also become infected with the virus. These were Canadian newcomer Lara Roxx, Miss Arroyo, and Czech-born Jessica Dee. Viral load tests showed that James was "Patient Zero,"[25] Following the release of this information the heterosexual porn industry voluntarily reduced their workload for the next 30 days, as various contacts with both individuals, as well as others within the industry, re-evaluated and expanded upon their original programs dealing with this possibility.
In June 2009, an unidentified female performer was announced as having tested positive for HIV.[26] After that announcement was made, Los Angeles County officials announced that there had been 16 previously unpublicized cases of HIV involving adult film performers which had not been publicized since the 2004 Darren James, and that a total of 16 men and 5 women who worked in the adult film industry performers contracted HIV between 2004 and 2008.[27] though officials later backtracked by stating that the agency did not know whether any of those people were performers. Sharon Mitchell, co-founder of the clinic that did the testing, has said that these people were either non-performers or aspiring actors who tested positive.[28] While there have been calls in the aftermath to mandate condom-only sex,[29] consensus in the industry currently appears to supports the existing format.[19] COURTESY WIKIPEDIA
