Helicobacter pylori: a sexually transmitted bacterium?

INTRODUCTION: Oral sex (fellatio) is a very common sexual activity. H. pylori is mainly a gastric organism, but studies have reported that infected individuals may permanently or transiently carry H. pylori in their mouth and saliva. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A Pubmed search was conducted using the words infection, oral sex and urethritis. RESULTS: The existing studies support the hypothesis that H. pylori could be a causative agent of non–gonococcal urethritis. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible that H. pylori may be transmitted via the act of fellatio in the urethra. Further research is required to explore the role of H. pylori in sexually transmitted urethritis.