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Research Outline

Prepared for Harry L. | Delivered November 24, 2019

Dried Vaginal Fluids and STDs

Goals

  • To find 2-3 case studies or experiments of instances where sexually transmitted diseases were spread through contact with dried vaginal fluids or menstrual discharge.

Early Findings

  • Hepatitis B can be transmitted through the sharing of unwashed sex toys. This would indicate that it is possible for Hepatitis B to be spread through contact with dried vaginal fluids and mestrual discharge if they are present on a sex toy.
  • Hepatitis B can live outside the body for at least seven days and is capable of causing infection the entire time.
  • Hepatitis C is less commonly transmitted through sex or sexual acts, but it can be.
  • It can be transmitted through the sharing of unwashed sex toys, especially if the use of such toys results in mucosal tears in body tissues in the vagina or anus. This would indicate that it is possible for Hepatitis C to be spread through contact with dried vaginal fluids. Since Hepatitis C is primarily transmitted through blood, the likelyhood of transmission through dried vaginal fluids is very small. Transmission through dried menstrual discharge is greater if dried blood is present in the discharge.
  • Hepatitis C can survive on dry surfaces for up to six weeks.
  • HIV can be transmitted through the sharing of unwashed sex toys although the risk decreases if only dried fluids are present.
  • The HIV virus exists in lower concentrations in vaginal fluid than in semen or blood, resulting a lower risk of transmission from vaginal fluid, especially dried vaginal fluid.
  • The risk of transmission through dried menstual discharge is higher, especially if blood is present in it.
  • HIV in blood can live on surfaces for up to 5-6 days. Since blood contains the highest concentration of HIV, we can safely assume that the time it can live in other dried surfaces would be less than this.
  • It is important to note that sexually transmitted diseases, in general, and especially the three discussed here cannot be transmitted simply by coming into contact with fluids, wet ot dried, that are infected with then. The viruses still have to be transmitted through unprotected sex, the sharing of uncleaned sex toys, needles, or certain other drug parapanelia, and sometimes open sores in the mouth.