Health Officials Concerned That ‘Extreme Sex Acts’ in Pornography Films Put Actors at Greater Risk of HIV Infection

Los Angeles County health officials and health advocates are concerned that "increasingly extreme sex acts" may be putting pornographic film actors at a greater risk of contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, the Los Angeles Times reports. The adult film industry recently resumed production after a self-imposed hiatus expired following an HIV outbreak among actors in the industry (Liu/Richardson, Los Angeles Times, 6/10). Five adult film actors in April and May tested HIV-positive, and four of the cases were linked. Following the detection of the first two cases, 53 workers who may have had unprotected sex with one of the actors or one of their onscreen partners agreed to a voluntary work quarantine. About 12 companies agreed to a 60-day production moratorium until HIV testing of the actors was completed. No new cases have been reported since then, and industry officials say the outbreak has been contained (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 6/7). Officials say that "sex stunts" -- such as a woman having "unprotected anal sex concurrently with two men" -- can cause injuries to performers that make them more susceptible to disease. According to Peter Kerndt, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services' STD Program, the possibility of injury and infection can be exacerbated by production schedules that require sexual contact "lasting hours at a time," the Times reports. Studies have shown that anal intercourse -- which the adult film industry considers "standard fare" -- is the riskiest form of intercourse, according to the Times (Los Angeles Times, 6/10).