Sexually transmitted infections in the pornography industry deals with the occupational safety and health hazard of contracting sexually transmitted infections STIs by workers in the sex industry.
However, since the mids strict adherence to rigorous STI testing , and limiting sexual contact with only fellow tested performers has halted the spread of HIV and other STIs in the industry. Experts suggest there are a total number of thirty-five infections and diseases that can be transmitted sexually. According to former pornographic actress Shelley Lubben , a s outbreak of HIV led to the death of 27 porn stars between and , including Wade Nichols who died in , [ 8 ] John Holmes , Marc Stevens , and Al Parker Six months previously, he had tested negative.
During the summer of , Holmes, knowing his HIV status, agreed to perform in two pornographic films to be filmed in Italy, without informing the producers of his HIV status. It was concluded that James had been infected while engaging in unprotected anal sex with Brazilian actress Bianca Biaggi during a scene for the video Split That Booty 2 in Rio de Janeiro.
The heterosexual segment of the porn industry voluntarily shut down for 30 days a day moratorium was originally announced but it was lifted early while it tried to deal with the situation. A further estimated actors who had had contact with James were tested and received an HIV-negative result. A total of five actors were diagnosed with the virus by the end of the moratorium: one male and four females, including one transgender woman [ 23 ] [ 24 ] named Jennifer.
In June , AIM reported that a female adult entertainer had tested positive, though it was believed that transmission occurred in her private life.
