Jakarta, MINA – With the LGBT debate heating up across Indonesia, a health expert from the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) is weighing in on the medical side of the issue and the numbers, he says, are worth paying attention to.
Dr. Bayu Wahyudi, who heads MUI’s health advocacy body, spoke with MUI Digital on Saturday about the real health dangers tied to high-risk sexual behavior. He didn’t just talk about LGBT groups specifically, but noted that many of the risks are linked to behaviors like unprotected anal sex, having multiple partners, sex with drug users, chemsex, and sexual violence.
“The most serious threat is the spread of infections,” he said, listing HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.
He also highlighted cancer risks linked to HPV, including anal, throat, and penile cancers. Then there’s the physical damage that things like anal fissures, rectal inflammation, perianal abscesses, and even loss of bowel control.
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On the psychological side, Bayu pointed out that LGBT individuals statistically face higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide, often due to stigma and social pressure.
He also broke down the biology behind the risks. The rectum, he explained, has a thin, single-layered lining that’s rich in blood vessels, making it far more vulnerable to tears and infection than the vagina, which has thicker, more protective tissue.
“Even tiny tears during anal sex can become entry points for viruses and bacteria,” he said.
And because the rectum doesn’t produce natural lubrication, friction increases the chance of injury.
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Bayu cited US CDC data to put it in perspective: the risk of HIV from one act of unprotected receptive anal sex is about 1.4 percent, roughly 17 times higher than the 0.08 percent risk from receptive vaginal sex. Risks for syphilis, rectal gonorrhea, and hepatitis B are also much higher.[]
Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)
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