What is oral sex, and can you get STIs from it?

What Is Oral Sex?

Oral sex involves using the mouth, lips, or tongue to stimulate a partner’s genitals or anus. It includes:

• Fellatio: Mouth on a penis
• Cunnilingus: Mouth on a vulva or clitoris
• Analingus (rimming): Mouth on the anus

People choose oral sex for pleasure, intimacy, or as an alternative to penetrative sex. Despite its popularity and perception as “safer sex,” oral sex can still transmit sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

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Can You Get STIs from Oral Sex?

Yes. Bacteria and viruses that cause STIs can live in genital fluids (semen, vaginal fluids), skin, or mucous membranes (mouth, throat, anus). When these fluids or infected cells contact your mouth or throat, you can become infected.

Key points:

• Oral sex can transmit gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, herpes, HPV, and—less commonly—HIV.
• In many cases, infections in the throat or mouth are asymptomatic, making them harder to detect without testing.
• Extragenital (outside the genitals) infections matter: Studies show chlamydia and gonorrhea can infect the throat without any genital signs (Patton et al., 2014).

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Common STIs Spread by Oral Sex

1. Gonorrhea

   • Can infect the throat (pharyngeal gonorrhea).
   • Often no symptoms, or mild sore throat.
   • Diagnosis by throat swab; treated with antibiotics.

2. Chlamydia

   • Less common in the throat but possible.
   • Usually symptom-free; diagnosed by throat swab or saliva test.
   • Treatable with antibiotics.

3. Syphilis

   • Primary syphilis can cause mouth or lip sores.
   • Secondary syphilis may cause rash, fever, swollen lymph nodes.
   • Treated with penicillin injections.

4. Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV-1 & HSV-2)

   • HSV-1 (cold sores) often spreads to genitals by oral sex.
   • HSV-2 (genital) can spread to the mouth.
   • Sores, tingling, or itching; antiviral medications reduce outbreaks and transmission.

5. Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

   • Certain HPV types infect the mouth and throat.
   • Persistent infection with high-risk HPV linked to oropharyngeal cancer (D’Souza et al., 2007).
   • Vaccination (HPV-9) prevents the most risky strains; no cure for established infection.

6. HIV

   • Lower risk compared to vaginal or anal sex, but possible if infected fluids enter small cuts or sores in the mouth.
   • Risk increases if ejaculation occurs in the mouth or mouth sores are present.
   • Prevention: condoms, dental dams, Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP).

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Symptoms to Watch For

Oral STIs may not cause obvious symptoms. If symptoms appear, they can include:

• Sore throat or persistent throat pain
• Unexplained mouth ulcers or sores
• Swollen, tender lymph nodes in neck or jaw
• White patches in the throat
• Unusual discharge, bleeding, or pain during oral activities

Since many infections are silent, regular testing is the only way to know for sure. If you notice anything unusual or painful, consider a symptom check for your peace of mind.

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Reducing Your Risk

While no method is 100% effective (except abstinence), you can lower your risk of getting or transmitting STIs during oral sex:

• Use barriers consistently:
  • Latex or polyurethane condoms on penises
  • Flavored dental dams or cut-open condoms over vulvas and anuses
• Avoid oral sex with partners who have visible sores, cuts, or active herpes outbreaks
• Maintain good oral hygiene but avoid brushing or flossing immediately before or after oral sex, as this can create tiny cuts
• Limit the number of sexual partners or choose partners whose STI status you know and trust
• Get vaccinated for HPV if you’re eligible (recommended up to age 26, and in some cases up to 45)
• Consider regular screening for STIs, including throat swabs for gonorrhea and chlamydia if you engage in oral sex

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Testing and Treatment

• Ask your healthcare provider about extragenital testing. Standard STI tests often focus on genital samples and may miss throat infections.
• Most bacterial STIs (gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis) are curable with prescribed antibiotics.
• Viral infections (HSV, HPV, HIV) are manageable with antiviral medications and monitoring.

Early detection and treatment not only protect your health but also reduce the chance of passing infections to others.

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When to Speak to a Doctor

• If you develop severe symptoms: high fever, difficulty swallowing, swollen glands that don’t improve
• If you test positive for any STI—your doctor can guide you on treatment and partner notification
• If you have concerns about complications, such as oropharyngeal pain that won’t go away or lumps in your neck
• For advice on preventive measures like PrEP (for HIV) or HPV vaccination

Remember: prompt medical care helps prevent serious complications. If you experience life-threatening or ongoing issues, seek immediate care or call emergency services.

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Final Thoughts

Understanding “what is oral sex” and its potential risks empowers you to make safer choices. While oral sex can transmit STIs, using barriers, getting vaccinated, and testing regularly dramatically reduce your risk. If you have any concerns or symptoms, always talk openly with a healthcare professional—they are there to help, not judge. And if anything feels serious or life-threatening, don’t hesitate to seek urgent medical attention.