Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can spread through vaginal, anal, and oral sex. A person can lower the chances of contracting an STI through oral sex by using a condom.
Oral sex carries a risk of contracting and transmitting certain STIs. Oral sex includes fellatio or oral sex on a penis, cunnilingus or oral sex on a vulva, and rimming or oral sex on an anus.
According to the
| STI | Areas of infection | How it spreads |
|---|---|---|
| chlamydia | throat genitals urinary tract rectum | Giving oral sex to a partner with chlamydia that affects their penis, vagina, urinary tract, or rectum may result in infection of the throat. Receiving oral sex from a partner with chlamydia in their throat may result in infection of the penis, vagina, urinary tract, or rectum. |
| gonorrhea | throat genitals urinary tract rectum | Giving oral sex to a partner with gonorrhea affecting their penis, vagina, urinary tract, or rectum may result in infection of the throat. Receiving oral sex from a partner with gonorrhea in their throat may result in infection of the penis, vagina, urinary tract, or rectum. |
| syphilis | lips mouth throat genitals anus rectum | Giving oral sex to a partner with a syphilis sore or rash on their genitals or anus may result in infection of the lips, mouth, or throat. Receiving oral sex from a partner with a syphilis sore or rash on their lips, mouth, or throat may result in infection of the genitals, anus, or rectum. |
| herpes | lips mouth throat genitals and surrounding areas anus rectum buttocks | Giving oral sex to a partner with herpes that affects their genital area, anus, rectum, or buttocks may result in infection of the lips, mouth, and throat. Receiving oral sex from a partner with herpes on the lips, mouth, or throat may result in infection of the genital area, anus, buttocks, or rectum. |
| human papillomavirus (HPV) | mouth throat genital area penis vagina cervix anus rectum | Giving oral sex to a partner with HPV on their penis, vagina, anus, or genital area may result in infection of the throat. Receiving oral sex from a partner with HPV in their throat may result in infection of the penis, vagina, anus, rectum, or genital area. |
| HIV | immune system | Giving oral sex on the penis, vagina, or anus of a partner with HIV may result in HIV infection. Receiving oral sex on the penis, vagina, or anus from a partner with HIV may result in HIV infection. |
Learn more about STIs.
Several methods can help prevent or reduce the risk of transmitting and contracting STIs. The sections below discuss these in more detail.
Condoms
Condoms that cover the penis are a common type of barrier method of contraception.
There are three types of condom material. They can either be latex, plastic, or lambskin. Lambskin condoms can only help prevent pregnancy, not STIs.
Latex and plastic condoms protect against STIs by covering the penis and mouth, stopping them from coming into direct contact with the vagina or anus.
Experts advise people to always use a new condom whenever they start a different sexual activity. For example, a person should change their condom if they go from oral sex to anal sex. The same is true if they go from anal sex to vaginal sex.
Internal condoms
Internal condoms, or female condoms, are an alternative to typical condoms that go over the penis. Planned Parenthood reports that female condoms provide roughly the same amount of protection from STIs.
These condoms are plastic pouches that go inside the vagina or anus and cover some parts of the vulva and skin around the anus. They reduce a person’s risk of coming into contact with semen or skin that can spread STIs.
Dental dams
Dental dams are small latex or polyurethane sheets that act as a barrier between the mouth and the vagina or anus during oral sex. These limit the amount of contact between the mouth and the genitals or anus,
If a dental dam is not available, it is possible to cut a latex or plastic condom in half and use that as a dental dam instead.
HPV vaccine
HPV is a very common STI. Certain types of HPV can result in cancer and genital warts.
However, scientists have developed a vaccine that protects against HPV. The vaccine is available to everyone ages 9 to 45 years. It is best to vaccinate children before they become sexually active to reduce their risk of contracting an STI in adulthood.
The HPV vaccine is safe. The most common side effects are temporary pain and skin flushing at the injection site.
The vaccine can only prevent HPV. It cannot cure or treat strains of HPV that a person has already contracted before they receive the vaccine.
Preexposure prophylaxis
Preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP), which takes the form of a daily pill, helps reduce a person’s risk of contracting HIV. Planned Parenthood reports that when a person takes PrEP every day, it can lower their risk of contracting HIV from sex by more than 90%.
People at high risk of contracting HIV from sex may benefit from taking PrEP. A person may be suitable for PrEP if they:
- do not regularly use condoms
- have a sexual partner who has HIV
- have a sexual partner who is at high risk of having HIV
- have anal or vaginal sex with multiple partners, especially without using condoms
- have recently had another STI, such as chlamydia or gonorrhea
- do sex work that includes vaginal or anal sex
- have used injected drugs, shared needles, or had treatment for drug use within the past 6 months
Doxy PEP
Doxycycline post-exposure prophalaxis (doxy PEP) is an STI prevention strategy. It involves taking a
| STI | Symptoms | Complications |
|---|---|---|
| chlamydia | Many people do not have any symptoms, but if they do occur, they may include: a sore throat discharge from the vagina or penis that may be bloody a burning sensation when urinating pain and swelling of the testicles pain and discharge from the rectum | pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which may lead to pelvic pain, infertility, or non-viable pregnancies premature birth or low birth weight (in babies born from a person with chlamydia) a chlamydia infection of the eyes or respiratory tract (in babies born from a person with chlamydia) pain and scarring of the ducts attached to the testicles a higher risk of contracting and transmitting STIs arthritis and conjunctivitis |
| gonorrhea | Most people will not experience any symptoms, but if symptoms do occur, they may include: discharge from the vagina or penis that may be bloody a burning sensation when urinating painful and swollen testicles pain and discharge from the rectum | PID, which may lead to pelvic pain, infertility, and non-viable pregnancies premature birth or low birth weight (in babies born from a person with gonorrhea) blindness, joint infections, or blood infections (in babies born from a person with gonorrhea) pain and scarring to the ducts attached to the testicles a higher risk of contracting and transmitting HIV skin sores and joint pain, although rarely, gonorrhea can disseminate and cause infection in joints, the heart, or even the lining of the brain and spinal cord |
| syphilis | Some people have no symptoms, but some of the most common include: painless ulcers or sores on the lips, mouth, throat, skin, or genital or anal regions a rash on the torso, palms of the hands, or soles of the feet flu-like symptoms | a higher risk of stillbirth (without treatment) developmental delay, seizures, or death (in babies born from a person with syphilis) a higher risk of contracting and transmitting HIV muscle weakness and damage to internal organs blindness, dementia, and death |
| herpes | Some people have no symptoms, but if symptoms do occur, they may include: headache or fever painful or itchy sores around the site of infection | a higher risk of contracting and transmitting HIV brain damage, internal organ damage, or death (in a person with an active herpes outbreak) |
| HPV | Some people have no symptoms, but if they do occur, they may include: warts in the throat that may cause changes in voice, difficulty speaking, or shortness of breath genital or anal warts | complications |
| HIV | people have fairly immediate flu-like symptoms, though this can be mistaken for another viral illness | a higher risk of contracting infections and developing certain cancers (due to being immunocompromised) |
Many people will not experience any symptoms of STIs.
Therefore, it is important that a person talks with a healthcare professional if they believe that they are at risk of having an STI.
A person may have contracted an STI if they are engaging in sex without a condom or other barrier method, have a partner with an STI, or experience any symptoms — such as discharge — that are unusual for them.
People can undergo testing with at a primary care facility, health clinic, or local Planned Parenthood office. There are also at-home tests available for some STIs.
Some people’s health insurance may cover all or part of the costs associated with testing.
Most STIs are treatable. A medical professional can help people understand the treatment and management of an STI diagnosis.
How common is STI transmission through oral sex?
The chances of getting an STI from oral sex depend on many factors, including the type of STI and sexual health of either partner. A person can lower their risk through preventive measures such as using condoms, dental dams, or other barrier methods when practicing safer sex.
How can you prevent STIs from oral sex?
Preventive measures include using barrier methods of protection during safer sex, such as condoms and dental dams, taking medications such as PrEP, and getting vaccinated against STIs.
Oral sex comes with a risk of contracting or transmitting STIs, just like any other sexual activity with a partner.
Some of the more common STIs include chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, and HPV.
Using a barrier method of contraception, such as a condom, during safer sex and getting vaccinated against STIs like HPV can help prevent the spread of STIs. If a person is at high risk of contracting HIV, they may consider taking PrEP.
Many people do not experience any symptoms of STIs, but each infection can cause long-term and harmful complications if a person does not get medical treatment.
For this reason, people need to undergo regular testing for STIs.
