What is oral sex?
Oral sex is the use of the mouth, lips and tongue to stimulate the genitals; The penis, vagina or anus of the partner.
We know it better as “blowjob”, “going down on someone” and more.
Important to know
Many sexually transmitted infections can be transmitted through oral sex. Using a condom, in oral sexual contact prevents the chance of contracting or transmitting sexually transmitted diseases.
How common is oral sex?
Oral sex is a common practice, in heterosexual couples as well as in same-sex couples. Over 85% of sexually active people between the ages of 18-44 report having oral sexual contact with a partner of the opposite sex. In another study conducted in 2015 by Dr. Efrat Habaron and Shlomit Habaron, it was found that 64% of boys and girls in Israel had oral sex before the age of 18.
Is it possible to get a STDs during oral sex?
In oral sex performed on a men: many STDs can be transmitted (chlamydia, gonorrhea, mycoplasma, syphilis, herpes and more). The bacteria located at the tip of the penis (urethral opening) pass (with full insertion of the penis into the mouth) into the throat of the man or woman who performs the act. Meaning, pharyngeal infection. Similarly, to having a sore throat in which streptococcal bacteria settle in the throat.
If a man or a woman who suffer from a pharyngeal infection due to an STD performs oral sex on a man, the bacteria in the pharynx will pass to the man’s genitalia and he might suffer from a sexually transmitted disease in the genitals.
In oral sex performed on a woman: the situation is less dangerous. In oral sex given to a woman, there is a risk of infection for both parties with herpes and syphilis with a low risk.
In conclusion:
- You can be infected with a number of infections in the mouth or throat from performing oral sex on a partner with an infection in the genitals, anus or rectum, especially if the infected area is the pines.
- Some infections can also be contracted when you receive oral sex from a person who has an infectious disease in the mouth or throat.
- It is possible to be infected with an STD in more than one area time, for example in the throat and genitals.
- Sexually transmitted infections can be spread even when a person has no symptoms. That is, if you do not have symptoms of a sexually transmitted infection you may be a carrier of the infection, but you do not know it. The only way to know is to be tested.
- In order to detect STDs in the pharynx a dedicated pharyngeal swab must be performed. Such a swab can be performed at the Levinski Clinic in Tel Aviv and at some HMOs.
What sexually transmitted infections can be contracted by oral contact?
- Chlamydia
- Gonorrhea
- Syphilis
- Herpes
- Mycoplasma genitalium
- Trichomoniasis
What about HIV infection?
The chance of contracting HIV through oral sex is purely theoretical. The actual chance is nil, no case of HIV infection through oral sex is known and we regard this practice as non-contagious.
What is the treatment if you are infected?
The treatment is antibiotic treatment depending on the specific infection.
