An Experimental Vaccine for Chlamydia Shows Promise in Early Study
A Phase 1 trail for a possible new chlamydia vaccine had encouraging results. Chlamydia is one of the most common STIs worldwide—a vaccine could dramatically change this landscape.
Can someone be infected with a sexually transmitted infection (STI) from oral sex? Yes. Many STIs, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis, can be spread through oral sex. However, the chances of giving or getting STIs during oral sex can be lowered by using a condom or dental dam.
By definition, oral sex is when someone puts his or her lips, mouth or tongue on a man’s penis, a woman’s genitals (including the clitoris, vulva, and vaginal opening), or the anus of another person. There are different terms used to describe types of oral sex:
Oral sex is common among sexually active adults. As with other types of sexual activity, oral sex can transmit STIs. It may be possible to get some STIs in the mouth or throat from giving oral sex to a partner with a genital or anal/rectal infection, particularly from giving fellatio.
It also may be possible to get certain STIs on the penis, and possibly the vagina, anus or rectum, from receiving oral sex from a partner with a mouth or throat infection. It’s possible to have an STI in more than one area, for example in the throat and the genitals.
Site of initial infection:
Symptoms: Often there are no symptoms. If there are symptoms, they might include a sore throat, abnormal discharge from the vagina, penis, or rectum, and/or a burning feeling when urinating.
Treatment: Easily cured with antibiotic medicines.
Site of initial infection:
Symptoms: Often there are no symptoms. If there are symptoms, they might include a sore throat, abnormal discharge from the vagina, penis, or rectum, and/or a burning feeling when urinating.
Treatment: Can be cured with antibiotic medicines, but drug-resistant strains of gonorrhea are increasing in many parts of the world, including the US.
Site of initial infection:
Symptoms: Often there are no symptoms. In the first or primary stage of infection, may have a single sore or multiple sores on mouth, throat, genitals, or anus. In the second stage, may have a skin rash (often on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet, but also on other body parts). The symptoms of syphilis will disappear with or without treatment, but without treatment, the infection remains in the body and may cause organ damage.
Treatment: Curable with antibiotic medicines.
Site of initial infection:
Symptoms: Often no noticeable symptoms. At times, blisters or sores are present on the mouth, lips, throat, genital area, anus, or buttocks.
Treatment: There is no cure for herpes, but medications can shorten and decrease or prevent outbreaks.
Site of initial infection:
Symptoms: Often there are no symptoms, although some types of HPV can cause genital warts—small bumps in and around the genitals and anus, or in the mouth or throat. Others types of HPV can develop into cancer of the mouth, throat, cervix, or rectum.
Treatment: There is no cure for HPV infection, but 90% of persons clear the infection within 2 years. Genital warts can be removed through different methods, including freezing. Appropriate follow-up and treatment for genital and rectal HPV infections (detected by abnormal Pap smear and/or HPV test results) is essential for cancer prevention and detection.
Site of initial infection:
Symptoms: Often there are no initial symptoms; however, after first being infected some people experience flu-like symptoms. HIV damages the body by destroying specific blood cells that help the body fight disease. HIV infection can lead to acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Treatment: There is no cure for HIV or AIDS, although anti-HIV medications can slow the progression of HIV infection and can help keep an HIV-infected person healthy.
Note: Certain things have been suggested to increase a person’s chances of getting HIV during oral sex, if exposed to an infected partner, such as having poor oral health, having bleeding gums or gum disease, having sores in the mouth or on the genitals, or being exposed to the “pre-cum” or “cum” (also known as pre-ejaculate or ejaculate) of an infected partner. However, no scientific studies have been done to show whether or not these factors actually do increase the risk of getting HIV or STI from oral sex.
The chances of giving or getting STIs during oral sex can be lowered by using a condom, dental dam or other barrier method each and every time a person has oral sex:
For fellatio (mouth-to-penis contact):
For cunnilingus (mouth-to-vagina contact) and anilingus (mouth to anus contact):
Sexually active individuals should get tested regularly for STIs and HIV, and talk to all partner(s) about STIs. Anyone who thinks that he/she might have an STI should stop having sex and visit a doctor or clinic to get tested. There are free and low-cost options for testing available. It is important to talk openly with a health care provider about any activities that might put a person at risk for an STI, including oral sex.
A Phase 1 trail for a possible new chlamydia vaccine had encouraging results. Chlamydia is one of the most common STIs worldwide—a vaccine could dramatically change this landscape.
There is a shortage of the only eye ointment to protect newborns from potentially serious eye infection that can be caused by chlamydia, gonorrhea, or other bacteria transmitted from parent-to-infant during birth.
The Oklahoma House recently passed a bill making it a crime to intentionally or recklessly spread several STIs. Those found guilty would be convicted of a felony and punished with between two and five years in prison.
Mpox cases in the United States are almost double what they were at this time last year. While rates still remain far lower than during the outbreak of 2022, experts worry too few people are vaccinated.
Diagnosing and Managing Genital Herpes A two-part conversation with Terri Warren, RN, ANP In this two-part episode of ASHA’s Sex+Health podcast, Terri Warren, RN, ANP—nurse, author, and owner of Westover
Doxy-PEP is the strategy of taking the antibiotic doxycycline after condomless oral or anal sex to prevent chlamydia, gonorrhea, or syphilis.
ASHA believes that all people have the right to the information and services that will help them to have optimum sexual health. We envision a time when stigma is no longer associated with sexual health and our nation is united in its belief that sexuality is a normal, healthy, and positive aspect of human life.
ABOUT
GET INVOLVED
ASHA WEBSITES
GET HELP
© 2024 American Sexual Health Association