Oral sex is when someone puts their lips, mouth, or tongue on their partner’s penis, clitoris, vulva, vaginal opening, or anus. There are different terms used to describe types of oral sex:
- Fellatio is the technical term for oral contact with the penis. This is often referred to as a blow job.
- Cunnilingus is the term for oral contact with the clitoris, vulva, or vaginal opening. This is sometimes called going down on someone.
- Anilingus is the technical term for oral contact with the anus. This is often referred to as rimming.
Oral sex is a common sexual practice for people of all genders and sexual orientations. Generally, oral sex is a safe sexual activity, but sexually transmitted infections can be pass on to partner this way.
Can you get a sexually transmitted infection (STI) from oral sex?
Yes. Some STIs—including gonorrhea and herpes—can be spread through oral sex. But it’s much less likely to pass on or get an STI from oral sex than from vaginal or anal sex.
How are STIs spread through oral sex?
You can get an STI of the mouth or throat if you give oral sex to someone who has a genital or anal infection. Fellatio (mouth-to-penis) is the type of oral sex that is most likely to pass on STIs.
You can also get an infection on the genitals or anus if you receive oral sex from a partner who has an STI on their lips or in their mouth or throat.
Some STIs—specifically gonorrhea and herpes—are more likely to be passed on by oral sex than others.
The chance of getting HIV through oral sex is very low. There have been few if any cases of HIV known to be pass on through oral sex.
What are the symptoms of oral STIs?
Most oral STIs cause no symptoms. Syphilis and herpes may first show up as sores on the lips or mouth. Oral gonorrhea may cause a sore throat similar to strep throat, but over 90% of cases have no symptoms.
How do you test for oral STIs?
Testing for oral STIs depends on the infection. It can be done using a swab (like a throat culture), by visual exam or swab of any sores, or through blood tests.
If you have any symptoms—such as sores on your lips or mouth or an otherwise unexplained sore throat—see a health care provider. Be honest about your recent sexual activity. They may or may not decide you need a test.
If you had oral sex with a partner who has been recently diagnosed with an STI, talk to your provider about whether you should get tested.
Screening for people who don’t have any symptoms is based on your sexual behavior and your partners. For example, most providers suggest screening men who have sex with men for gonorrhea of the throat because this infection is common in this group. In contrast, it’s unlikely a provider would suggest gonorrhea screening for anyone who has only given cunnilingus.
Can oral STIs be treated?
Gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis can be cured with antibiotics. It’s important that all partners get treated so you don’t reinfect each other. Ask your provider whether you need follow up testing.
There is no cure for oral or genital herpes infections, but there are treatments that can help limit outbreaks and lessen symptoms.
There is no cure or treatment for oral HPV, but most infections clear up on their own.
How can I prevent STIs from oral sex?
The best way to prevent STIs from oral sex is to make sure you and your partners get tested. Many STIs have no symptoms meaning the only way to find out if you have one is to get tested. Testing and treating STIs prevents you from passing them to anyone else.
Using condoms during fellatio can prevent STIs, just like they do with vaginal or anal sex. They even make flavored condoms to make it more fun for the giving partner.
In addition, the HPV vaccine prevents infection with the nine types of HPV that are most likely to cause genital warts and cancer. This includes types that cause cancer of the cervix, genitals, anus, and throat.