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Is oral sex "low risk" for all permutations of oral sex / infection?
Hey HHH, I'll keep this as to the point as possible, and thanks in advance. I had an anonymous, unprotected oral sex experience on Wednesday May9. It was at a men's movie theatre and I don't know if he was up to anything even moments before our encounter.
It was of very short duration, he did not orgasm. He looked/smelled clean but it was dark and he had dark skin. He also went down on me for an even shorter duration (about 3 bobs).
1) I've heard you say oral sex is "low risk" several times on this board, but does that hold true to giving and recieving?
2) Should I worry about the whole range? HIV, HPV, NGU, Syphilis, Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, Chancroid, Herpies, and Hepatitus? If so, which ones? Are any more or less likely?
3) I've called a lab offering "early detection" tests. They say in young healthy males they should be able to detect all of the above by now (6 days later). Are they bs-ing me?
4) My fiance wants to work through this, but I'm affraid to kiss her now. Is that fear justified?
It was of very short duration, he did not orgasm. He looked/smelled clean but it was dark and he had dark skin. He also went down on me for an even shorter duration (about 3 bobs).
1) I've heard you say oral sex is "low risk" several times on this board, but does that hold true to giving and recieving?
2) Should I worry about the whole range? HIV, HPV, NGU, Syphilis, Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, Chancroid, Herpies, and Hepatitus? If so, which ones? Are any more or less likely?
3) I've called a lab offering "early detection" tests. They say in young healthy males they should be able to detect all of the above by now (6 days later). Are they bs-ing me?
4) My fiance wants to work through this, but I'm affraid to kiss her now. Is that fear justified?
A related discussion, receiving ora sex was started.
A related discussion, May have been answered, but... was started.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The additional information does not change my opinion or advice. Your symptoms do not suggest any STD. Of course see a health care provider if you remain concerned about them.
Not sure if the rule is no more than 2 posts, or no more than 2 threads but here goes.
Since the incident (wednesday May 9) I had a bit of an itch in my throat. I just figured I had swallowed a hair or was obsessing too much. Now its turned into a really sore and raw feeling throat. There's some phlegm back there, but no nose runniness/stuffiness. Could that be the throat based gonorrhea? I suppose I could have caught the cold or strep throat or something too... but it just seems too coincidental.
Since the incident (wednesday May 9) I had a bit of an itch in my throat. I just figured I had swallowed a hair or was obsessing too much. Now its turned into a really sore and raw feeling throat. There's some phlegm back there, but no nose runniness/stuffiness. Could that be the throat based gonorrhea? I suppose I could have caught the cold or strep throat or something too... but it just seems too coincidental.
My sore throat has become progressively worse. It alternates from feeling raw to being difficult to swallow. Sometimes feels like there's a blockage... like I got to cough something up but nothing but thick saliva. The first couple days after the encounter I had a tickle... like I had swallowed a hair or something but now it feels more like I swallowed barbed wire.
Does that kind of thing ring any bells for an STD?
Does that kind of thing ring any bells for an STD?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Common sense is that HIV transmission risk is lower without ejaculation than with it, but no data exist. Pimples or hair follicle infections (folliculitis) are common in the pubic area and don't suggest STD.
Hey HHH,
Is it also true that without ejaculation, the likelyhood of HIV from oral sex is extremely low?
I seem to have a small red pimple like spot in my pubic area close to my penis. I've seen one close to there in the past and I the same kinds of things all over my back. Is the 5 days since my exposure long enough to be displaying that kind of symptom (if indeed that symptom is consistant with an STD).
Sincere thank you for your time in answering my questions. You can bet I've taken a long sobering look at my sexual decision making, but as I've seen you state... you're here for the clinical, not the social aspect, so I wanted to save you the typical "I'm sorry/ashamed/affraid" story.
Is it also true that without ejaculation, the likelyhood of HIV from oral sex is extremely low?
I seem to have a small red pimple like spot in my pubic area close to my penis. I've seen one close to there in the past and I the same kinds of things all over my back. Is the 5 days since my exposure long enough to be displaying that kind of symptom (if indeed that symptom is consistant with an STD).
Sincere thank you for your time in answering my questions. You can bet I've taken a long sobering look at my sexual decision making, but as I've seen you state... you're here for the clinical, not the social aspect, so I wanted to save you the typical "I'm sorry/ashamed/affraid" story.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Directly to your questions:
1) 'Low risk' of course isn't a precise term, and the risk of STD from oral sex varies from one disease to another, and indeed is generally higher for the oral partner than the genital partner. But for every disease and in all circumstances, the risk is far lower than for genital or anal intercourse.
2) Apparently you were only the oral partner. As such, the theoretical risks for you include all the infections you list except hepatitis (no proved transmissions, to my knowledge) and chlamydia (some controversy, but the mouth and throat apparently are not very susceptible). But the actual odds of infection with any of the others is low; the only ones really worth worrying about are gonorrhea, herpes and syphilis. If you don't develop symptoms (sore throat, oral blisters/sores, or the painless sore [chancre] of primary syphilis, you're pretty much home free. But for absolute certainty, the only option is to get tested.
If your theater partner also performed oral on you, then there also is a small risk of NGU, but not much else beyond the ones mentioned above. Chancroid probably doesn't exist in the US at this time. Oral HPV probably can occur, but probably occurs in everybody anyway and causes no symptoms in the mouth; and oral to genital HPV transmission isn't known to occur.
3) Such early testing could only be valid for gonorrhea and chlamydia. The other infections require from 4 weeks (HIV) to 3 months (HSV) to become positive.
4) No, fear of kissing is not justified.
Bottom lines: The risk is low. But be on the alert for symptoms, but I doubt you'll have any; visit an STD knowledgeable health care provider (e.g., your local health department STD clinic) and follow his or her advice; do not use testing-only services you find on the web or anywhere else. And of course consider your sexual decision-making.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
1) 'Low risk' of course isn't a precise term, and the risk of STD from oral sex varies from one disease to another, and indeed is generally higher for the oral partner than the genital partner. But for every disease and in all circumstances, the risk is far lower than for genital or anal intercourse.
2) Apparently you were only the oral partner. As such, the theoretical risks for you include all the infections you list except hepatitis (no proved transmissions, to my knowledge) and chlamydia (some controversy, but the mouth and throat apparently are not very susceptible). But the actual odds of infection with any of the others is low; the only ones really worth worrying about are gonorrhea, herpes and syphilis. If you don't develop symptoms (sore throat, oral blisters/sores, or the painless sore [chancre] of primary syphilis, you're pretty much home free. But for absolute certainty, the only option is to get tested.
If your theater partner also performed oral on you, then there also is a small risk of NGU, but not much else beyond the ones mentioned above. Chancroid probably doesn't exist in the US at this time. Oral HPV probably can occur, but probably occurs in everybody anyway and causes no symptoms in the mouth; and oral to genital HPV transmission isn't known to occur.
3) Such early testing could only be valid for gonorrhea and chlamydia. The other infections require from 4 weeks (HIV) to 3 months (HSV) to become positive.
4) No, fear of kissing is not justified.
Bottom lines: The risk is low. But be on the alert for symptoms, but I doubt you'll have any; visit an STD knowledgeable health care provider (e.g., your local health department STD clinic) and follow his or her advice; do not use testing-only services you find on the web or anywhere else. And of course consider your sexual decision-making.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
