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Question regarding cunnilingus & gonorrhea
About a week ago, I performed cunnilingus on a girl (I don't know her status regarding any STD's). Since that time, my tonsils have become swolllen and now have white spots on them. I can't remember when I first noticed that my tonsils were swollen because it came on gradually, but it was at most 1 to 2 days after this sexual exposure (however, I could have actually noticed it before this exposure but I just can't remember bc I didn't think much of it at the time). Anyway, I went to one of those walk-in clinics earlier today and they tested me for strep, which came back negative. They said it was probably just a virus and would pass on its own. They did mention that I had a slight fever (99 degrees) and the glands in my neck felt swollen. Now I am worried that this could be oral gonorrhea or some other type of STD...although the nurse never mentioned this. However, my throat hasn't really been sore, and I have heard that oral gonorrhea typically does not cause any symptoms. Do you think this could be gonorrhea or another STD? I have read that gonorrhea is relatively rare from cunnilingus. Thanks for your help.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Lots of sex education in schools takes a very conservative approach -- if there is any risk at all, it is portrayed as a big deal. We've commented on this quite frequenly on this forum over the years. But the fact is that oral sex carries very low risks for all STDs -- not zero risk, but such exposures carry a far lower chance of any STD than unprotected vaginal or anal sex.
Thanks doctor. If you don't mind one more question, I was just curious if there are really any STD's that you need to worry about all when it comes to cunnilingus, or if they are all pretty rare? I think I have a hard time accepting the fact that cunnilingus is relatively safe because when I was in middle school and high school, we used to have these people come in every year and talk to us about STDs. I just always remember them saying "oral sex is not safe sex", and they would always say to use a dental dam (which I still have never heard of anyone using in real life). They would show us all these pictures of STDs, which I'm sure were the worst examples they could find (probably from 3rd world countries where the people had never been treated). By the time you got out of there, they had you thinking that oral sex was as risky as getting a direct blood transfusion from someone with fullblown AIDS. Anyway, this just got ingrained in my head, as I'm sure it has for other people as well. Thanks again for your help.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum. Thanks for your question.
The chance you have oral gonorrhea is extremely low -- very close to zero. Why? First, gonorrhea is not an especially common STD, and if your partner isn't an inner-city African American, the chance she has it is very low, no matter how sexually active she is. Second, as you found in your own research, oral gonorrhea is rarely acquired by cunnilingus. (Dr. Hook led the most recent research on this.) Third, as you also learned on your own, oral gonorrhea usually is asymptomatic, and a rare cause of overt pharyngitis. In addition, no STD (or any other infection) is likely to cause symptoms within a day of exposure; 2-3 days is pretty muct occurred.
Other STDs? Almost certainly not. All STDs are rare after cunnilingus (which is widely considered to be safe sex for STDs and HIV). In addition, no STD (or any other infection) is likely to cause symptoms within a day of exposure; 2-3 days is pretty much the minimum. So the odds are you were infected before the sexual contact occurred.
So the odds are very high that you just have a garden variety viral pharyngitis, as the walk-in clinic said. That said, if you would like 100% assurance, you would need a throat swab for a gonorrhea test. But I really don't see a need; I certainly wouldn't do it myself if somehow I found myself in your cirumstance.
I hope this has helped. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
The chance you have oral gonorrhea is extremely low -- very close to zero. Why? First, gonorrhea is not an especially common STD, and if your partner isn't an inner-city African American, the chance she has it is very low, no matter how sexually active she is. Second, as you found in your own research, oral gonorrhea is rarely acquired by cunnilingus. (Dr. Hook led the most recent research on this.) Third, as you also learned on your own, oral gonorrhea usually is asymptomatic, and a rare cause of overt pharyngitis. In addition, no STD (or any other infection) is likely to cause symptoms within a day of exposure; 2-3 days is pretty muct occurred.
Other STDs? Almost certainly not. All STDs are rare after cunnilingus (which is widely considered to be safe sex for STDs and HIV). In addition, no STD (or any other infection) is likely to cause symptoms within a day of exposure; 2-3 days is pretty much the minimum. So the odds are you were infected before the sexual contact occurred.
So the odds are very high that you just have a garden variety viral pharyngitis, as the walk-in clinic said. That said, if you would like 100% assurance, you would need a throat swab for a gonorrhea test. But I really don't see a need; I certainly wouldn't do it myself if somehow I found myself in your cirumstance.
I hope this has helped. Best wishes-- 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.
