Sore throat after cunnilingus

My boyfriend of 6 years says he gets a sore throat after each time he performs cunnilingus on me. He says it's almost right after, lasts for about 2-3 days. We are monogamous, neither of us has any STD's & I do not have any vaginal infections. What could be causing it & what can be done to prevent it? Is it a hygienic issue?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

As I have said before, I am an expert in STDs and other infections, not a sex therapist.  I don't think I can help much, except to reassure you that I'm sure it's not an STD or any other infection.  No infection can cause sore throat immediately after exposure.  Over 30 years ago, research studies showed that persons who performed oral sex--mostly fellatio but also cunnilingus--had sore throats more often than expected by chance, but the symptoms were not generally associated with any known infection.  

I don't think there has been any research on this since then, so the rest of my comments are speculative.  But three possibilities come to mind.  First, maybe chemical irritation or allergy due to hygienic products or perhaps just to a partner's genital secretions.  Allergy to partners' genital secretions is known to occur but is extremely rare, and usually would be associated with itching, swelling, or facial rash, not just sore throat.  Second, muscular pain.  Body aches can happen in response to positions or activities that don't seem to be especially stressful, but that in fact are associated with unconscious tensing of the muscles involved.  Perhaps during cunnilingus your boyfriend is unconsiously tightening up muscles around the throat.  Third, perhaps it is psychogenic--by which I don't mean anybody has any important mental health problem.  This idea may be closely related to the second--i.e., muscle spasm may be the way a psychological issue works to cause discomfort.

I don't have any useful suggestions for prevention, except to consider consulting a sex therapist.  In any case, I am sure there is no important health issue or hygienic problem.

Good luck--   HHH, MD