Unprotected cunnilingus - tonsillitis

[Sillyboy1980]

Hi Doctors,

I think I know what you will reply, but there seems to be much conflicting opinion over cunnilingus and the spread of STI's.

Last Tuesday I engaged in unprotected cunnilingus on an Escort in the UK.  I am concerned as she 'squirted' unexpectedly, some of which I inadvertently swallowed. Following that she gave me unprotected oral and we had protected sex.

5 days later and I have what seems to be symptoms of tonsillitis - red slightly swollen tonsils, white spots of varying sizes on them and a feeling that there is a lump in my throat when swallowing. I am also having a blocked nose, can get some headaches and my stomach feels unsettled.

What are the chances these are related?  Does this sound like I have contracted an STI?  Is it likely to just be coincidental timing, am I at risk of STI's/HIV (this is where there seems to be conflicting opinion throughout the web) and do you think I should go and get tested for anything?

Very many thanks for your time.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

I would not be worried about HIV related to the situation you describe.

If this were gonorrhea of the throat the only persons at risk would be persons you performed oral sex on.  Kissing would not put others at risk.  EWH

[Sillyboy1980]

Thanks for your response. So no real chance of HIV?  If it were a case of gonorrhoea, can it clear up by itself and how contagious would I be to those around me, like my family?
Many thanks.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to the Forum.  There is a small risk of throat infection with cunnilingus IF your partner were infected.  The risk if less than if you had taken part in unprotected genital sex as the biological efficiency of the transfer from the female genital tract to the throat is lower than for transfer to the penis during genital-genital contact.  Further, chlamydial infections do not seem to "take" very well at the throat and for this reason throat infections due to C. trachomatis are quite rare.

In your case, I suspect that beyond the facts that I mentioned above, that this is the coincidental occurrence of a community acquired upper respiratory tract infection rather than an infection related you your recent sexual contact because most oral STIs do not cause the sort of nasal congestion you describe (unlike "colds") and most oral STIs occur without symptoms.  

If you are really concerned, I am sure you could arrange to have a throat swab for gonorrhea performed from your throat to rule out infection. There is really little to worry about however.  EWH