[Question #10321] Unprotected Oral Sex Risks

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24 months ago
Hello Doctors, 
I haven't had any penetrative sex since and I only plan to with protection but I've had two seperate exposures with unprotected oral. 

The first was given and received with a known male individual, as far as I know he's said he is STD free. The second was with someone I met at a party who gave a handjob and a few minutes of unprotected Oral. I only later found she works in a spa so I can assume she does the same for others too. There was no vaginal contact and I only received. 

It's been two weeks since both with no visible symptoms. I want to remain as protected and also not be a risk to my regular partner. Should I be concerned? 
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
24 months ago
Welcome back to the forum. Thanks for your continued confidence in our services.

Given the concerns you had in your previous questions, you have made a wise decision to limit penetrative sexual contacts or use condoms when you do. 

Hand-genital contact is risk free for any and all STDs; you can disregard that experience. Receiving oral sex is generally safe, with zero risk for some STDs and low risk for all. However, not zero risk. Of the two oral sex exposures described, the one with a male partner was the main exposure you should be concerned about. The main STD risk from receiving oral sex (i.e. for the penile partner) is for gonorrhea, herpes due to HSV type 1, nongonococcal urethritis (NGU), and syphilis. There is no measurable risk of HIV. Absence of symptoms (penile discharge, painful urination) by two weeks is nearly 100% proof you did not acquire gonorrhea or NGU, and also makes herpes very unlikely. You could be at risk for syphilis, primarily from your male partner; it's unlikely, but still you should be on the lookout for a penile chancre (the sore of primary syphilis) which can occur up to 3-4 weeks after exposure.

If somehow I were in your situation, I would be comfortable resuming sex with my wife at two weeks with no symptoms. However, it would be reasonable for you to have a syphilis blood test 6 weeks after the event. 

I hope these comments are helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear.

HHH, MD
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24 months ago
These are very helpful doctor thank you. As someone who has gone through a lot of paranoia in the past, this service has been of great help especially to someone like me who's a very late bloomer in a country that's not exactly open about these things as you're well aware. 

I have refered to this website before making choices but I guess some situations got the best of me and my paranoia for contracting HIV is way less now but best to still ask advice all the same. 

If no chancre develops do you still recommend a syphilis test after six weeks ? Additionally do I also test for anything else besides what you've already mentioned? 

And finally are there any regular medications or vaccines I can take to protect myself in the future ? The male encounter was more of an experiment and definitely a one time thing that I only did with someone I trust and is healthy. 


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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
24 months ago
Yes, I recommend a syphilis blood test after 6 weeks -- although the chance you have it is extremely low, especially without a chancre, it isn't quite zero. Equally important, probably you be reassured; without testing, most anxious persons will continue to worry even if the risk is nearly zero. Similarly, for reassurance I would advice a urine test for gonorrhea and chlamydia (valid any time more than 4-5 days after exposure, but it would be safe to wait until 6 weeks) and a blood test for HIV. Even though the chance of HIV was zero, HIV testing normally is done along with syphilis testing.

If you have not been immunized against hepatitis B or human papillomavirus (HPV), I suggest vaccination against both. But otherwise I would not recommend antibiotics or anything else prior to sexual exposures, especially with low risk partners like you have had recently.
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24 months ago
Thanks Doctor, I know this is my final follow up. So final questions

As I already had the syphilis scare in my previous exposure I had taken the meds to the full course earlier this year as a precaution based on the consulting doctor's advice on precaution and stopping after I tested negative. So I have the meds, Doxycycline I believe, still available for those. Unless they have a short shelf life ? 

Understand the tests for the other stds but I'm just checking you mentioned HIV risk being zero, so is the testing for that specifically, is more for putting my mind at ease ? 

And the last one which gets asked alot, unprotected sex with my regular partner? I have discussed it extensively with her and I'm choosing to have a responsible sexual habit and stick to one partner for the foreseeable future so is it safe to do that now or do I wait for my test results. 

Thanks again for providing this service doctor. Truly, I appreciate it. 



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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
23 months ago
I would not have recommended doxycycline and see no reason for you to take it now. 

Yes, HIV testing would primarily be for reassurance. Many or most anxious persons are more reassured by negative testing than by professional opinion, no matter how expert. But it's up to you.

If somehow I were in your situation, I would not have been tested and would never have stopped having unprotected sex with my wife without worry. Certainly you can do that now, especially since it seems you have an understanding partner who, it seems to me, would be willing to proceed without waiting for your test results.

That concludes this thread. I hope the discussion has been helpful. Best wishes and stay safe.
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