[Question #10950] Oral Sex Risk

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18 months ago
Dear Doctors,
We hope you are doing well. I had last night an exposure with a new person. We did not engage in sex 
but I did receive oral sex and gave oral sex for a bit (me male-she female). We also did mutual masturbation and she did not have any symptoms in her mouth or genital area. What is my real risk and should i test for anything? I am going through a divorce but still sleep with my current partner. Just making sure what are the real risk and what should i be in the lookout for?
As in blisters or a discharge?
 Thank you!

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Edward W. Hook M.D.
18 months ago
Welcome to the Forum.  Thanks for your questions.  Giving and receiving oral sex is among the lowest risk exposures a person can have. I know nothing about the likelihood that your partner had an STI but oral sex rarely transmits infection even if a partner was infected.  In terms of your receipt of oral sex, the only STI of any meaningful concern is gonorrhea- there is virtually no risk for HIV, chlamydia or other STIs.  In terms of your performing oral sex on her, few STIs are acquired from cunnilingus although there are very, very rare cases in which oral gonorrhea and even HIV have been acquired in this manner.  The most direct way to determine your risk, if possible, if for your partner to be tested.  If she is negative, there is no risk to you.  If that is not possible and you wish to get tested, testing for gonorrhea, both at your throat and penis will provide accurate results 3-5 days following your exposure.

I hope that the information I have provided is helpful.  Personally I would not be too worried and probably would not bother to test unless symptoms developed.  EWH
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18 months ago
Thank you very much for your opinion. I have some more follow up information. She was married but has not had many partners around 5. Wouldn’t know if she has an std or not but I don’t think she will gets tested. So in my case I just have to wait it out. The oral sex from my side  was really brief not even a minute. Her was a bit more intense and the blowjob was rough for like 15 min. Just to follow up, what do you think my risk for like herpes, or gonorea is? Do you believe I should get tested and what should I be in the watch for? It’s been a day but so far just look irritated my penis but all works fine
. Should I do gonorea and chlamydia after 5 days? And for like  hiv syphilis and herpes. Should I test ? Thank you so much for your help ! 
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
18 months ago
All things considered, I estimate that your risk for any STI is less than 1% and lower for some (like HIV or herpes).  Testing is a personal choice.  If you choose to test however, I would test only for gonorrhea (chlamydia is typically done at the same time.  I see no reason to test for HIV and specifically recommend against testing for herpes unless you develop sores.  If sores do appear, the test to do is a swab and NOT a blood test which is frequently misleading.  EWH---
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18 months ago
Thank you!  For the opinion and you have given me great answers. 
Just to make sure, I’ll test for chlam/gono after 5 days. Just to make sure. 
If I don’t develop any let’s say blisters in the next two weeks. I probably didn’t catch anything. HIV and syphilis should test after 6 weeks or no? 
Also, any symptoms that I should be in the lookout besides obvious one? This is my last post so I’ll just take the feedback. Thank you very much for all your help!
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
18 months ago
I am confident that you are in the clear but understand if you wish to test to confirm that.  If you had acquired herpes from the encounter you described, you would develop lesions within 10 days of the encounter. As I said before, we specifically recommend against blood tests for herpes. In terms of blood tests for syphilis and HIV, results will be entirely conclusive anytime more than six weeks after the encounter.

Please don’t worry.  EWH
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