[Question #12935] Question About Oral STI Risk

3 months ago

I’m a 39-year-old male in Denmark. This past Friday, I had a lap dance during a night out—pants stayed on the entire time, so no genital contact or STI concern that way. The dancer (female, 29) at one point sat very close to my face while I was lying on the floor, with no trousers or underwear. It’s possible my lips, tongue, or nose briefly touched her vulva—completely unintentional, lasting only a few seconds, with no deliberate licking or penetration. My wife and I are planning to try for a pregnancy soon, and I’m concerned about the risk of oral STIs I could pass to her, especially Chlamydia and Gonorrhea, given the lower reliability of oral swab testing. I’m less worried about Syphilis due to the high accuracy of blood tests (>99%) and planned testing before pregnancy advances (plus her week 12 screening). My questions: 1) How likely is it to contract oral Chlamydia or Gonorrhea from the brief contact I described? I’ve seen estimates ranging from negligible to 40%. 2) If infected, how accurate are throat swab tests for these STIs—particularly Chlamydia? 3) If I had an oral infection, how likely is it to pass it to my wife through oral sex - also here I see ranges from 0-40%? Given our plans, is testing recommended? And how can I trust what I read online with so much conflicting info?

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

3 months ago

Welcome to the forum. Thank you for your confidence in our services.

Stopping after reading only your opening line: No STI can be transmitted through fabric, and there is no risk from kissing, fingering, hand-genital contact, and the like. If no penile penetration into a partner's vagina, rectum or mouth, you can safely assume there is no risk for any STI, including HIV.

Now I have read the rest of your question. Guess what? The brief oral contact with the dancer's genital area was risk free. Even prolonged cunnilingus (oral-vaginal contact) is very low risk for oral STIs. There is no need for testing in this situation.

Those comments pretty well cover your numbered questions, but to be explicit:

1) "How likely is it to contract oral Chlamydia or Gonorrhea from the brief contact I described?" Zero for all practical purposes.

2) How accurate are the tests? Very reliable any time 4-5 days or more after exposure. As I said, I do not advise testing. On the other hand, if my advice doesn't resolve your fears, you are free to be tested by throat swab. If you do, you can count on negative results.

3) "...how likely is it to pass it to my wife through oral sex?" Even if you were infected, oral gonorrhea and chlamydia are very rarely transmitted by cunnilingus. Given the near zero risk you were infected, if I were in your situation I would continue all my normal sexual practices with my wife, including oral sex, with no concern or worry at all.

As for conflicting information online, you'll have less problem if you a) carefully consider the context of the information you are reading about (I doubt any reliable source would ever estimate anywhere near 40% chance of infection from the brief, fleeting contact you describe) and b) stick with professional sources (like academic medical resources, public health etc) or professionally moderated ones (like this forum). Especially avoid sites run by and for people with particular problems or worries, where anyone can write anything they like and so much information is just plain wrong (like Reddit, for example).

And by the way, you also weren't at risk for syphilis or HIV. I do not advise testing for them.

Anyway, stop worrying. You were not at risk and all is well. Let me know if anything isn't clear.

HHH, MD

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3 months ago

Got it Doc. Just to make sure that i read it correct; The brief oral contact to her vagina was risk free even without fabric and for all std i'm concern about? (only 1-2 seconds and not intentional cunnilingus). Im sure she wouldn't have let me perform prolonged cunnilingus as i only got a "strip-service". thx again

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

3 months ago

"The brief oral contact to her vagina was risk free even without fabric and for all std i'm concern about?" Correct.---

3 months ago

thx

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

3 months ago

You're welcome; thanks for the thanks. That completes the two follow-up exchanges included with each question and so ends this thread. I hope the discussion has been helpful. Best wishes and stay safe.---
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