[Question #13187] Oral sex

1 months ago

A girl I don’t know gave me unprotected oral sex last night and I’m very anxious that I might have contacted an STI. Should I get tested? If yes, when should I. Also I am married so is my wife at risk of getting an STI?

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

1 months ago

Welcome back to the forum. Thank you for your continued confidence in our services. However, this question is no different from the one you asked and that was answered by Dr. Hook 6 months ago (question no. 12350). That also was about an episode of receiving oral sex. Dr. Hook's reply started with this advice:

"Receipt of oral sex is a very low risk exposure in terms of risk for STI’s and no one has ever acquired HIV from receiving oral sex."

As Dr. Hook also replied at that time, in general no testing is recommended after a single episode of oral sex, unless there are symptoms, like discharge from the penis within 1-2 weeks or penile sores within 3-4 weeks. Even without symptoms, testing is an option if you feel you need the reassurance of negative test results before you resume sex with your wife. If so, you can have a urine test for gonorrhea and syphilis, which is valid about 4-5 days after exposure. You also could have blood tests for syphilis and HIV after 6 weeks. Personally, if somehow I were in your situation I might have the gonorrhea/chlamydia test, but definitely not HIV or syphilis testing. It's up to you.

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

HHH, MD

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