[Question #13765] Oral risks
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24 days ago
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Docs,
Ive been reading this forum for a while- i have some general questions. Im a middle aged female who always has condom protected sex, but i have a friend with benefit who is male- that i give oral sex unprotected occasionally. … what are my chlamydia and gonorrhea risks? Ive been tested vaginally, but never orally? Is this something i need to test for? My friend is also middle aged- he doesnt have any type of penis symptoms. Just trying to figure out if i need a throat test?
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
24 days ago
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Welcome to the Forum. Thanks for your questions. I'll be glad to comment.
Risk for STIs depend on your partner's risks, as well as your own and shared information regarding our respective risks. It sounds as though the partner you are describing is your only partner- it that correct. If so, then your need for testing depends on his level of risk, Does he have other partners and if so, how many and what is the likelyhood that they are infected. Also, does he get tested.
Among penetrative sexual acts, oral sex is the act least likely to result in acquistion or transmission of bacterial STIs. The epithelial cells of the oral cavity are more difficult to infect than the epithelial cells of the genital tract or rectum. In addition, Again due to the biology of the bacteria, oral cells can be infected with gonorrhea on occasion but chlamydial infections are quite rare.
---An important part of the answer to your questions is, do you think your causal partner has other partners and whether or not he get's checked.
Hopefully this information is helpful. I'll be glad to provide further information in your up to 2 follow-ups if needed. EWH
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24 days ago
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Hi Dr. Hook- we are both in commited relationships with other people. Again this is a very rare occasional occurrence- maybe twice a year. And it only involves oral sex. We have been friends for 15 years. He claims nothing to worry about - and i test vaginally every year, but never thought to test orally.
He states he has no symptoms, so im sure he doesnt have gonorrhea.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
23 days ago
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Thanks for the additional information. There is virtually no risk in the situation you describe. While testing is always a personal decision and you have had oral exposures, it is unlikely that he is infected. I would not feel that oral testing is necessary. EWH---
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23 days ago
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Thank you -
For my last question- in the unlikely event that he is infected and i did get an oral chlamydia infection - what risks does that pose to my commited partner? Is the transmission from oral to penis likely?
I am hopeing that he is being truthful and there is nothing to worry about. He refuses to get tested saying there is no need.
I know you are not therapists and i appreciate you answering the questions- i cant ask him anymore because he now refuses to talk to me since i badgered him about his status.
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22 days ago
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I am sorry i have one more thing to add- what is the likelihood of a false positive result?
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
21 days ago
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Most single exposures to a partner with gonorrhea do not lead to infection. Obviously, the risk goes up with repeated exposures. The risk of chlamydia acquistion and transmission are certainly lower than for gonorrhea, particularly at the throat but there are no good studies of the topic. The estimates risk of a woman acquiring genital gonorrhea from a single exposure to an infected male penis is about 30%- the risk for oral sex is lower although precisely how much lower is unknown. Similarly, the risk of transmission oral gonorrhea to an uninfected partner through oral sex is also unknown but certainly less than 20%, probably less than 10% although there are no good studies of the situation. In your circumstance I would have little concern. Sorry there are not better answers
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The risk of a falsely positive test for chlamydia are very, very low- less than 1 in a thousand.
As you know tis is my 3rd and therefore final response. I hope thatt he information I have provided is helpful. In your circumstance I would not be overly worried. EWH