Many sexually active people today, and some health educators and agencies, have come to believe (or assume) that oral sex is just as risky as vaginal or anal sex for STD transmission. That's wrong. Oral sex can be considered safe sex:  the risk of all STDs is low, much lower than for vaginal or anal sex; and the risk is zero for some of them. Another common myth is that the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is frequently sexually transmitted and that hep C is an STD. Not true. The data are very clear:  the only proved, consistent sexual transmission occurs in men having sex with other men, and then only with anal sex practices that are likely to be traumatic, with blood exposure. In heterosexuals, study after study has shown that the regular sex partners of persons with HCV (with frequent unprotected intercourse) have no higher chance of testing positive than anyone in the general population -- if the couple doesn't also share drug injection equipment. And neither HCV nor hepatitis B virus (HBV) is regularly transmitted by saliva. That small amounts of the virus can be detected in saliva does not necessarily mean high transmission risk. While in theory oral sores, bleeding gums, etc might increase the chance of transmission, in the real world it probably makes little real difference.

Those comments address some of your specific questions, directly or indirectly. I will add that the likelihood any particular heterosexual male in the US has an active HBV or HCV infection is very low. And if your partner were infected, the potential for transmission by saliva is very low, if not zero. So I definitely would not consider this a risky exposure in regard to either of these viruses. And expanding on my comments above about oral sex, cunnilingus (oral-vaginal) is especially low risk. Most oral sex risk comes from fellatio (oral-penile). Because of that, as well as the unlikelihood of transmission of HBV or HCV by saliva, women are at extremely low risk, probably zero or close to it, by receiving cunnilingus.

Having said all that, it's good you are being vaccinated against HBV. It won't make any difference for your recent exposure, but all sexually active people should be vaccinated. (Well, ALL people should be immunized, which is why HBV vaccination is now routine in children world wide.)

Bottom lines:  You needn't worry about this at all, and I recommend against testing for either HBV or HCV.

I hope this information has been helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear. Best wishes and stay safe---   HHH, MD

Chlamydia uncommonly infects the oral cavity and is not known to be transmitted oral to genital. Gonorrhea is not uncommonly transmitted oral to penis, but rarely by cunnilings. Syphilis can be transmitted by such contact, but in North America and westnern Europe is concentrated primarily among men who have sex with men, so very low risk in this situation.

Thanks very much for your kind comments about the forum. That completes the 2 follow-ups and replies included with each question, and so ends this thread. Take care and stay safe!