[Question #8215] Chlamydia - oral transmission?

47 months ago

Hi, I contracted Chlamydia recently during a recent encounter that involved both oral and intercourse Male to Female.. I was wondering what the risk would be that I may have infected a subsequent partner through oral sex. Appreciate your thoughts on this. Thank you

Edward W. Hook M.D.

47 months ago

Welcome to the forum. Thanks for your question. Some clarification may be needed regarding the details of your acquisition of chlamydia. I presume that your chlamydial infection was diagnosed using either a urine or a penile swab specimen. I also presume that your throat was not checked for Chlamydia. Are these assumptions correct?

Unlike Gonorrhea which regularly infects the throat in exposed persons, chlamydia very rarely infects the throat of exposed persons. In addition, recent research shows that even when chlamydia is detected in the throat, it is typically not viable and therefore would not be readily transmissible to partners. Finally, for a woman to be infected through receipt of oral sex, there would need to be contact with the cervix of the uterus, not the vagina which is not vulnerable to chlamydial infection. Putting all of these facts into consideration, there is little risk that you infected your subsequent partner through oral sex.

I hope that these comments are helpful. If anything is unclear or needs clarification, please use your up to two follow up questions for clarification. EWH

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47 months ago

Thanks so much for your reply, Dr. Hook, very helpful and comforting to know.

I can confirm that my diagnosis was done using a urine test and my throat was not checked, so you correctly assessed the situation.

I am now in day 5 of my 7 day treatment with Doxy. May I ask your advice as to when it would be safe to resume sex , with a condom? I believe it is at the end of the 7 day treatment plus another 7 days? Effectively Day 14. What is your recommendation?

I have also been asked to retest after 3 weeks ie Day 21 and then again 3 months after that. This made me think that I should be waiting until after that 21 day test to resume sex?

Thanks again..

Edward W. Hook M.D.

47 months ago

It would be safe to resume sex after completing doxycycline. Most experts no longer feel that repeat testing seven days after completion of therapy with doxycycline is necessary. The repeat testing recommendation at three months is due to the fact that epidemiological studies have shown that your risk of repeat infection is substantially higher than that if someone who has not had chlamydia recently. Thus, this repeat testing is repeat screaming not testing to verify the effectiveness of your therapy.

I hope this helps. EWH

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47 months ago

Thanks again and noted Dr. Hook. Your advice is clear and appreciated. I think we can consider this matter closed.

Best wishes to you.