[Question #9260] Oral encounter

34 months ago

Thank you for your time…I asked a similar question in the herpes forum but wanted more clarity on other STDs. How common would it be to acquire HSV2 from oral on a female? She apparently has had HSV2 for at least 12 years ..no noticeable lesions

Unprotected fellatio on me? This is a girl I’ve been dating ..we did not have intercourse..and when asked she was last tested a few years ago when her daughter was born

Much appreciated

Edward W. Hook M.D.

34 months ago

Welcome to our forum. Thanks for your questions. I believe you are asking about STI’s other than HSV and its risk from both performing and receiving oral sex for me potentially infected partner. Let me start by reminding you that most persons do not have STI’s, even persons who are perceived as risky. In addition for all sexual encounters with infected partners, the majority do not result in infection. Amongst potential sexual exposures, receipt of oral sex is lower risk than genital-genital or ano – genital sex. I will now comment on the specifics below.

Receipt of fellatio is relatively low risk for acquisition of infection. Pharyngeal infections are less common than genital infections and less easily transmitted. The two most common STI’s acquired as the result of receipt of oral sex or gonorrhea and Nonchlamydial NGU. Acquisition of chlamydial infection from receipt of oral sex is very, very uncommon. There are no proven instances in which a person has acquired HIV from receipt of oral sex and the acquisition of syphilis from receipt of fellatio is vanishing the rare.

Cunnilingus on a infected sexual partner is likewise very low risk And, in fact, maybe if anything lower risk than receipt of fellatio from an infected partner. There are no large series describing just how common cunnilingus leads to STI‘s, just case reports. This very fact is strong evidence that the risk of acquiring any STI from performing cunnilingus on an infected partner is very, very low. The reason for this is that the site of infection for the most common STI‘s, gonorrhea and chlamydia, is the uterine cervix which is quite far from the site at which cunnilingus is performed.

I hope this information is helpful to you. You have up to 2 follow ups. If any part of this question is unclear please feel free to use your follow ups for clarification. EWH

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34 months ago

Thank you Dr. Hook,

The only follow up I have is do you think it’s ok to kiss my son without thinking I acquired any genital to oral infection. HSV2 I guess is my primary concern..but from what I understood..it’s exceedingly rare to acquire in that manner.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

34 months ago

Of course you can. No STIs are transmitted by kissing. Don’t deprive your son of your affection.

I’ll leave the HSV comment to Terri

EWH

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34 months ago

Thanks Dr Hook..my last follow-up. Is it true that antibody testing for hsv 1/2 would be relatively pointless. Meaning if positive..there’s no way to know if infection occurred recently or years and years ago?

And I didn’t know oral to oral HSV2 isn’t possible..I understood hsv 1 is as 80% of the population has it. Your insight is much appreciated and valuable. I’ve reached my follow up limit and am thankful for this site.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

34 months ago

Terri will be providing responses to your questions regarding herpes. Briefly however:

1. Your are correct, antibody tests for HSV 1/2 are not very good and if positive, would not provide information on how long the infection was present.

2. You are also correct that oral HSV-2 is extraordinarily uncommon and that most of the adult population has HSV-1. Terri will provide more current information

As you point out, with this 3rd response, this thread will be closed shortly. EWH

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