Oral Sex How To Avoid Infection

Oral Sex How To Avoid Infection

For a full list of topics: A-Z Index

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Syndicate

STD Risk and Oral Sex – CDC Fact Sheet

CDC INFORMATION

About CDC
Jobs
Funding
Policies
File Viewers & Players
Other Languages

CONNECT WITH CDC

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
LinkedIn
Snapchat

Youtube
Syndicate
CDC TV
RSS
Email

Español
繁體中文
Tiếng Việt
한국어
Tagalog
Русский
العربية
Kreyòl Ayisyen
Français
Polski
Português
Italiano
Deutsch
日本語
فارسی
English

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

LinkedIn

Snapchat

Youtube
Syndicate
CDC TV
RSS
Email

CDC Website Exit Disclaimer external icon

Exit Notification / Disclaimer Policy

Close

Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving the CDC website.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website.
Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link.
CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website.

For more information on CDC's web notification policies, see Website Disclaimers .

Oral sex involves using the mouth to stimulate the genitals or genital area of a sex partner. Types of oral sex include the penis (fellatio), vagina (cunnilingus), and anus (anilingus).
Oral sex is commonly practiced by sexually active adults. More than 85% of sexually active adults aged 18-44 years reported having oral sex at least once with a partner of the opposite sex. A separate survey conducted during 2011 to 2015 found that 41% of teenagers aged 15-19 years reported having oral sex with a partner of the opposite sex.
Yes. Many STDs and other infections are spread through oral sex. Anyone exposed to an infected partner can get an STD in the mouth, throat, genitals, or rectum. The risk of getting an STD or spreading an STD to others through oral sex depends on several things, including the particular STD, type of sex, and number of sex acts performed.
* Statements with an asterisk (*) need more research.
* Statements with an asterisk (*) need more research.
Even with treatment, oral (lip, mouth and throat) infections:
Even with treatment, genital area, buttock, anal, and/or rectal infections:
* Statements with by an asterisk (*) need more research.
Even with treatment, warts in the throat:
Even with treatment, genital and anal warts:
Mouth and throat infections by several types of HPV that do not cause warts may develop into head or neck cancer.
Abnormal changes in cells of vagina or anus:
Even with treatment, HIV infection:
Certain factors may increase a person’s chances of getting HIV or other STDs during oral sex if exposed to an infected partner. Factors like:
However, there are no scientific studies that show whether these factors increase the risk of getting HIV or STDs from oral sex.
You can lower your chances of giving or getting STDs during oral sex. Use a condom, dental dam or other barrier methods every time you have oral sex.
The only way to avoid STDs is to not have vaginal, anal, or oral sex.
If you are having sex, you can lower your chances of getting an STD by:
It’s important to remember that many people with an STD may be unaware of their infection. STDs often have no symptoms and are unrecognized.
If you are having sex, ask your healthcare provider to test you regularly for STDs and HIV. Talk openly with your provider about activities that might put you at risk for an STD, including oral sex. You also should talk to your partner(s) about STDs. Free and low-cost options for testing are available in your area.
Patel et al. AIDS. 2014 Jun 19; 28(10): 1509–1519.
Habel MA, Leichliter JS, Dittus PJ, Spicknall IH, Aral SO. Heterosexual Anal and Oral Sex in Adolescents and Adults in the United States, 2011-2015. Sex Transm Dis. 2018 Dec;45(12):775-782.
Chandra A, Mosher WD, Copen C, Sionean C. Sexual behavior, sexual attraction, and sexual identity in the United States: data from the 2006-2008 National Survey of Family Growth. 36, 1-36. 2011. Hyattsville, MD, National Center for Health Statistics. National health statistics reports.
Copen CE, Chandra A, Febo-Vazquez I. Sexual behavior, sexual attraction, and sexual orientation among adults aged 18-44 in the United States: data from the 2011-2013 National Survey of Family Growth. 88, 1-13. 2016. Hyattsville, MD, National Center for Health Statistics. National health statistics reports.
Sparling PF, Swartz MN, Musher DM, Healy BP. Clinical Manifestations of Syphilis. In: Holmes KK, Sparling PF, Stamm WE et al., eds. Sexually Transmitted Diseases . Fourth ed. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2008;662-684.
Dooley SW, Thrun M. HIV Transmission Prevention in the Context of Care. In: Holmes KK, Sparling PF, Stamm WE et al., eds. Sexually Transmitted Diseases . Fourth ed. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2008;1362-1392.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Questions and answers on the use of HIV medications to help prevent the transmission of HIV. 4-13-2010. 2-7-2012.
Jones RB, Rabinovitch RA, Katz BP et al. Chlamydia trachomatis in the pharynx and rectum of heterosexual patients at risk for genital infection. Annals of Internal Medicine 1985;102:757-762.
Templeton DJ, Jin F, Imrie J et al. Prevalence, incidence and risk factors for pharyngeal chlamydia in the community based Health in Men (HIM) cohort of homosexual men in Sydney, Australia. Sexually Transmitted Infections 2008;84:361-363.
Wikstrom A, Rotzen-Ostlund M, Markowitz E. Occurrence of pharyngeal Chlamydia trachomatis is uncommon in patients with a suspected or confirmed genital infection. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica 2010;89:78-81.
Benn PD, Rooney G, Carder C et al. Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection and the sexual behaviour of men who have sex with men. Sexually Transmitted Infections 2007;83:106-112.
Bradshaw CS, Tabrizi SN, Read TRH et al. Etiologies of nongonococcal urethritis: bacteria, viruses and the association with orogenital exposure. Journal of Infectious Diseases 6 A.D.;193:336-345.
Jin F, Prestage GP, Mao L et al. Incidence and risk factors for urethral and anal gonorrhoea and chlamydia in a cohort of HIV-negative homosexual men: the Health in Men Study. Sexually Transmitted Infections 2007;83:113-119.
Bernstein KT, Stephens SC, Barry PM et al. Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae transmission from the oropharynx to the urethra among men who have sex with men. Clinical Infectious Diseases 2009;49:1793-1797.
Lafferty WE, Hughes JP, Handsfield HH. Sexually transmitted diseases in men who have sex with men. Acquisition of gonorrhea and nongonococcal urethritis by fellatio and implications for STD/HIV prevention. Sexually Transmitted Diseases 1997;24:272-278.
Stamm WE. Chlamydia trachomatis Infections of the Adult. In: Holmes KK, Sparling PF, Stamm WE et al., eds. Sexually Transmitted Diseases . Fourth ed. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2008;575-593.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sexually transimitted diseases treatment guidelines, 2010. Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report 2010;59:1-110.
Paavonen J, Westrom L, Eschenbach D. Pelivc Inflammatory Disease. In: Holmes KK, Sparling PF, Stamm WE et al., eds. Sexually Transmitted Diseases . Fourth ed. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2008;1017-1050.
Hitti J, Watts DH. Bacterial Sexually Transmitted Infections in Pregnancy. In: Holmes KK, Sparling PF, Stamm WE et al., eds. Sexually Transmitted Diseases . Fourth ed. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2008;1529-1561.
Kohlhoff SA, Hammerschlag MR. Gonoccal and Chlamydial Infections in Infants and Children. In: Holmes KK, Sparling PF, Stamm WE et al., eds. Sexually Transmitted Diseases . Fourth ed. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2008;1613-1627.
Geisler WM, Krieger JN. Epididymitis. In: Holmes KK, Sparling PF, Stamm WE et al., eds. Sexually Transmitted Diseases . Fourth ed. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2008;1127-1145.
Berman SM, Cohen MS. STD Treatment: How Can It Improve HIV Prevention in the South? Sexually Transmitted Diseases 2006;33:850-857.
Rottingen JA, Cameron DW, Garnett GP. A systematic review of the epidemiologic interactions between classic sexually transmitted diseases and HIV: how much really is known?. [Review] [147 refs]. Sexually Transmitted Diseases 2001;28:579-597.
Fleming DT, Wasserheit JN. From epidemiological synergy to public health policy and practice: the contribution of other sexually transmitted diseases to sexual transmission of HIV infection. [Review] [81 refs]. Sexually Transmitted Infections 1999;75:3-17.
World Health Organization. Consultation on STD interventions for preventing HIV: what is the evidence? 1-54. 2000. UNAIDS/00.06E, WHO/HIS/2000.02. 2-19-2010.
Colven R. Generalized Cutaneous Manifestations of STD and HIV Infection: Typical Presentations, Differential Diagnosis, and Management. In: Holmes KK, Sparling PF, Stamm WE et al., eds. Sexually Transmitted Diseases . Fourth ed. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2008;1177-1197.
Murray AB, Greenhouse PR, Nelson WL, Norman JE, Jeffries DJ, Anderson J. Coincident acquisition of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and HIV from fellatio. Lancet 1991;338:830.
Wong ML, Chan RK. A prospective study of pharyngeal gonorrhoea and inconsistent condom use for oral sex among female brothel-based sex workers in Singapore. International Journal of STD & AIDS 1999;10:595-599.
Morris SR, Klausner JD, Buchbinder SP et al. Prevalence and incidence of pharyngeal gonorrhea in a longitudinal sample of men who have sex with men: the EXPLORE study. Clinical Infectious Diseases 2006;43:1284-1289.
Sackel SG, Alpert S, Fiumara NJ, Donner A, Laughlin CA, McCormack WM. Orogenital Contact and the Isolation of Neisserioa gonorrhoeae, Mycoplasma hominis, and Ureaplasma urealyticum from the Pharynx. Sexually Transmitted Diseases 1979;6:64-68.
Wong ML, Chan RK, Koh D. Promoting condoms for oral sex: impact on pharyngeal gonorrhea among female brothel-based sex workers. Sexually Transmitted Diseases 2002;29:311-318.
Castor D, Jolly PE, Furlonge C et al. Determinants of gonorrhoea infection among STD clinic attenders in Trinidad – II: Sexual behavioural factors. International Journal of STD & AIDS 2002;13:46-51.
Hook EW, III, Handsfield HH. Gonococcal Infections in the Adult. In: Holmes KK, Sparling PF, Stamm WE et al., eds. Sexually Transmitted Diseases . Fourth ed. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2008;627-645.
Jin F, Prestage GP, Imrie J et al. Anal Sexually Transmitted Infections and Risk of HIV Infection in Homosexual Men. Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes: JAIDS 2010;53:144-149.
Weir SS, Feldblum PJ, Roddy RE, Zekeng L. Gonorrhea as a risk factor for HIV acquisition. AIDS 1994;8:1605-1608.
Peterman TA, Furness BW. The resurgence of syphilis among men who have sex with men. [Review] [65 refs]. Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases 2007;20:54-59.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Transmission of primary and secondary syphilis by oral sex–Chicago, Illinois, 1998-2002. MMWR – Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report 2004;53:966-968.
Hourihan M, Wheeler H, Houghton R, Goh BT. Lessons from the syphilis outbreak in homosexual men in east London. Sexually Transmitted Infections 2004;80:509-511.
Imrie J, Lambert N, Mercer CH et al. Refocusing health promotion for syphilis prevention: results of a case-control study of men who have sex with men on England’s south coast. Sexually Transmitted Infections 2006;82:80-83.
Simms I, Fenton KA, Ashton M et al. The re-emergence of syphilis in the United Kingdom: the new epidemic phases. Sexually Transmitted Diseases 2005;32:220-226.
Campos-Outcalt D, Hurwitz S. Female-to-female transmission of syphilis: a case report. Sexually Transmitted Diseases 2002;29:119-120.
Ditzen AK, Braker K, Zoellner KH, Teichmann D. The syphilis-HIV interdependency. International Journal of STD & AIDS 2005;16:642-643.
McCall MB, van Lith-Verhoeven JJ, van CR et al. Ocular syphilis acquired through oral sex in two HIV-infected patients. Netherlands Journal of Medicine 2004;62:206-208.
Jin F, Prestage GP, Kippax SC et al. Epidemic syphilis among homosexually active men in Sydney.[see comment]. Medical Journal of Australia 2005;183:179-183.
Shafii T, Radolf JD, Sanchez PJ, Schulz KF, Murphy KF. Congenital Syphilis. In: Holmes KK, Sparling PF, Stamm WE et al., eds. Sexually Transmitted Diseases . Fourth ed. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2008;1577-1612.
Jin F, Prestage GP, Mao L et al. Transmission of herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 in a prospective cohort of HIV-negative gay men: the health in men study. Journal of Infectious Diseases 2006;194:561-570.
Lafferty WE, Coombs RW, Benedetti J, Critchlow C, Corey L. Recurrences after oral and genital herpes simplex virus infection. Influence of site of infection and viral type. New England Journal of Medicine 1987;316:1444-1449.
Lafferty WE, Downey L, Celum C, Wald A. Herpes simplex virus type 1 as a cause of genital herpes: impact on surveillance and prevention. Journal of Infectious Diseases 2000;181:1454-1457.
Lowhagen GB, Tunback P, Andersson K, Bergstrom T, Johannisson G. First episodes of genital herpes in a Swedish STD population: a study of epidemiology and transmission by the use of herpes simplex virus (HSV) typing and specific serology. Sexually Transmitted Infections 2000;76:179-182.
Corey L, Wald A. Genital Herpes. In: Holmes KK, Sparling PF, Stamm WE et al., eds. Sexually Transmitted Diseases . Fourth ed. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2008;399-437.
Whitley RJ. Herpes Simplex Virus. In: Wallace RB, ed. Public Health and Preventive Medicine . The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.; 2008.
Coyle PV, O’Neill HJ, Wyatt DE, McCaughey C, Quah S, McBride MO. Emergence of herpes simplex type 1 as the main cause of recurrent genital ulcerative disease in women in Northern Ireland. Journal of Clinical Virology 2003;27:22-29.
Lowhagen GB, Tunback P, Bergstrom T. Proportion of herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 and type 2 among genital and extragenital HSV isolates. Acta Dermato-Venereologica 2002;82:118-120.
Bradford RD, Whitley RL, Stagno S. Herpesvirus Infections in Neonates and Children: Cytomegalovirus and Herpes Simplex Virus. In: Holmes KK, Sparling PF, Stamm WE et al., eds. Sexually Transmitted Diseases . Fourth ed. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2008;1629-1658.
Smith EM, Ritchie JM, Summersgill KF et al. Age, sexual behavior and human papillomavirus infection in oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers. International Journal of Cancer 2004;108:766-772.
Kashima HK, Shah F, Lyles A et al. A comparison of risk factors in juvenile-onset and adult-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. Laryngoscope 1992;102:9-13.
D’Souza G, Kreimer AR, Viscidi R et al. Case-control study of human papillomavirus and oropharyngeal cancer. New England Journal of Medicine 2007;356:1944-1956.
Coutlee F, Trottier AM, Ghattas G et al. Risk factors for oral human papillomavirus in adults infected and not infected with human immunodeficiency virus. Sexually Transmitted Diseases 1997;24:23-31.
Dahlstrom KR, Li G, Tortolero-Luna G, Wei Q, Sturgis EM. Differences in history of sexual behavior between patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and patients with squamous cell carcinoma at other head and neck sites. Head & Neck 2010;33:847-855.
D’Souza G, Agrawal Y, Halpern J, Bodison S, Gillison ML. Oral sexual behaviors associated with prevalent oral human papillomavirus infection. Journal of Infectious Diseases 2009;199:1263-1269.
Kreimer AR, Alberg AJ, Daniel R et al. Oral human papillomavirus infection in adults is associated with sexual behavior and HIV serostatus. Journal of Infectious Diseases 2004;189:686-698.
Kreimer AR, Alberg AJ, Viscidi R, Gillison ML. Gender differences in sexual biomarkers and behaviors associated with human papillomavirus-16, -18, and -33 seroprevalence. Sexually Transmitted Diseases 2004;31:247-256.
Rintala M, Grenman S, Puranen M, Syrjanen S. Natural history of oral papillomavirus infections in spouses: a prospective Finnish HPV Family Study. Journal of Clinical Virology 2006;35:89-94.
Clarke J, Terry RM, Lacey CJ. A study to estimate the prevalence of upper respiratory tract papillomatosis in patients with genital warts. International Journal of STD & AIDS 1991;2:114-115.
Aaltonen LM, Cajanus S, Back L, Nieminen P, Paavonen J, Ranki A. Extralaryngeal HPV infections in male patients with adult-onset laryngeal papillomatosis. European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology 2005;262:708-712.
Gillison ML, Broutian T, Pickard RKL et al. Prevalence of oral HPV infection in the United States, 2009-2010. JAMA 2012;307:E1-E11.
Winer RL, Koutsky LA. Genital Human Papillomavirus Infection. In: Holmes KK, Sparling PF, Stamm WE et al., eds. Sexually Transmitted Diseases . Fourth ed. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2008;489-508.
Castro TP, Bussoloti F, I. Prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) in oral cavity and oropharynx. [Review] [82 refs]. Revista Brasileira de Otorrinolaringologia 2006;72:272-282.
Miller CS, White DK. Human papillomavirus expression in oral mucosa, premalignant conditions, and squamous cell carcinoma: a retrospective review of the literature. [Review] [99 refs]. Oral Surgery Oral Medicine Oral Pathology Oral Radiology & Endodontics 1996;82:57-68.
Terai M, Hashimoto K, Yoda K, Sata T. High prevalence of human papillomaviruses in the normal oral cavity of adults. Oral Microbiology & Immunology 1999;14:201-205.
Derkay CS, Darrow DH. Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. [Review] [63 refs]. Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology 2006;115:1-11.
Derkay CS. Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. [Review] [39 refs]. Laryngoscope 2001;111:57-69.
Hawes SE, Kiviat NB. Screening for Cervical Cancer. In: Holmes KK, Sparling PF, Stamm WE et al., eds. Sexually Transmitted Diseases . Fourth ed. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2008;1075-1104.
Balasubramanian A, Palefsky JM, Koutsky LA. Cervical Neoplasia and Other STD-Related Genital Tract Neoplasias. In: Holmes KK, Sparling PF, Stamm WE et al., eds. Sexually Transmitted Diseases . Fourth ed. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2008;1051-1074.
Datta DS, Dunne E, Saraiya M, Unger E, Markowitz L. Human Papillomavirus. In: Roush SW, McIntyre L, Baldy LM, eds. Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases . Fourth ed. Atlanta, GA: Centers of Disease Control and Prevention; 2008;1-10.
Markowitz LE, Dunne EF, Saraiya M, et al. Use of 9-valent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination: updated HPV vaccination recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR – Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report. Recommendations and Reports. 2014;63(RR05):1-30.
Petrosky E, Bocchini Jr JA, Hariri S, et al. Human papillomavirus vaccination: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. MMWR – Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report. 2015;64(11):300-304
Derkay CS, Wiatrak B. Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis: a review. [Review] [106 refs]. Laryngoscope 2008;118:1236-1247.
Ragin CC, Modugno F, Gollin SM. The epidemiology and ri
Naked Asian Women
Big Small Ass
Nudist Familie

Oral Sex How To Avoid Infection

Report Page