Can I get an STD from oral sex?
Dear STD Advice, I always use protection for intercourse, but never have for oral sex. Yet recently I heard of someone who got an STD from oral sex. Is that possible? ~ Orally Confused Dear Orally Confused, It is definitely possible to catch an STD simply from unprotected oral sex. In fact, several STDs can be transmitted via oral sex including herpes, syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea. In some cases, HIV can also be transmitted during oral sex. Here’s what the CDC says about that: It is possible for either partner to become infected with HIV through performing or receiving oral sex. There have been a few cases of HIV transmission from performing oral sex on a person infected with HIV. While no one knows exactly what the degree of risk is, evidence suggests that the risk is less than that of unprotected anal or vaginal sex. If the person performing oral sex has HIV, blood from their mouth may enter the body of the person receiving oral sex through > the lining of the urethra (the open
