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What STDs Can You Get From Oral Sex?

by Autumn Jones

In the heat of the moment, you may hastily decide to skip the protection. Even though you know it's the right thing to do, sometimes the passion is just too intense and you think passing on the prophylactics during oral sex is no biggie. But just because there is no penetration doesn't mean it's risk-free. Sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs, don't discriminate, and knowing what STDs you can get from oral can help to save you from some potentially serious side effects.

When I think of STDs, I recall my middle school Sex Ed class, when the instructor projected pictures of diseased genitals and warned that if I wasn't careful, that would be what my lady parts would look like too. But no one ever mentioned oral sex. But as the American Sexual Health Association pointed out, STDs from oral sex will appear in the mouth and throat area and it is also likely that symptoms will appear in the genital area as well. So it turns out protecting yourself in every aspect of your sex life is super important.

To learn which sexually transmitted diseases can be contracted through oral sex, check out this list and learn how to recognize the signs.

1

Chlamydia

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You may not know that you have contracted chlamydia due to the lack of symptoms it presents. However, a sore throat and abnormal discharge may by signs that you need to be tested, according to the American Sexual Health Association's website.

2

HIV

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Although he Centers for Disease Control warned that the chances of contracting HIV from oral sex are low, it's no reason to skip safety measures. Using protection and talking to your partner about being tested are great ways to prevent the possibility of bring infected with HIV, since the probability exists.

3

Syphillis

Even if you have contracted syphillis, you may not know for years. According to Mayo Clinic, the bacteria that cause syphillis can be dormant for years. The biggest sign is sores that typically show up on the mouth, rectum, and genital areas. The good news is, if caught soon enough, syphillis can be treated and cured.

4

HPV

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When it comes to sexually transmitted diseases, human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common. The good news is that most cases of HPV are harmless and have no symptoms or side effects, according to Planned Parenthood's website. However, it's important to note that there are different levels of HPV, including high risk which can lead to other medical problems.

5

Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea is a tricky STD to diagnose, since it often has symptoms that are similar to bladder and vaginal infections. But as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services pointed out on their website, gonorrhea symptoms can effect the whole body. Everything from pain when urinating to sore throat to swollen joint can be due to a gonorrhea infection.

6

Herpes

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This STD is two separate viruses, and both types of herpes can be transmitted through oral sex, according to the CDC. Even though there are two different forms of this virus, the symptoms are the same: blister-like sores around the mouth, genitals, or rectum area.