{"id":7332,"date":"2025-12-19T06:34:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-19T06:34:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/?p=7332"},"modified":"2025-12-19T15:49:25","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T15:49:25","slug":"i-had-unprotected-oral-sex-should-i-get-tested","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/i-had-unprotected-oral-sex-should-i-get-tested\/","title":{"rendered":"I had unprotected oral sex. Should I get tested?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Having unprotected oral sex can be an uncomfortable subject to think about, but it\u2019s essential to understand the risks associated with it. It\u2019s natural to feel anxious or scared if you\u2019ve engaged in unprotected oral sex and are not sure whether you should get tested for any potential sexually transmitted infections (STIs).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fortunately, Better2Know is here to provide guidance and help answer your questions. This blog will explore when it might be necessary for someone who has engaged in unprotected oral sex to get tested, as well as other helpful information related to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/testing-stds-confidentially\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>STI testing<\/strong><\/a> and prevention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"753\" height=\"423\" src=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/image-6.jpeg\" alt=\"A silhouette of a person sitting in front of a window\n\nAI-generated content may be incorrect.\" class=\"wp-image-8925\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/image-6.jpeg 753w, https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/image-6-300x169.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 753px) 100vw, 753px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>You can get an STI from all sorts of unprotected sexual activity.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/shop\/products\/home-testing-kits\/full-screen\">Get tested<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>What is oral sex?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re not sure what counts as oral sex &#8211; it\u2019s <strong>any act where one partner stimulates the other partner\u2019s genitals or anus with their mouth, tongue, or lips<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>When is oral sex considered unprotected?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Unprotected oral sex is defined as <strong>any oral contact with either a partner\u2019s genitals, genital area, or anus, without using protective barriers such as condoms and dental dams.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most people don\u2019t think to use protection during oral sex because they assume it&#8217;s much less risky when compared to vaginal or anal sex. Oral sex, however, is a form of sex and carries its own risks. It&#8217;s just as important to use protection during oral sex as any other kind of sex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>What is the risk of receiving unprotected oral sex?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Just as with anal or vaginal sex, engaging in oral sex carries the risk of getting and spreading STIs. The risk associated with different sexual acts varies, and the likelihood of transmission during oral sex depends on several factors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While you&#8217;re less likely to get some STIs during oral sex, it&#8217;s still possible. STIs can be transferred during oral sex when infected bodily fluids come into contact with the mucous membranes in the mouth and throat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>STIs you can get by receiving oral sex include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea:<\/strong> Though very unlikely, it&#8217;s technically possible for someone with a Chlamydia or Gonorrhoea infection in their throat to transfer bacteria to your genitals.<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/std-sti-testing\/syphilis\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Syphilis<\/strong><\/a>: If someone with a Syphilis infection that has a chancre on their mouth or tongue performs oral sex on you, the infection may pass on to your genitals.<\/li><li><strong>Herpes Simplex Virus<\/strong>: If you\u2019re receiving oral sex from someone who\u2019s having an outbreak of Oral Herpes, it\u2019s possible that the infection may transfer to your genitals.<\/li><li><strong>Human papillomavirus (HPV)<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/std-sti-testing\/hpv\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>HPV<\/strong><\/a> is often passed on through oral sex or skin to skin contact during foreplay. HPV can cause Genital Warts and is associated with cervical cancer, anal cancer, penile cancer, and cancers of the head and throat.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Most sexually transmitted infections present with no symptoms, so even if you feel fine after receiving unprotected oral sex, you may still have caught an STI. The risk of STI transmission during oral sex depends on factors such as the type of infection, the presence of sores, and the frequency of exposure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>What about giving unprotected oral sex?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re performing oral sex on someone else, the infections you\u2019ll need to worry about are the same, just the other way around. However, receiving oral sex is less risky than giving it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/std-sti-testing\/chlamydia\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Chlamydia<\/strong><\/a>: Chlamydia bacteria from the genitals can infect the mucous membranes of the throat. Almost all throat-based Chlamydia infections don\u2019t produce any symptoms.<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/std-sti-testing\/gonorrhoea\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Gonorrhoea<\/strong><\/a>: Like with Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea infections in the throat don\u2019t tend to cause any symptoms, but the risk of spreading the infection remains. Oral Gonorrhoea can cause a sore throat similar to strep throat, although most cases are asymptomatic.<\/li><li><strong>Syphilis:<\/strong> Syphilis is highly contagious. It&#8217;s more likely to spread if you come in contact with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/what-does-a-syphilitic-sore-look-like\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Syphilis sore<\/strong><\/a>, or chancre, on your partner&#8217;s anus, genitals, or mouth.<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/page\/herpes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Herpes<\/strong><\/a><strong>:<\/strong> If your partner has a Genital Herpes infection, the virus could transfer to your mouth if you perform oral sex. Your partner could also have an Anal Herpes infection, which you could also contract by performing oral sex.<\/li><li><strong>HPV:<\/strong> If you perform oral sex, you&#8217;re more likely to get an oral HPV infection. Getting HPV from oral sex can put you at a higher risk of developing mouth cancers.<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/std-sti-testing\/hepatitis-a\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Hepatitis A<\/strong><\/a>: Evidence suggests that Hepatitis A can be transmitted sexually, especially during anal sex or oral sex on the anus. This is because the virus is found in the faeces of infected people and can be passed on through contact with infected faeces.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s also technically possible to pass on HIV through oral sex, though&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/can-you-get-hiv-from-oral-sex\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>the risk is extremely low<\/strong><\/a>. However, the risk of HIV transmission is higher if your partner is an HIV positive person, even though the overall risk from oral sex remains low.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"THIS is what you should do if you have unprotected oral sex\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Jp-IgA4XLX8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2>How likely am I to get an STI from oral sex?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s not possible to give an exact number stating the likelihood of getting an STI during oral sex. The likelihood of contracting an STI depends on several factors and is highly contextual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, <strong>some factors may increase your chances of getting an STI during oral sex<\/strong>, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Having poor oral health, like tooth decay, gum disease, bleeding gums, or oral cancer<\/li><li>Sores in your mouth or in your partner\u2019s mouth<\/li><li>Any exposure to infected bodily fluids like precum, semen, or vaginal fluids<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2>How can I have safe oral sex?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are many things you can do in the future to reduce your risk of getting an STI during oral sex. Practising oral sex safely by using protection, such as condoms or dental dams, and following recommended guidelines is essential to lower the risk of STI transmission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Oral sex on the penis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Cover the penis with a condom before performing oral sex. While many people may not like the idea, many manufacturers produce flavoured condoms that can make the act more enjoyable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Oral sex on the vagina or anus<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Because the vagina and anus aren&#8217;t shaped like a penis, it can be tricky to use a condom straight out of the package in this situation. Cut the condom into a square and lay the material over the area you want to stimulate. You may also want to consider using a dental dam if you have access to one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Get vaccinated<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You can cover a few bases before you even start by getting vaccinated for a few STIs. Vaccines are widely available for <strong>HPV<\/strong>, <strong>Hepatitis A<\/strong>, and <strong>Hepatitis B<\/strong>. The HPV vaccine is highly effective at preventing HPV infections, including those that cause genital warts and certain cancers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>When should I get tested if I have unprotected oral sex?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You should get tested after any unprotected sex, including unprotected oral sex. Most STIs aren\u2019t detectable on an STI test until after 14 days have passed since the incident of concern, although some STIs are detectable earlier or later than this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re sexually active and perform unprotected oral sex frequently, you should get tested regularly. This could mean getting tested every few weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>What symptoms should I look out for?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Most STIs don&#8217;t show any symptoms. You might have an infection and feel fine. But if you&#8217;ve given or received oral sex, here are some symptoms you may want to look out for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>If you&#8217;re given oral sex:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Any sores, bumps, blisters, itching, or tingling around the lips or mouth<\/li><li>Flu-like symptoms, such as fever, swollen lymph nodes, nausea, fatigue, or feeling generally unwell<\/li><li>Sore or itchy throat<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>If you&#8217;ve received oral sex:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Sores, blisters, bumps, itching, or pain in your genitals or anus<\/li><li>Unusual discharge from the genitals or anus<\/li><li>Fever, nausea, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2>What tests should I get after unprotected oral sex?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019ve performed unprotected oral sex, you\u2019ll most likely need a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/shop\/products\/home-testing-kits\/chlamydia-and-gonorrhoea-throat-swab\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>throat swab test<\/strong><\/a> to check for a Chlamydia or Gonorrhoea infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Other infections that could transfer to your throat or mouth from sores or warts on\/around your partner\u2019s genitals or anus, or vice versa, include <strong>Syphilis<\/strong>, <strong>HPV<\/strong>, and <strong>Herpes<\/strong>. These would require testing on a blood sample.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>Final thoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;re concerned about your sexual health, get in touch with our team of Sexual Health Advisors by calling the number above. They can help you <a href=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/clinics\/search\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>find your nearest sexual health clinic<\/strong><\/a> and book an STI test. Or you can start your own online booking by clicking the Book Now button.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"752\" height=\"380\" src=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/image-7.jpeg\" alt=\"A person holding a phone\n\nAI-generated content may be incorrect.\" class=\"wp-image-8926\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/image-7.jpeg 752w, https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/image-7-300x152.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Don&#8217;t leave your sexual health to chance.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/clinics\/book-online\/choose-clinic\">Get tested<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<!-- Simple Share Buttons Adder (8.1.2) simplesharebuttons.com --><div class=\"ssba-classic-2 ssba ssbp-wrap left ssbp--theme-1\"><div style=\"text-align:left\"><span class=\"ssba-share-text\">Share this...<\/span><br\/><a data-site=\"\" class=\"ssba_facebook_share\" href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7332\"  target=\"_blank\" ><img src=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/simple-share-buttons-adder\/buttons\/somacro\/facebook.png\" style=\"width: 35px;\" title=\"Facebook\" class=\"ssba ssba-img\" alt=\"Share on Facebook\" \/><div title=\"Facebook\" class=\"ssbp-text\">Facebook<\/div><\/a><a data-site='pinterest' class='ssba_pinterest_share' href='javascript:void((function()%7Bvar%20e=document.createElement(&apos;script&apos;);e.setAttribute(&apos;type&apos;,&apos;text\/javascript&apos;);e.setAttribute(&apos;charset&apos;,&apos;UTF-8&apos;);e.setAttribute(&apos;src&apos;,&apos;\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinmarklet.js?r=&apos;+Math.random()*99999999);document.body.appendChild(e)%7D)());'><img src=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/simple-share-buttons-adder\/buttons\/somacro\/pinterest.png\" style=\"width: 35px;\" title=\"Pinterest\" class=\"ssba ssba-img\" alt=\"Pin on Pinterest\" \/><div title=\"Pinterest\" class=\"ssbp-text\">Pinterest<\/div><\/a><a data-site=\"\" class=\"ssba_twitter_share\" href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7332&amp;text=I%20had%20unprotected%20oral%20sex.%20Should%20I%20get%20tested%3F%20\"  target=&quot;_blank&quot; ><img src=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/simple-share-buttons-adder\/buttons\/somacro\/twitter.png\" style=\"width: 35px;\" title=\"Twitter\" class=\"ssba ssba-img\" alt=\"Tweet about this on Twitter\" \/><div title=\"Twitter\" class=\"ssbp-text\">Twitter<\/div><\/a><a data-site=\"linkedin\" class=\"ssba_linkedin_share ssba_share_link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7332\"  target=&quot;_blank&quot; ><img src=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/simple-share-buttons-adder\/buttons\/somacro\/linkedin.png\" style=\"width: 35px;\" title=\"LinkedIn\" class=\"ssba ssba-img\" alt=\"Share on LinkedIn\" \/><div title=\"Linkedin\" class=\"ssbp-text\">Linkedin<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><em>This article first appeared on <strong>10\/03\/2023<\/strong>. Last updated <strong>19\/12\/2025<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Having unprotected oral sex can be an uncomfortable subject to think about, but it\u2019s essential to understand the risks associated with it. It\u2019s natural to feel anxious or scared if you\u2019ve engaged in unprotected oral sex and are not sure whether you should get tested for any potential sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Fortunately, Better2Know is [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_s2mail":""},"categories":[20,14,19],"tags":[],"yst_prominent_words":[563,558,1109],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7332"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7332"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7332\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8928,"href":"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7332\/revisions\/8928"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7332"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7332"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7332"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=7332"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}