A source of intense pleasure, fellatio is not without risk. Especially when there is no condom. More or less serious viruses and bacteria can pass through the blood, semen or mucous membranes.
There fellatio is a common sexual practice. In February 2019 Ifop survey, 89% of women surveyed said they had already done it and 42% of them, “often”. However, it is not without risks: STDherpes, papillomavirus, chlamydia… Without wanting to discourage fans of this practice – a source of great pleasures for couples – or those who want to discover it, it is better to be informed of the possible transmissions of viruses and bacteria before taking action.
“If a woman has a cold sore and performs oral sex (without a condom) on a man, she can transmit the herpes virus to him,” explains Dr. Andreea Matefi, doctor of medicine and holder of the DIU in Medical Gynecology. Same thing if it is he who has genital herpes, the woman can be infected with the virus. The herpes virus is sneaky: “It is secreted 15 days before the onset of symptoms” she recalls. We are therefore contaminating without knowing it, even before the vesicles appear. Luckily, it is a virus that is linked to the immune system: “If the man has a well-fighting immune system, he won’t develop herpes.”
Do a blowjob without a condom exposes to the AIDS virus (HIV): by contact with contaminated blood, pre-seminal fluid or semen. The risks mainly concern the person performing the fellatio. There is risk:
- whether the person performing the fellatio (to an HIV-positive partner) receives semen or pre-seminal fluid in the mouth.
- more so if she has sores in her mouth (gingivitis, wound, cold sore on the lips…) or in the throat. He is moreover not recommended to brush your teeth just before performing oral sex to avoid bleeding gums.
- if the HIV-positive man has sores from shaving and the woman has sores in her mouth.
When to do a screening test? For people who make blowjobs to different partners without a condom, it is recommended to carry out a screening test every 6 months.
Unprotected fellatio is much less risky than genital-genital intercourse for STI transmission.
The papillomavirus, also called “HPV virus” is contagious and transmissible during sexual intercourse (even with a condom, there would be a risk of transmission of 20%) since it circulates in the mucous membranes, oral, genital and skin. “It’s really a marker of sexuality, says Dr Matefi. There are approximately between 200 and 250 different kinds of HPV (but only a dozen would be oncogenic*) SO everyone has had it at least once in their life realizing it or not.” In case of fellatio “if the woman is a carrier of HPV, she can transmit it to the man and the reverse is also true”.
How is the transmission from the infected woman to the man? “If there is penetration without a condom, there is glans-cervical contact where HPV is present. If the woman performs fellatio, there is mouth-glans contact. If she kisses the man, there is mouth-to-mouth contact and transmission of the virus” answers the specialist. Before recalling that “in the case of HPV, the person’s immune system playsthere are immune systems that will develop it and others that will eliminate it”,
How is the transmission from the infected man to the woman? The HPV virus can lead to the formation of genital warts on the penis of men (very contagious). The contact of the woman’s mouth with these warts is a gateway for the virus to her.
When to screen? Screening for the HPV virus is carried out by the smear. It is recommended to do one every 3 years from the age of 25 “but if the partners are multiple or there is a new partner and not necessarily protection during intercourse it would be better to do it every year” advises Dr. Matefi. No age limit! “From women aged 45-50, there is sometimes a change of life and they resume a sexual life, we discuss with them the risks, prevention because there are cancers that occur on the cervix just because they have changed partner, that they forgot to get tested and did not wear a condom.”
Chlamydia (linked to the bacteria Chlamydia Trachomatis) such as gonorrhea (caused by the bacteria Neisseria Gonorrhoeae) can be transmitted during oral sex without a condom. Bacteria are found in seminal fluid and genital secretions. “Chlamydia is almost asymptomatic in women and less than half of men have symptoms such as urinary burning. The man can find out when he passes it on to his partner who has pelvic pain, unusual discharge…” says Dr. Andreea Matefi. If it is the woman who is contaminated, she can contaminate her partner if oral sex is preceded by unprotected penetration (during penetration, the man’s penis will be in contact with the bacteria present in the cervix of the the uterus in particular, the woman then performs oral sex on him then kisses him on the mouth, he finds himself infected).
When to screen? “It’s necessary wait at least 3 to 7 days after intercourse at risk before screening for chlamydia and gonorrhea. If there are multiple partners, do not hesitate to do it at least once or twice a year” advise the doctor.
Caused by bacteria pale treponema, syphilis is a disease that can be transmitted during fellatio (unprotected). Either because it has led to lesions in the mouth of the contaminated person who performs fellatio either because there are cankers on the glans penis (typical lesions of syphilis): “If you perform fellatio on a chancre, the transmission is obvious” thus indicates our interlocutor. Contamination is two-way.
Putting on two condoms does not protect more!
We don’t always know it, but we can contract hepatitis during oral sex. Mainly hepatitis B. The hepatitis B virus is very contagious and transmitted by mucosal contact. It is found in bodily secretions like saliva and semen. Vaccination is a protection against contamination. Hepatitis C can also be transmitted during oral sex, but the risk is lower because it passes through the blood. So you need a breach: a lesion in the mouth, in the penis…
Putting on a condom (with or without latex if there is an allergy) is the only way to protect yourself from the majority of diseases and infections that can be transmitted during oral sex. Better to bet on non-lubricated condoms, with or without perfume.
To know : there is no need to put two condoms on top of the other to further reduce the risks: “It does not protect twice as much, warns Dr. Matefi, and it makes friction during intercourse which makes the porous condom (therefore less effective in its role as a barrier). “
*Papillomaviruses, French Society of Colposcopy and Cervico-Vaginal Pathology
Thanks to Dr. Andreea Matefi, Doctor of Medicine, General Medicine Specialty and holder of the DIU in Medical Gynecology.