If you contract chlamydia through oral sex, you may develop a throat infection. Read on to learn about other symptoms and how to prevent them.
Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease that can cause serious health problems if not treated in time. Penetrative sex is one way to catch chlamydia, but there is confusion about the possibility of contracting chlamydia through oral sex.
STIs usually spread through the genital area. However, if you contract chlamydia through oral sex, it usually affects your throat. The chance of contracting chlamydia through oral sex may be low, but the possibility is still there and needs to be managed. Learn what chlamydia is, the symptoms of chlamydia, and how to prevent chlamydia from oral sex.
What is Chlamydia?
Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. “This disease may initially cause no symptoms, but it can cause long-term problems. Chlamydia can be caused by unprotected sex,” says gynecologist Dr Rohan Palshetkar.
It doesn't have to be penetrative sex. Even skin-to-skin contact can spread chlamydia. Therefore, oral and anal sex can lead to chlamydia. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that while chlamydia can cause throat infections, they are less common than infections of the genital area.
Symptoms of Chlamydia
What makes chlamydia such a scary infection is that it rarely causes symptoms. “For men, there are generally no obvious symptoms. In men, it may present as pain during urination, yellow or green discharge from the penis, pain in the lower abdomen or testicles, and sometimes bleeding,” says Dr. Palshetkar.
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Even in women, it takes several weeks for symptoms to appear. Symptoms include pain during intercourse, vaginal discharge, burning while urinating, and abdominal pain. “It can even spread to the fallopian tubes, causing pelvic inflammatory disease, which can lead to infertility in the future,” explains Dr. Palshetkar.
Getting chlamydia through oral sex can lead to a throat infection. Symptoms can be basic, such as sore throat, cough, or fever.
![doctor examining woman's throat doctor examining woman's throat](https://images.healthshots.com/healthshots/en/uploads/2024/04/19125412/oral-sex-1-370x207.jpg)
What is Oral Sex?
Oral sex is a sexual activity in which you use your mouth, lips, or tongue to stimulate your partner's genitals, anus, or other erogenous zones. “This can include a variety of techniques such as fellatio (oral stimulation of the penis), cunnilingus (oral stimulation of the vulva) and anilingus (oral stimulation of the anus),” explains sex expert Niyatii N Shah.
The bottom line is that unsafe oral sex can cause STIs and sexually transmitted diseases.
Also read: Is oral sex safe? The answer will give you a positive shock!
How can I catch chlamydia through oral sex?
There are several scenarios where it is very easy to become infected with chlamydia through oral sex. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, you may have chlamydia if any of the following apply:
- If your partner's genitals are infected with chlamydia
- If your vagina or urinary tract is infected
- If your partner has a rectal infection, more research is needed on this.
- If you have chlamydia in your throat and are having oral sex
How is chlamydia diagnosed?
If you have had penetrative or oral sex and think you may have an STD, it is very important to consult your doctor. “Examination and diagnosis are usually very simple. It can be cultured through a swab or urine test and the bacteria can be identified,” explains Dr. Palshetkar. If you think you contracted chlamydia through oral sex, a urine sample will not help. So a throat swab would work here. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not yet approved this test. There is already a lot of bacteria in your throat. Therefore, detecting chlamydia may not be very easy or effective.
How to treat chlamydia?
Treatment for chlamydia is simple. “In most cases, antibiotics are the treatment of choice. Once diagnosed, your gynecologist will prescribe oral or IV antibiotics to treat the infection immediately,” says Dr. Palshetkar. In addition to this, you should abstain from both penetrative and oral sex for at least a week or until your antibiotic dose is finished. If you have had chlamydia once, you are more likely to get it, so be careful.
One thing to note is that you are more prone to contracting HIV infection from oral sex, which increases your risk of contracting chlamydia and ending up with a throat infection. The CDC says:
What are the risks of oral sex?
1. Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
In addition to chlamydia, there is a risk of transmitting other sexually transmitted diseases such as herpes, gonorrhea, syphilis, human papillomavirus (HPV), and HIV. “These diseases are spread through saliva, semen, or vaginal fluids (consider oral sex),” says Shah.
2. Genital warts
Genital warts are usually spread through skin-to-skin contact during sexual intercourse with an infected person. “This can include vaginal, anal, oral sex, as well as genital-to-genital contact,” Shah says.
3. Pain or irritation
Aggressive or prolonged oral sex may cause pain or irritation in the mouth, throat, or genital area. “If proper hygiene is not maintained, bacteria in the mouth or other parts of the body have the potential to cause infections in the genital or anal area,” says Shah.
4. Spread of other infections
Although less common, other infections can theoretically be transmitted through oral-anal contact (anilingus).
![underwear and condoms on the bed underwear and condoms on the bed](https://images.healthshots.com/healthshots/en/uploads/2024/04/19125531/oral-sex-2-370x207.jpg)
How to prevent chlamydia infection from oral sex?
1. Communicate
Talk openly with your partner about STIs, STI testing, and any concerns you have about STIs. Mutual honesty and transparency can help create a safer sexual environment.
2. Use protection
Consider using a barrier such as a condom or dental dam during oral sex. Condoms can be used to cover the penis, and dental dams (or cut condoms) can be used to cover the vulva or anus. This helps reduce the risk of transmitting STIs.
3. Regular testing
Get tested regularly for sexually transmitted diseases. This is especially true if you have multiple sexual partners or engage in high-risk sexual activity. Regular testing can help detect and treat STIs early, helping prevent further transmission.
4. Limit your sexual partners
Limiting the number of sexual partners and choosing partners who have been tested for sexually transmitted diseases can help reduce your risk of exposure to infections.
5. Practice safe sex
In addition to using a barrier, practicing other safe sex methods, such as avoiding contact with open wounds or lesions and maintaining oral hygiene, can help reduce the risk of sexually transmitted diseases during oral sex.
6. Recognize the symptoms
Look carefully for any unusual symptoms, such as ulcers, itching, or discharge in the genital or oral area. If symptoms occur, seek immediate medical attention for evaluation and treatment.
7. Consider getting vaccinated
Vaccinations are available for certain sexually transmitted diseases, such as human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis B. To protect yourself from these infections, consider getting vaccinated.