Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STIs)

[Steelie2006]

If you are a virgin and your girlfriend/boyfriend is a virgin and have not engaged in anything AT ALL, is it possible to contract/transfer STIs from Oral Sex?

[ummmm]

No

[Supernick]

Oral herpes can be transmitted to the genitalia

HSV-1, the virus responsible for common cold sores, can be transmitted through oral secretions. This usually occurs during kissing, or by eating and drinking from contaminated utensils.

Additionally, HSV-1 can cause genital herpes through transmission during oral-genital sex, thus both strains of the virus may be transmitted by sexual contact. Initial oral herpes infection, however, usually occurs in childhood. It is therefore not classified as a sexually transmitted disease.

[Supernick]

Basically don't have oral sex with someone who has obvious coldsores

[~max~]

Also, there is the remotest chance that the person might have contracted hepatitis or HIV through blood transfusion, obviously. Very VERY unlikely though!

[Octavius]

STIs & STDs are caused by viruses or bacteria that like warm, soft, moist places such as your mouth and genital area (penis, vulva, vagina, anus, area between penis and anus, and area between vulva and anus). STIs can spread from the genital area to the mouth and from the mouth to the genital area. They are generally passed between people via body fluids or direct contact with skin or sores.

Though there's admittedly less risk of STIs in oral sex than in vaginal or anal sex, the risk still exists. You can get a bacterial infection of Chlamydia, syphilis, or gonorrhea (all of which can be passed from an infected mother to her baby during vaginal childbirth) in your mouth and/or throat, and in some rarer occasions, can develop genital warts in the mouth. Herpes (e.g. cold sores) is commonly passed between genitals and the mouth, and HIV can be passed through cuts in the mouth or small abrasions.

So yes, it can happen.

[~max~]

True. Mother-to-child transmission is also a risk, in which case a person who has had no sexual relations - even oral - can be infected. However, chances are the person would be aware of being infected.

[joko]

thrush can be passed both ways

and if someone had perhaps an absess in their mouth they could potentially transmit harmful bacteria which may end up as an infection - but this not an std in the usual sense of the word

[jen157]

The absolute best thing to do in any relationship is for both of you to get tested anyway and then stay faithful to each other. Which in this day in age seems to be more and more difficult for people. And read up on your STDs