Can You Get Chlamydia From Oral Sex?
When protecting yourself from sexually transmitted infections, such as chlamydia, we must first understand all of the ways that an infection can spread. Chlamydia is most often spread through sexual intercourse, however it can also be spread through the sharing of sex toys and mutual masturbation. But can you get chlamydia from oral sex? Our experts share the answer below…
Yes, you can catch chlamydia through oral sex. The infection is spread through contact with infected bodily fluids, meaning it can be passed on through vaginal or anal sex, sharing sex toys, and mutual masturbation, as well as through the giving and receiving of oral sex.
Read on to find out how chlamydia is transmitted, the signs and symptoms of oral chlamydia, and all of the testing options available in the UK.
Can You Catch Chlamydia Through Oral Sex?
Yes, you can catch chlamydia through oral sex, both on your genitals and in your mouth. This can happen in a few different ways:
- You can get chlamydia in your mouth by giving oral sex to someone who currently has the infection
- You can get chlamydia on your genitals if someone with a pharyngeal infection performs oral sex on you
- You can pass on chlamydia if you currently have it in your mouth and give someone oral sex
- You can pass on oral chlamydia if you have the infection on your genitals and receive oral sex
Although the infection is spread in many different ways, oral chlamydia is most commonly passed on when someone performs oral sex on a penis without a barrier method of protection in place (such as a condom)
If you’d like to learn more about which STDs can be caught through oral sex, read the blog linked.
What Counts as Oral Sex?
According to Wikipedia, oral sex is defined as:
“Oral sex, sometimes referred to as oral intercourse, is sexual activity involving the stimulation of the genitalia of a person by another person using the mouth. Cunnilingus is oral sex performed on the vulva, while fellatio is oral sex performed on the penis.”
Oral sex also includes Anilingus, which is the stimulation of the anus using the mouth.
How Can You Prevent Chlamydia During Oral Sex?
Using a barrier method of protection during oral sex is the most effective way to prevent unwanted infections, such as oral chlamydia. The best protection for oral sex includes:
- Using a condom
- Using a dental dam
- Testing for STDs before sexual contact
The most effective way to prevent sexually transmitted infections is to abstain from all forms of sexual contact. However, we know this isn’t ideal – which is why you should get a regular sexual health checkup after each new sexual partner.
How Do You Know If You Have Oral Chlamydia?
Symptoms for chlamydia usually show 7-21 days after initial exposure to the infection. You may experience symptoms which include, but are not limited to:
- Pain around the mouth or in the throat
- White spots inside the mouth
- Sores in and around the mouth that don’t heal
- Swollen lymph nodes
- More frequent dental problems
In most cases, a chlamydial infection won’t present any symptoms whatsoever, which means many people unknowingly spread the infection. To avoid this, you must get tested after each new sexual partner.
Find out more in this blog: How long after sex do STI symptoms appear?
How Else Can You Catch Chlamydia?
Chlamydia is usually spread through penetrative sex, but the infection can also be spread in many different ways. This includes:
- Vaginal or anal sex
- Genital contact
- Oral sex
- Sharing sex toys
- Mutual masturbation
Pregnant women can also pass a chlamydial infection onto a newborn during childbirth. It is also possible to get chlamydia without having sex, however, it is not passed on through non-sexual contact like kissing, sharing towels, drinking glasses or through toilet seats.
Comprehensive STD Testing From Your Sexual Health
If left untreated, chlamydia can cause serious medical complications such as Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), pregnancy complications, and reactive arthritis, to name a few. To avoid this, you should get a comprehensive sexual health checkup before and after every new sexual partner, or if you develop symptoms of a possible infection.
At Your Sexual Health, we have 100+ private clinics located up and down the UK. Simply visit our clinics page, enter your postcode, and choose a test to suit you. Looking for complete privacy? Choose a postal STD test instead.
