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Women's sexual health
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Cunnilingus and sore throat?
Originally Published: April 04, 2008
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Alice,
I enjoy performing cunnilingus on my girlfriend, and every so often, I get a sore throat. My question is, is it all right to perform cunnilingus on my girlfriend if I have a sore throat? Or is there a chance that whatever causing my throat discomfort could cause her trouble as well? Thanks very much, —Sore throat Dear Sore throat, Although some sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can be transmitted directly through unprotected oral sex, there are many other likely causes of your sore throat, such as having a cold or the flu, or another infection in your ear/nose/throat cavities. Either way, you should know that it's possible to give your partner whatever it is you have that's causing your sore throat (like cold or flu germs) through kissing, touching and holding her, which may occur during sexual activity. Just to be safe, you might want to keep your face away from hers until your sore throat goes away. The risk of getting a STI through oral sex without a barrier (such as a condom or dental dam) is lower than through sexual intercourse, but it is still possible. For example, performing oral sex on a partner who is infected with gonorrhea can lead to gonorrhea of the throat. Some other STI's that can be transmitted through oral sex include herpes, HPV or genital warts, Hepatitis B, syphilis, Chlamydia, and chancroid. The risk of HIV transmission is low, but can increase during the woman's period, so unprotected cunnilingus should be avoided during this time if you are not sure of your partner's status. Using condoms or dental dams are two effective ways of protecting both you and your partner during oral sexual and other sexual activity. When people do get an oral STI, a sore throat is a common symptom, along with tonsillitis, oral lesions or cold sores. Whenever you have a sore throat accompanied by any of these symptoms, or if the sore throat lasts more than a few days, you may want to see your medical care provider for testing and treatment. Columbia students can call x4-2284 or log on to Open Communicator to make an appointment. In the meantime, check out Wake up with morning throat aches in the Go Ask Alice! Q&A archives for ways to soothe your throat.
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