You can catch an STI if you have just one sexual partner. However, the more partners you have, the greater the risk of catching an infection. STIs commonly caught through oral sex are: <ul> <li><a href="/sexually-transmitted-infections/gonorrhoea">gonorrhoea</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/genital-herpes">genital herpes</a></li> <li><a href="/sexually-transmitted-infections/syphilis">syphilis</a></li> </ul> Infections less frequently passed on through oral sex include: <ul> <li><a href="/chlamydia">chlamydia</a></li> <li><a href="/hiv-aids/stis-hiv">HIV</a></li> <li><a href="/hepatitis/hepatitis-a">hepatitis A</a> , <a href="/hepatitis/hepatitis-b">hepatitis B</a> and <a href="/hepatitis/hepatitis-c">hepatitis C</a></li> <li><a href="/human-papillomavirus/genital-warts">genital warts</a></li> <li><a href="/sexually-transmitted-infections/pubic-lice">pubic lice</a></li> </ul>

What infections can I catch through oral sex?

The symptoms of an STI vary depending on the type of infection. However, most STIs are treatable if detected early enough. If you think you may have an infection, or if you've had unprotected sex, it's important to visit your GP, local family planning clinic or genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic as soon as possible. If left untreated, STIs are not only uncomfortable and embarrassing but also can seriously affect your health and fertility. ::: body-ad-desktop zones:: 232632,232570,232640 types:: 163 disclaimer:: AD typeFilter:: native_ad adCount:: 1 ::: ::: body-ad-mobile zones:: 232632,232570,232642 types:: 5,163 disclaimer:: ADVERTISEMENT typeFilter:: display/native_ad adCount:: 1 :::

Symptoms of STIs 

You can reduce the risk of STI transmission during oral sex by making sure you or your partner wears a <a href="/contraception/condoms-male-and-female">condom</a>. You can use a dental dam to cover the anus or female genitals during oral sex. A dental dam is a latex or polyurethane (very thin, soft plastic) square, of about 15cm by 15cm. It acts as a barrier to help prevent STIs passing from one person to another.

Preventing STIs



You can catch an STI if you have just one sexual partner. However, the more partners you have, the greater the risk of catching an infection.

STIs commonly caught through oral sex are:

- [gonorrhoea](/sexually-transmitted-infections/gonorrhoea)
- [genital herpes](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/genital-herpes)
- [syphilis](/sexually-transmitted-infections/syphilis)

Infections less frequently passed on through oral sex include:

- [chlamydia](/chlamydia)
- [HIV](/hiv-aids/stis-hiv)
- [hepatitis A](/hepatitis/hepatitis-a) , [hepatitis B](/hepatitis/hepatitis-b) and [hepatitis C](/hepatitis/hepatitis-c)
- [genital warts](/human-papillomavirus/genital-warts)
- [pubic lice](/sexually-transmitted-infections/pubic-lice)

## Symptoms of STIs 

The symptoms of an STI vary depending on the type of infection. However, most STIs are treatable if detected early enough.

If you think you may have an infection, or if you've had unprotected sex, it's important to visit your GP, local family planning clinic or genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic as soon as possible.

If left untreated, STIs are not only uncomfortable and embarrassing but also can seriously affect your health and fertility.


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## Preventing STIs

You can reduce the risk of STI transmission during oral sex by making sure you or your partner wears a [condom](/contraception/condoms-male-and-female).

You can use a dental dam to cover the anus or female genitals during oral sex. A dental dam is a latex or polyurethane (very thin, soft plastic) square, of about 15cm by 15cm. It acts as a barrier to help prevent STIs passing from one person to another.

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References

All of Healthily's articles undergo medical safety checks to verify that the information is medically safe. View more details in our <a href="/safety" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">safety page</a>, or read our <a href="/legal/editorial-policy-principles" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">editorial policy</a>.

Article information

Oral sex is one of the ways that sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are most frequently passed on. Learn about the infections passed on through oral sex here - using content verified by certified doctors.