Introduction:
Sexually transmitted diseases are conditions that are transmitted not only by vaginal or anal sex but also by oral sex. This category of disease is highly contagious. Some of the sexually transmitted diseases have a cure and some of them do not. Sexually transmitted disease like human immunodeficiency disease (HIV) has no cure. Oral sex is a kind of sexual activity that concerns the contact of the mouth, lips, or tongue of one partner with the genitals of the other partner. When the mouth and its counterparts are used to stimulate the genitals of the other partner in sexual activity, then it is known as oral sex. Oral contact with the vagina of the sex partner is also known as cunnilingus, oral contact with the penis of the sex partner is also known as fellatio, and oral contact with the anus of the sex partner is known as analingus.
What Are Oral Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)?
Oral sexually transmitted diseases are the category of diseases that are transferred by oral sex and show certain symptoms such as cold sores or fever blisters, sore throat, white patches, etc.
Following are some of the oral sexually transmitted diseases:
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Chlamydia - Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease generated by Chlamydia trichomatis. It affects the mouth, throat, lips, urinary tract, and also rectum. Chlamydia does not show symptoms in most cases, and a sore throat can be seen in a few cases. It is treatable with the right antibiotics and is not an unsolvable illness.
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Herpes -
- HSV-1: The herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is one of the types of common viral sexually transmitted infections. HSV-1 can be mainly transmitted through oral-to-oral or oral-to-genital intimacy. It has the potential to cause genital, oral, and anal herpes. HSV-1 affects the lips, mouth, throat, genitals, anus, and rectum. Symptoms of oral herpes can cause cold sores and blisters. They primarily occur on the lips, mouth, and throat. HSV-1 is a condition that stays lifelong and cannot be cured. It may also stay dormant in the body for several years. Treatment and management can be done with certain antiviral medications.
- HSV-2: This virus primarily spreads through vaginal or anal sexual intercourse but can also spread through oral sex. It may cause oral, genital, and anal herpes. The symptoms of oral HSV-2 are mostly the same as oral HSV-1. The person may notice blisters or sores on their mouth, lips, or tongue, though it can be possible to have the virus and not experience the symptoms.
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Human Papilloma Virus - Human papillomavirus can be transmitted by anal, oral, or vaginal sexual contact. It commonly affects the mouth, throat, genitals, cervix, anus, and rectum.
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Syphilis - Syphilis is transferred via direct contact with a syphilitic sore. Oral symptoms of syphilis have sores on the lips, tongue, gums, or elsewhere in the mouth and throat. If not treated, they can begin as small red patches and grow into larger, open sores.
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Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) - HIV lowers the person's immunity; in such a state, the patient may contract oral thrush, which affects the oral cavity.
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Cytomegalovirus (CMV) - CMV is a common herpes virus that impacts many adults over 35 years old. While sexual transmission occurs, it is also documented that CMV is also passed on via contact with other bodily fluids or from babies to grown-up caregivers. People who have weakened immune systems are at the most increased risk for CMV.
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Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) - EBV is acquired or transmitted via contact with bodily fluids, such as saliva, which causes kissing a high-risk action with an infected person, warns many research organizations. Oral symptoms of EBV include mononucleosis or the development of oral leukoplakia, which can produce white patches in the mouth that cannot be touched and cannot be wiped away easily.
What Are the Risks and Complications of Oral Sexually Transmitted Diseases?
For some sexually transmitted diseases, like syphilis, the condition will remain in the body if it goes without treatment, which can eventually affect the blood vessels and nervous system. Syphilis also has the potential to cause serious health complications, including damage to the organ and significant neurological outcomes. The tertiary stage of syphilis can affect the affected person's brain, nerves, eyes, heart, blood vessels, liver, bones, and joints. It can also be transferred to the fetus during the pregnancy period and may cause stillbirth or other serious difficulties for the infant. The types of herpes simplex virus, HSV-1 and HSV-2, can, in some rare cases, direct toward serious infections such as herpes esophagitis. In this condition, the person might have a fever and chills and may notice difficulty swallowing or pain while swallowing. The person may also have joint pain or malaise. Several types of human papillomavirus can affect the mouth and throat but do not generate warts. They may cause head or neck cancer, though. There is no cure for HPV, and the body removes the majority of HPV transmissions on its own without generating further complications. Surgery and other treatments can clear warts of the mouth and throat, but these may reoccur even after treatment. Sexually transmitted disease like human immunodeficiency virus can also be transferred through oral sex and has oral manifestations. HIV may be fatal and is always incurable.
Which Methods Can Be Practiced to Prevent Oral Sexually Transmitted Diseases?
Oral sexually transmitted diseases can be prevented with proper protection, such as condoms. Oral transmitted diseases have consequences on the patient's health. Some of them can be life-threatening or fatal. One must abstain from having intimate physical contact with infected people. A person must try not to get involved sexually with multiple partners. Having a sexual relationship with one person and maintaining it can help prevent any type of sexually transmitted disease, including oral STDs. If any symptoms are suspicious, medical help should be sought, and get the symptoms treated as soon as possible. Some oral STDs can be cured, and some cannot.
Conclusion:
Many people think that sexually transmitted diseases cannot be transferred through oral sex, but this is not true. Any contact with one partner's skin to another partner's skin is enough to cause a sexually transmitted disease. When infected fluids from the vagina or penis and mucous membrane of the anus area come in contact with the mouth of the person involved in the sexual act, the infection spreads. Some of the common oral sexually transmitted diseases are gonorrhea, herpes, and syphilis. There is a high probability of getting caught with illnesses such as hepatitis A, B, and C and several other sexually transmitted infections through oral sex. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) can also be spread through oral sex. It is better to practice preventive measures to avoid getting any type of sexually transmitted disease.
