What Stds Can You Get from Oral Sex?
Medically reviewed by Linda Girgis | MD, Girgis Family Medicine on August 21st, 2026.
You can contract several STDs through oral sex, including herpes, gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, and HPV. The CDC reports that oral sex carries significant transmission risks because infected genital fluids, blood, or skin contact can transfer pathogens to the mouth, throat, or genitals. HSV-1 and HSV-2 are particularly common, with oral herpes affecting over 67% of people under age 50 globally. Gonorrhea and chlamydia can infect the throat, often without symptoms, making regular testing crucial. HPV transmission through oral contact is linked to oropharyngeal cancers, which have increased 300% in men since the 1980s.
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