FAQs

What are the chances of catching an STI from oral sex when you don’t use protection such as a dental dam and a condom?

Answer

Changes in sexual behaviour in the last 20-30 years have led to an increase in the experience of oral sex as the first sexual activity for many young people.

A national survey released in 2003 showed that 37 per cent of Year 10 students reported having oral sex whereas only 25 per cent were having vaginal sex. Lots of young people are now having oral sex and consider it "safe sex".

However, although you can't get pregnant through oral sex, it does carry a risk of transmission of STIs.

While the risk of HIV infection from oral sex is low, it's not absent, and the risk is much higher for other STIs.

Young people need to be aware that unprotected oral sex can lead to infection with herpes, genital warts, chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis and hepatitis B.

Importantly, in most cases there will be no symptoms, so that if young people have had unprotected oral sex with one or more partners, they should consider having a sexual health check-up.

Using condoms and dental dams for oral sex should also be considered.

Actual numbers of people infected with STIs caused by having oral sex, are difficult to find because the site of infection is not reported in the figures currently collected each year for STIs in Australia