Where this photo comes from, Getty ImagesIn general, when we talk about diseases that can be transmitted during sexual intercourse, we’re thinking of penetration.But having oral sex without a condom also increases the risk of STIs (sexually transmitted infections).The contact of the mucous membranes of the mouth with the secretions allows viruses and bacteria to enterThe most common STIs are gonorrhea and syphilis, experts told tBBC News Brazil, the BBC Portuguese language service.Symptoms of syphilis include sores inside the mouth and on the cheeks, as well as patches on the skin.Most of the time people don’t even know they are infected because they can mistake the symptoms for candidiasis.In this case, it can be diagnosed late.In addition to the STIs mentioned above, unprotected oral sex also increases the risk of papillomavirus (human papillomavirus), herpes, chlamydia, hepatitis, and gonococcal tonsillitis.Although doctors warn of the risk of contracting infections during oral sex, it is difficult to know for sure how many people are infected this way, because in many cases the symptoms of these diseases are not visible, and not all people are provided adequate information to health agencies.Contact between the mouth and genitals can lead to the development of one or even several STIs.Simple contact with the skin of one person with a lesion can promote transmission.In the case of men, semen and pre-seminal fluids can be spread to one person who gives oral stimulation.The lubricating fluid from the vagina can also transmit pathogens, although women are naturally more susceptible to catching STIs because of the anatomy of their sex organs."The vaginal mucosa is a very thin epithelium. During sexual intercourse, there's almost always some degree of fissure for the region, which allows different types of viruses to enter."The man, on the other hand, has an exposed organ " said Camila Ahrens, an infectious disease specialist at Marcelino Champagnat Hospital in Curitiba, Brazil.The risk increases even more in case of lesions on the genitals or for the mouth.In practice, when a person practices what doctors call cunnilingus, which involves using the tongue to stimulate the vagina, and fellatio, which involves doing the same with the penis, there is a risk of transmitting infections and diseases.For rimming, which involves stimulating the partner's anus with the tongue, it is also conducive to infection, with hepatitis A being one of the most common.There is also a risk of chlamydia, gonorrhea and other diseases."In fact, insertive vaginal sex involves more exchange of bodily fluids. The anus has a higher risk of laceration, which makes it easier for viruses or bacteria to enter. Oral sex is less risky, but people who practice the act can transmit it." and those with active disease can transmit it”, Mr. Ahrens added.These are some of the infections one can get during unprotected oral sex.Caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum, this infection can affect the genitals, throat and mouth.It can also be transmitted through both oral sex and penetration.It can be diagnosed through blood tests.This IST mainly takes place in three stages: primary, secondary and tertiary.For the primary stage, one painless ulcer appears after contact of the bacteria with the skin of the contaminated person.The patient may have lesions inside the mouth, either for tongue or on the cheeks.It's a "hard chancre".These are called lesions."They can be painless or be mistaken for a cold sore," said Igor Marinho, an infectious disease specialist at the University of São Paulo hospital's Faculty of Medicine.In this case, the person having oral sex can infect his partner without even knowing he’s sick."The bacterium is found in semen and in the fluid from the penis," added Demetrius Montenegro, head of the infectiology department at the Oswaldo Cruz University Hospital of the University of Pernambuco.Secondary syphilis has more systemic symptoms and occurs a few weeks after contamination of the first type.Patients can get spots and skin infections.For the tertiary form, symptoms can appear years after infection.In case of late diagnosis, there is a risk of vascular and neurological damage, heart failure or stroke."It is a silent disease and is usually transmitted", Montenegro added.Treatment is through the use of antibiotics and the best form of prevention is through the use of condoms, both male and female.Where this photo comes from, Getty ImagesCaused by gonococcal bacteria, the same agent as gonorrhea, the infection causes discharge from the tonsils and throat.It is usually transmitted through oral sex, as there is direct contact of the mouth with the genitals, increasing the risk of transmission.Diagnosis is based on the patient's symptom history.In general, the examination consists of removing secretions from the throat to visualize the microorganism.According to Ms Montenegro, it's still a taboo among doctors when it comes to asking people's sexual activity.If information sharing is more widespread, late diagnoses can be avoided, which could improve the therapeutic response to the disease, he said.Most of the time, a person who is already infected with gonorrhea can be asymptomatic and infect their partner.As it is a resistant type of bacteria, not all antibiotics treat and cure the problem.It is important to conduct a thorough investigation to find this STI."Unresponsive tonsillitis can cause suspicion and ask if the patient has had oral sex. Gonococci usually appear for the genital area and then infect the other. This is true for both men and women “, hospital infectious disease specialist Oswaldo Cruz said.This STI caused by gonococci can cause urethral discharge and, in the most severe cases, infection of the pelvis and even infertility.Transmission occurs through both penetration and oral sex.The diagnosis is done as a covid-19 test, as a swab will be inserted into the throat.An infection of this part of the body may be asymptomatic and the individual most times infects others without even knowing they have been done.The treatment of this sexually transmitted infection is also complicated and can take a long time, because in some cases the body develops increased resistance to certain antibiotics.This sexually transmitted infection is caused by the human papillomavirus.HPV causes warts in the genital, oral and anal regions.The main mode of transmission is through sexual intercourse, including oral-genital, genital-genital or even manual-genital contact.During oral sex, the onset of symptoms can also occur on the tongue, throat, inside of the cheek, and gum tissue.But contamination only occurs when there is a primary lesion or crack.In this way, the viral agent can enter the body and contaminate the individual.Prompt and effective treatment is important, as the infection can progress to cervical cancer.HPV is also considered an important agent causing tumors of the anus, head and neck.Treatment consists of cauterizing and removing the warts.The easiest way to protect yourself is the vaccine, which is available on the public network for certain specific groups.“Ideally, a person is supposed to have collected the vaccine before initiating sexual intercourse.There are many types of HPV, but the vaccine protects against those that cause cancer,” Ms.Montenegro warns us.This STI is caused by one virus and can be divided into type 1 and 2.For the first case, the appearance of "bubbles" is more common for the oral region.Secondly, symptoms may appear for the genital area.If the problem happens again (with the appearance of lesions in the form of blisters and sores), it is meant that the patient does not really have immunity and must undergo tests to verify the lack of vitamins or other nutrients.The mode of transmission can also be through other non-sexual means, such as kissing, brushing makeup, sharing objects, etc.Treatment includes the use of ointments or tablets.Where this photo comes from, Getty ImagesThis infection is caused by Chlamydia trachomatis bacteria.It causes inflammation of the genital and urinary regions.The organism can cause cervicitis, which sometimes reaches the cervix and causes pain and bleeding during intercourse.For more severe infections, it can cause infertility for both men and women.Data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that most cases occur in people between the ages of 15 and 24.They also still transmit this STI transmitted through oral sex.The risk increases when there is contact with semen, as there can be a higher viral load of the infectious agent.Therefore, unprotected sex, including penetration, also increases the risk of this disease.To treat the condition, it’s recommended to use antibiotics and not have sex for the duration, which is usually for seven days.These infections are the main cause of chronic liver disease, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.Meanwhile, transmission of hepatitis A can occur through the fecal-oral route.In other words, it is possible to contract the infection during oral sex, but also during any sexual activity.However, the most common is through the anus."For 2017, the WHO issue one alerted about an outbreak of hepatitis A sake of oral-anal sexual transmission. This outbreak occurred for some cities in Europe, like Barcelona."There is no specific treatment yet for this type of hepatitis.In general, experts recommend washing your hands and eating well, using condoms before and after sex, washing your genitals, perineum and anal area after sex, and disinfecting vibrators., anal and vaginal plugs.In type B, contamination can be due to injury to the mouth, contact with semen and the vaginal or anal canal.Treatment includes the use of antivirals as well as, if necessary, the avoidance of alcoholic beverages.For the case of type C, the risk of transmission through oral sex is lower.Transmission is mostly through handling infected objects such as needles, syringes, and other objects used for recreational drug use.Treatment is with antivirals.Where this photo comes from, Getty ImagesAlthough less common, it is also possible to become infected with HIV through oral sex.However, it would need a large amount of virus for it to happen.In addition, if there is going to be transmission, the partner will need to have a wound or bruise for the mouth or throat."The risk is a little lower, but there's a possibility through small injuries like those that can happen during hair removal, for example," Marinho said.Contamination between men and women varies because of ejaculation.According to the doctors, the test showed that the viral load is higher for the semen, which constitutes on portal of entry for the infection.It is a unique factor for this infection.Yes, they can still transmit the virus that causes monkeypox through oral sex.In fact, the virus is transmitted if the person grabs contact with the typical lesions of the disease, which happen appear on the mouth, genitals, anus and arms.That’s why doctors recommend that people with those skin manifestations seek medical evaluation and testing.If the test confirms the disease, It is necessary to remain isolated until the wound is completely healed.One of the most affordable means is the use of barrier methods, which prevent the mucous membrane of the mouth from coming into contact with the genitals.In the past, since the use of female condoms is not widespread, doctors recommended the use of cling film, the transparent paper used in the kitchen, during oral sex.However, due to its poor stickiness - and the fact that it's more likely to come off during sex - practitioners now suggest using the female condom.But it’s still rare to see couples using protection during oral sex."It's very difficult to see patients using them. We see a lot of people re-infected because they didn't hear medical advice," Ahrens said.For men, the use of condoms during any sexual intercourse is also recommended."You have to protect the genital area with a condom and not remove it. You can wear the female condom, the male condom or both," Tuon explained to him.It is also important to take educational measures and publicly implement public policies, especially among young people and adolescents who do not actually use condoms.For people who are already sexually active, experts recommend screening every six months to identify possible infections.“People with syphilis need to be tested,” Mr Tuon warned.Prophylaxis, a prevention method used before and after sex, also is recommended to reduce the risk of STIs.Another recommendation is to go to public hospitals for consultations and advice.© 2022 BBC.External site does not concern BBC.The way we are taking to external link.