The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 20 million new syphilis infections occur every year in the United States. Syphilis is a curable sexually transmitted infection; its signs and symptoms may appear in quite literally every region of the body, including the mouth.
02 October 2024
4 min read
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Syphilis Infection via Oral Sex
Oral syphilis can be contracted via quite a number of oral sexual acts, including:
Fellatio: stimulation of the penis by a partner's mouth
Cunnilingus: oral contact with clitoris, vulva, or vaginal entrance
Anilingus: oral contact with the anus
In the US, in a study conducted from June 2006 through December 2008, almost 80% of sexually active young people aged 15-44 years described having ever had oral sex with a partner of the opposite sex. The same survey also found that around 45% of teenagers, aged 15-19 years, reported having oral sex with a partner of the opposite sex.
Young adults are most susceptible because new sexual behaviors are learnt during this age, and oral sex is one of them. STIs, such as oral syphilis, can be contracted, especially when one gives fellatio on the partner with an infection in the genital or anal/rectal areas.
Risks and Complications of Oral Syphilis
Oral syphilis usually results when having oral sex with a partner suffering from this infection. If not treated timely and properly, the infection can become life-threatening since it may eventually cause damage to several body parts, which includes but is not limited to the following:
The heart
The blood vessels
The brain
The nervous system
Furthermore, untreated syphilis enhances the likelihood of further transmission, thus putting sexual partners at a greater risk of contracting the infection. It should, however, be realized that early stages of syphilis, including oral manifestations, are normally easily treatable and curable when proper and timely medical attention is consulted.
Prevention of Oral Syphilis
Oral syphilis can be prevented by a number of ways, including:
Avoiding risky oral sex practices, for instance, fellatio, cunnilingus, and anilingus
Regular screening for sexually transmitted infections for both you and your partner(s)
Avoidance of kissing if active chancre or lesion is present
Treatment Options for Oral Syphilis
The standard medication of syphilis is the antibiotic penicillin. If the person has had the infection for less than a year, a single injection of penicillin may be enough to cure. For those with a more long-standing infection over a year, many injections of penicillin are needed. It is crucial to emphasize that no over-the-counter drugs have been proven effective in treating syphilis, and the only prescribed antibiotics are effective enough to handle the disease.
The Need for Early Detection and Treatment
Early diagnosis of syphilis, including oral syphilis, is key to successful treatment. It is often difficult for the disease to be detected since it can have a number of symptoms, or no symptoms at all. In its primary stage, syphilis may appear with small, painless sores called chancres. These sores may develop in the mouth or anywhere else on the body. Since they are usually small and painless, it is easy not to notice them, but they are highly contagious.
During the secondary stage, symptoms of the disease involve a rash that does not itch much, fatigue, fever, weight loss, and general aches and pains. The symptoms eventually disappear but after some time, the latent stage reaches where there is no symptom at all. Unless treated, syphilis will reach the tertiary stage if the disease remains untreated, characterized by grave medical problems affecting several organ systems.
With the possible gravity of untreated syphilis, regular screening should be done especially for sexually active individuals. Let this be a reminder: the earlier the diagnosis, the earlier the treatment; the better the health outcome.
While oral syphilis is lesser known, it is still a huge component of the overall syphilis issue. This disease can be easily transmitted by multiple means of oral sex; thus, the knowledge of possible risks and ways of prevention is pretty substantial. Moreover, one has to remember that this rather dangerous infection is easily treatable in case it is identified at an early stage, which makes regular tests for sexually active people of great importance.
In short, safe sexual behaviors, awareness, testing, and early treatment protect your oral health and general health from this infection. These preventive steps will go a long way in reducing the incidence of syphilis, including oral syphilis.
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