# Oral sex and infection (possible TMI) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 18, 2003, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oral-sex-and-infection-possible-tmi/149543 "2003-01-18T22:35:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2003, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oral-sex-and-infection-possible-tmi/149543/1 "2003-01-18T22:35:33Z")
Lately, I have been performing more cunnilingus on my wife than before. (You’re welcome, honey.) After the last time, however, she’s been experiencing some lower abdominal pain. She’s wondering if oral sex can lead to some kind of bacterial infection. We’ve been monogamous for many years, so there isn’t fear of an STD. There’s no pain when she urinates. She’s taking Clomid right now, as we’re trying to get pregnant. I can’t hink of any other relevant factors at the moment. Any ideas from resident medical folks here? And yes, if the pain persists or gets worse, we’ll go see a doctor. I’m just hoping to gather a little information first. For some reason, when I Google for an answer using “oral sex,” the first hundred thousand hits aren’t very useful. Go figure. ---
**Author:** ![Firebat023](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a4c791/32.png) [@Firebat023](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Firebat023)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2003, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oral-sex-and-infection-possible-tmi/149543/2 "2003-01-18T23:20:38Z")
There could be any number of issues. First, an infection is possible, especially if she had any open sores (or friction sores, so to speak) anywhere on her vulva. If there is no urinating pain, you can potentially rule out a urinary tract infection. Does she have a history of kidney stones? If the pain is higher up, close to her kidneys, that might be an issue. Or hell, she might have have an intestinal gas problem. 😛 My crackpot advice is the simple kind: healthy diet, stay hydrated, try some cranberry juice. Cut back on oral sex and see if that helps the problem. If not, take your own advice and see what the doctor has to say. I’m sure his diagnosis is far superior to mine. ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2003, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oral-sex-and-infection-possible-tmi/149543/3 "2003-01-18T23:30:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Firebat023 \* > **There could be any number of issues. First, an infection is possible, especially if she had any open sores (or friction sores, so to speak) anywhere on her vulva. If there is no urinating pain, you can potentially rule out a urinary tract infection. Does she have a history of kidney stones? If the pain is higher up, close to her kidneys, that might be an issue. Or hell, she might have have an intestinal gas problem. 😛** No kidney stones, and the pain is pretty far down in her abdomen. Gas is always a possibility. \*\* > [@](#): > > My crackpot advice is the simple kind: healthy diet, stay hydrated, try some cranberry juice. Cut back on oral sex and see if that helps the problem. If not, take your own advice and see what the doctor has to say. I’m sure his diagnosis is far superior to mine. \*\* Already doing the first two, and the cranberry juice isn’t a bad idea. If she’s still hurting come Monday, we’ll give our doctor a call. Thanks for the response. 🙂 – Justin ---
**Author:** ![Atropos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7cd45c/32.png) [@Atropos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atropos)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oral-sex-and-infection-possible-tmi/149543/4 "2003-01-19T00:21:54Z")
Since your wife is taking Clomid it is quite possible that she may have an ovarian cyst or she is about to ovulate. Depends on where in her cycle she is. Either way you should call the doc. And a little bit of advice that your wife may not like. Saliva kills sperm. So save the oral sex (for either of you) for when you are having non-baby making sex. Every little bit helps! ---
**Author:** ![Yeah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/dbc845/32.png) [@Yeah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeah)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oral-sex-and-infection-possible-tmi/149543/5 "2003-01-19T00:30:49Z")
I assume you’re not blowing air into her. That’s a bad thing. (ref: Christiansen WC, Danzl DF, McGee HJ. Pneumoperitoneum following vaginal insufflation and coitus. Ann Emerg Med 1980 Sep;9(9):480-2) ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oral-sex-and-infection-possible-tmi/149543/6 "2003-01-19T00:47:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Atropos \* > \*\*Since your wife is taking Clomid it is quite possible that she may have an ovarian cyst or she is about to ovulate. Depends on where in her cycle she is. Either way you should call the doc. > > And a little bit of advice that your wife may not like. Saliva kills sperm. So save the oral sex (for either of you) for when you are having non-baby making sex. Every little bit helps! \*\* Really? This I didn’t know. Don’t suppose you’d have a cite for that, would you? ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oral-sex-and-infection-possible-tmi/149543/7 "2003-01-19T00:50:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Yeah \* > \*\*I assume you’re not blowing air into her. That’s a bad thing. > (ref: Christiansen WC, Danzl DF, McGee HJ. Pneumoperitoneum following vaginal insufflation and coitus. Ann Emerg Med 1980 Sep;9(9):480-2) \*\* Nope. Well aware of that, Cecil did a column on it a while back. ---
**Author:** ![sunstone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunstone/32/3372_2.png) [@sunstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunstone)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oral-sex-and-infection-possible-tmi/149543/8 "2003-01-19T01:09:48Z")
It is possible that you are encountering a yeast infection. The yeast that can cause some ladies problems can be a normal inhabitant of the human mouth…and can often be found as part of the flora in the female genitalia. If for some reason the floral balance gets upset, the woman complains of a yeast infection. Sometimes this is the result of antibiotic use in either the male or female partner. You might want to consider a trip to your physician. ---
**Author:** ![JillGat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@JillGat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JillGat)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oral-sex-and-infection-possible-tmi/149543/9 "2003-01-19T17:43:27Z")
The cranberry juice might help if it were a urinary infection, but usually you have back pain with that.