Can oral sex give you a yeast infection?

The one question that is frequently asked is “whether oral sex can cause a yeast infection?” The general answer is yes, but not in all cases.

The first thing to understand is that yeast is not a sexually transmitted infection and is not routinely transmitted to others via oral sex among healthy adults. Secondly, because yeast infections of the female genital area are very common, it’s often hard to make a strict correlation to oral sex as a direct cause.

Thirdly, most healthy men have very low levels of yeast in their oral cavity and hence it’s very unlikely that a single episode of oral sex can cause thrush in a female.

However, according to research, there are several scenarios that can lead to transmission of a yeast infection during oral sex. In some cases, a male may have an oral yeast infection and may transmit it to the partner during oral sex.

In general, healthy males rarely develop a yeast infection of the mouth – a yeast infection of the mouth tends to develop in people who are chronic smokers, use steroidal drugs or are immunocompromised (e.g. HIV). At the same time, the partner may also have to be in a vulnerable position to acquire yeast infection.

He or she may be immunocompromised, the female may be just before or straight after her period or the partner may be on certain steroidal medications. However, there are some anecdotal reports indicating that oral sex can sometimes lead to yeast infection in some healthy women.

The exact reasons for this are not known, but this may be related to abnormalities in saliva coupled with the female wearing tight undergarments or using harsh personal hygiene products.

Is it possible for the male to acquire yeast from a female with a vaginal yeast infection?

In general, a vaginal yeast infection is a turn off for oral sex in most men. Even if oral sex is performed, it is very rare for a healthy male to acquire the yeast from the vagina.

It may occur in men who are immunocompromised only. There are very few cases on this topic in the literature and the overwhelming consensus is that healthy men do not acquire yeast from the vagina.

So how does one prevent yeast infections after oral sex?

Even though there are many suggestions on the Internet on the prevention of yeast infection following oral sex, none of them are practical or realistic.

Wearing a dental dam and offering oral sex is not only unpleasant but also tiring. Plus, in most cases, the dental dam dislodges within a few seconds.

Anyone who has no experience with a dental dam should try and place a deflated balloon in the mouth and try to suck a lollipop-this is amateurish and nonsensical advice from people who have never given oral sex.

In any case, if either partner has an active yeast infection in the mouth or genitals it is best to avoid sexual activity until treatment is completed. Further, if one does indulge in sexual activity, one should wear a condom.

However, a condom is not 100% foolproof against both sexually transmitted infections and yeast. Leave the dental dam for the dentist – it’s not practical for use during oral sex.

It’s best to ask your partner to brush his teeth and rinse the mouth with a mouthwash prior to oral sex.

There are many other things you can do

…to prevent vaginal yeast infections. The most important are:

• avoid taking antibiotics and steroids
• keep your vaginal area dry
• use 100% cotton, loose fitting clothes
• don’t use vaginal douches
• use 100% natural intimate washes and sexual lubricants to avoid unnecessary irritation

How to get rid of a yeast infection?

If you’re suffering from a yeast infection now you’re surely desperate to get rid of the nasty symptoms as soon as possible.

You can choose to treat it with over-the-counter medication, such as Monistat, or you can go for 100% natural treatment with boric acid suppositories.

If you want to learn more about other vaginal yeast infection treatment options check our sections about Medications for yeast infection and Natural cures for a yeast infection.

Not Sure if it’s a Yeast Infection?

If you want to know for sure that you’ve got a yeast infection, you need to get tested. Testing will help you exclude more serious causes of itching and burning down there. It could be BV or an STD. If an STD is left untreated, it can damage your health, so getting tested is the key.

If you need a discreet service with lab-tested results, try MyLabBox. They’ll send you an STD test kit. All you have to do is take your swabs and send them back. Your results will be available online within a few days. Stay safe and order an STD test kit today.

Conclusion

Although vaginal yeast infection is not a sexually transmitted disease, in certain circumstances you can get it after having oral sex.

As long as your partner is not suffering from an oral yeast infection, you should be safe, just make sure he or she maintains good oral hygiene.

If you suffer from a weak immune system, you may also be more vulnerable to infection.

Taking probiotic supplements daily can help you maintain a healthy vaginal flora and keeping dangerous pathogens, such as Candida, at bay.